(CNS illustration; photo by Brad Birkholz) By Anna Jones • Catholic News Service • Posted March 12, 2021 Most Catholics are intimately aware of the three pillars of Lenten practice — prayer, fasting and almsgiving. And in these unprecedented times that have become the new normal, that call to prayer, fasting and, yes, even almsgiving, remains. Almsgiving is a “a witness to fraternal charity” and “a work of justice pleasing to God,” according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (No. 2462). Put simply, it is donating money or goods and doing works of charity. Unfortunately, due to the financial challenges so many have faced throughout the pandemic, almsgiving may seem out of reach.