Focused Link: Who Invented Charity?

In the early fourth century, famine and disease struck the army of the Roman emperor Constantine. Pachomius, a pagan soldier in that army, watched in amazement as many of his fellow Romans brought food to the afflicted men and, without discrimination, bestowed help on those in need.

The full article:
http://catholiceducation.org/articles/history/world/wh0113.html