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Simple English definitions for legal terms
free alms
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A quick definition of free alms:
Free Alms: A long time ago, people would give land to religious groups like churches. The religious group would promise to pray for the person who gave them the land. This was called free alms or frankalmoin. It was different from another type of promise called divine service, where the religious group had to do specific things like give out a certain number of alms or do a certain number of masses. Free alms was a way for people to give land and also have their soul prayed for.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: Free alms, also known as frankalmoin, is a type of spiritual tenure in which a religious institution holds land with the general duty to pray for the donor. This differs from the tenure by divine service, which requires specific church services.
Example: In medieval times, a wealthy landowner might donate land to a monastery or church in exchange for free alms. The religious institution would then be responsible for praying for the landowner's soul, but would not be required to perform specific services like a certain number of masses or alms distributions.
This example illustrates how free alms was a way for landowners to ensure their spiritual well-being while also benefiting religious institutions.