The Precepts
of the
Church
Some older Catholics will recall hearing about the Precepts of The Church, but
they aren’t discussed much anymore. Despite the lack of publicity, they still
exist and Catholics are obligated to follow them. Simply put, the Precepts of
the Church define the bare minimum that one must do in order to be considered a
Catholic in good standing. To put it bluntly, if all you are doing is meeting
these precepts you have some work to do. If you aren’t even meeting them… you
really better get busy!
As mentioned, these precepts should not be viewed as a goal to aspire
toward, but rather as a starting point. If we desire to become closer to Christ,
following the Precepts of the Church will give us a good foundation to build
upon.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines five precepts (CCC 2041-2043):
Precept #1
You shall attend Mass on Sundays and on holy days of obligation and rest from
servile labor
– Sadly, there are some Catholics that don’t feel the need to attend Mass on
Sunday or holy days of obligation, which is not only a violation of this
precept, but can be a mortal sin. For those who do attend Mass faithfully, it is
still possible to get caught up in the trap of using The Lord’s Day to catch up
on chores and go shopping. While at times this is necessary, we should
prayerfully consider the activities that occupy our Sundays. Time spent with
family is very important and fulfills the intent of this precept. Although it
goes against today’s culture, saying a family rosary or watching a religious
program on TV would be a great Sunday activity. Sharing a leisurely meal with
relatives gives us an opportunity to engage in fellowship and relaxation at the
same time. Obviously, there are some people whose jobs necessitate working on
Sunday and the Church understands. The main intent of this precept is to ensure
that we obey the commandment to “keep holy The Lord’s Day”.
Precept #2
You shall confess your sins at least once a year
– While the Church encourages frequent confession, all those conscious of mortal
sin are required to receive the Sacrament of Confession at least once each year,
and must receive the Sacrament of Confession before they may approach to receive
Holy Communion.
Precept #3
You shall receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist at least during the Easter season – Catholics are encouraged to receive The Body and Blood of Jesus as often as possible, but this precept binds us to do so “during the Easter season”. This minimal requirement helps us to appreciate the importance of Christ’s rising from the dead and urges us to receive His Body and Blood during the joyous Easter season.
Precept #4
You shall observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church
–
This one sounds simple, but many Catholics ignore it. The Church prescribes
mandatory fasting and abstinence in order to help us share in the suffering of
Christ. When compared to the excruciating pain suffered by Our Lord, abstaining
from meat or fasting from food is a small sacrifice to make. Our human nature
causes us to flee from any form of discomfort, so it really is a blessing that
the Church helps us with this matter. The Church recognizes that most of us
would not choose to voluntarily deprive ourselves, so they assist us with this
precept. Days of mandatory fasting
in the United States are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
Days of mandatory abstinence from meat are the Ash Wednesday, the Fridays
of Lent, and Good Friday. Some act
of penance is also required on all the Fridays of the year, and abstaining from
meat on all Fridays of the year is recommended.
Precept #5
You shall help to provide for the needs of the Church
– Certainly not a popular topic with many Catholics, but providing for the
temporal and financial needs of the Church is a requirement that must be obeyed.
The Church doesn’t mandate any particular amount, but we should be as generous
as possible. It’s easy to forget that everything we own (including our money)
comes from God, but keeping that in mind makes it easier to be generous with His
resources. Sacred Scripture speaks
of tithing, or giving back 10% to the Lord.