almoner

Information about almoner

Almoner (from the Greek ελεημοσύνη, westernized as eleemosyna, 'alms' via Latin Almosunartius and French, known in English since circa 1300) is a chaplain or church officer who originally was in charge of distributing charity.

Historically, almoners were Christian religious functionaries whose duty was to distribute alms to the poor. Monasteries were required to spend one tenth of their income in charity to the poor (a tithe). Bishops kept their own almoners and almoners were attached to the courts to the Kings of France. Charles VIII of France had a Grand Almoner in his employ.

Today one of the most prominent such offices is that of the Anglican Lord High Almoner. The High Almoner (currently Rt Rev Nigel McCulloch, Bishop of Manchester) is responsible for organising the Queen's annual distribution of Maundy money on Maundy Thursday.

The "Almoner of His Holiness," the pope's official almoner, continues in office even after the pope dies. He "continues to carry out works of charity in accordance with the criteria employed during the pope's lifetime" (Universi Dominici Gregis, 22).

The name almoner was also used for a hospital official who interviews prospective patients to qualify them as indigent, and was later applied to the officials who were responsible for patient welfare and after-care. This position is now usually filled by social workers.

The title "almoner" has fallen out of use in English, but its equivalents in other languages are often used for many pastoral functions covered by chaplains or pastors.

The Almoner remains an active and important office in Masonic Lodges in England. His duty is to oversee the needs of the Brethren within his Lodge. He is the contact for Charity and looks after the welfare of the members, including visits to the sick, aged and infirm.

See also

chaplain is typically a priest, pastor, ordained deacon or other member of the clergy serving a group of people who are not organized as a mission or church, or who are unable to attend church for various reasons; such as health, confinement, or military or civil duties; lay
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charitable organization (also known as a charity) is an organization with charitable purposes only. Trusts, foundations, unincorporated associations and in some jurisdictions specific types of companies, may be established for a charitable purpose or may acquire such purpose
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Alms or almsgiving exists in a number of religions. In general, it involves giving materially to another as an act of religious virtue. In Abrahamic religions, alms are given as charity to benefit the poor.
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A tithe (from Old English teogoşa "tenth") is a one-tenth part of something, paid as a (usually) voluntary contribution or as a tax or levy, usually to support a Jewish or Christian religious organization.
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Christianity

Foundations
Jesus Christ
Church Theology
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Dispensationalism
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monarchs of France ruled, first as kings and later as emperors (Buonapartes only), from the Middle Ages to 1870. There is some disagreement as to when France came into existence.
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Charles VIII the Affable
King of France, Duke of Brittany, Count of Provence (more...)

Reign 30 August 1483 – 7 April 1498
Coronation 30 May 1484, Reims
Titles
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The Church of England is the officially established Christian church[1] in England, and is the "mother" of the worldwide Anglican Communion, the oldest among its nearly 40 independent national churches.
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A small office within the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom, headed by the Lord High Almoner, an office dating from 1103.

The Lord High Almoner is a diocesan bishop of the Church of England.
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Nigel Simeon McCulloch is the Bishop of Manchester. He was named to the post in August 2002[1], took up duties later that year, and was formally installed in February 2003[2].
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The Bishop of Manchester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Manchester in the Province of York.

The diocese covers the south-east of the County of Lancashire.
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British monarchy is a system of government in which a hereditary monarch is the sovereign of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories, and holds the now constitutional position of head of state.
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Maundy money is a special British coinage given to deserving poor people in a religious ceremony performed by Anglicans on Maundy Thursday, the Thursday before Easter.

History of the Maundy ceremony


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Maundy Thursday — also called Holy Thursday and, in the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches, Great Thursday — is the feast or holy day on the Thursday before Easter that commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles.
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The Pope (from Latin: papa, father;[1] from Greek πάπας (papas) = father - originally written πάππας (
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Social Workers are concerned with social problems, their causes, their solutions and their human impacts. Social workers work with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities, as members of a profession which is committed to social justice and human rights.
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chaplain is typically a priest, pastor, ordained deacon or other member of the clergy serving a group of people who are not organized as a mission or church, or who are unable to attend church for various reasons; such as health, confinement, or military or civil duties; lay
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Christianity

Foundations
Jesus Christ
Church Theology
New Covenant Supersessionism
Dispensationalism
Apostles Kingdom Gospel
History of Christianity Timeline
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Old Testament New Testament
Books Canon Apocrypha
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History of Freemasonry Libert chrie Masonic manuscripts

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For other uses of this term, see Almoner.
The Grand Almoner of France or Grand aumônier de France was an officer of the French monarchy and a member of the Maison du Roi ("King's Household") during the Ancien Régime.
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