A list of charitable practices in the Catholic tradition is called the corporal works of mercy, and this author contrasts donating so someone can do our charity for us and directly doing it ourselves.
"I don’t practice the corporal works of mercy.
"The realization left me stunned. As I sat in a cluster of retreatants I thought about what that meant. Sure, I donate money to various charities, participate in food drives, and donate clothes that I no longer need, but I do not practice the corporal works of mercy — I have other people or institutions do it for me."--Rachel Malinowski, Sojourners
