I don't know the history really well, but I'm pretty sure martin luther had a much bigger problem with the church accepting money for people to «get
out of purgatory faster» and with the idea that saying 10 «Hail Mary's» gets people forgiven than he ever had with the act of confessing.
Almsgiving is a duty
of charity, a commendable spiritual practice along with prayer and
fasting, and a means for us to win friends in eternity, whether by giving money to organisations or individuals who carry
out the corporal works
of mercy — saving the lives
of pre-born babies by supporting pro-life work, feeding the hungry by the alleviation
of famine, sheltering the homeless, welcoming the stranger, or the spiritual works
of mercy, such as having Masses offered for people who are sick or in particular need, or those who have died and the souls in
purgatory.
With the semester coming to a close and summer
fast approaching, I am feeling like bursting
out of the stressful lecture - writing
purgatory with some new beauties to add to my closet.