Expert: Griff Ruby - 7/21/2006

Question
Hello-

I am a Sunday school teacher in the Mormon church and I'm
giving a lesson on the gift of agency. Could you please enlighten
me as to what the Catholic view of agency is?

Thanks for your time and attention.

- jeff byrd

Answer
"Agency" or helps, is about providing practical help (assistance) for those in need.  Down throughout history the Church has been particularly noted for Her charitible activities.  In the ancient pagan times, charity was seldom looked upon as anything more than something purely optional and many prided themselves on "not having ever given money to a beggar."
One thing so unusual about the Church was that it institutionalized charity, establishing homes for the homeless, hospitals for the sick, free (or inexpenseive) schools for children, and saw to the care of "widows and orphans" which the Apostle James described as part of true religion (along with keeping oneself without spot from the world).
It is a fundamental and key part of the Gospel that aiding those in need is a foundational portion of our Faith.
The Church lists seven "corporal works of mercy" which are enjoined on all Catholics to do, wherever possible.  They are:

1) To feed the hungry
2) To give drink to the thristy
3) To clothe the naked
4) To visit the imprisoned
5) To shelter the homeless
6) To visit the sick
7) To bury the dead

These things are our Christian duties to the world at large, to help those neglected by all the rest of he world, to care for them as souls to save who also have bodies to feed.  Nearly every saint who has anything of the world's means to provide help (that is, those saints who are not members of religious congregations bound to poverty, chastity and obedience, but who live in the world, have occupations, own property, and in many cases even marry and raise families) have been noted for their compassion for the poor and needy.  It is said that in the original Home in Nazareth Joseph and Mary gave away a third of their income to the poor (and another third to the Temple and the last was for their own living expenses).