The precepts of the The precepts of the ChurchChurch5555

STROZZI, BernardoThe Delivery of the Keys to St. Peter

Private Collection

Compendium of the Catechism

431. What purpose do the precepts of the Church have?

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The five precepts of the Church are meant to guarantee for the faithful the indispensable minimum in the spirit of prayer, the sacramental life, moral commitment and growth in love of God and neighbor.

Introduction

Everybody is convinced of the importance of keeping the law. We know that the most important law is God’s law.

As Jesus told the rich young man : " If you wish to enter into life,

keep the commandments” (Matthew 19:17).

To make it easy to fulfil God’s commandments, the Church has established some obligations for Christians called the precepts of the Church.

HORACE VERNET, Emile JeanPope Pius VIII

Chateau de VersaillesFrance

Main ideasMain ideas

1. Jesus Christ founded the Church for our salvation

Studying the Creed we have already seen that Jesus Christ came to this world to redeem us and to give us divine life; he founded the Church in order to continue his redeeming work and to lead us to salvation.

Jesus chose Peter and the other Apostles to govern the Church and to transmit their powers to their successors: teaching the Lord’s

doctrine, sanctifying through the

sacraments, governing with laws that

bind in conscience.

ARMITAGE, EdwardChrist Calling the Apostles James and John1869Sheffield Galleries and Museums Trust, UK

2. The Church and the power to enact laws

Christ certainly gave the Church power to govern, since he sent out the Apostles and their successors to the whole world to preach the Gospel: " As the Father sent me, so

am I sending you " (John 20:21).

" Anyone who listens to you listens to me " (Luke 10:16)

It is by virtue of this authority that the Church can enact laws and decrees. The five precepts of the Church deserve special consideration.

ITALIAN SCHOOLThe Council of Trent, 4th December 1563

Louvre, Paris

3. The raison d’être of the precepts of the Church

The precepts of the Church are a token of her love for her children because her only intention in enacting these obligations is to help us to keep God’s commandments.

The Church knows that it might be difficult to keep God’s will, so she teaches us some obligations that guarantee the way of our salvation.

DEAN, GrahamConfession1998 Private Collection

4. The five precepts

1. You shall attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation.

2. You shall confess your sins at least once a year, when in danger of death and in order to receive Holy Communion.

3. You shall humbly receive your Creator in Holy Communion at least during the Easter season.

4. You shall observe the prescribed days of fasting and abstinence.

5. You shall provide for the material needs of the Church.

RIVIERE, BritonChrist in the Wilderness

1898Guildhall Art Gallery

City of London

Resolutions for Christian lifeResolutions for Christian life

Resolutions to move forward

Learn by heart the precepts of the Church.

Pray every day for the needs of the Church, asking especially for the Pope, the bishops and the priests.