Bulletin Q&A Article, published 11-5-23:
Would you please list and discuss the five precepts of the Church?
This is an interesting request because we don’t often talk about the precepts of the Church, but we should. The Catechism states: “The precepts of the Church are set in the context of a moral life bound to and nourished by liturgical life. The obligatory character of these positive laws decreed by the pastoral authorities is meant to guarantee to the faithful the indispensable minimum in the spirit of prayer and moral effort, in the growth in love of God and neighbor.” (CCC #2041) I underlined obligatory and minimum to emphasize that the precepts are not optional and that they are minimum requirements demanded by the Church. The Catechism lists the five precepts in paragraphs #2042 & #2043, and provides references to the Canon laws which provide the basis for them. (Note: The list of precepts in the online Catechism at vatican.va does not directly correspond with the list from the printed Catechism referenced here.)
- You shall attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation and rest from servile labor. Canon #1247 states: “On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are obliged to participate in the Mass. Moreover, they are to abstain from those works and affairs which hinder the worship to be rendered to God, the joy proper to the Lord’s day, or the suitable relaxation of mind and body.” It is important to remember the importance of observing holy days of obligation. They are not optional.
- You shall confess your sins at least once a year. Canon #989 states: “After having reached the age of discretion, each member of the faithful is obliged to confess faithfully his or her grave sins at least once a year.” Technically, the obligation only applies to the confession of mortal sins.
- You shall receive the sacrament of the Eucharist at least during the Easter season. Canon #920 states: “After being initiated into the Most Holy Eucharist, each of the faithful is obliged to receive holy communion at least once a year. This precept must be fulfilled during the Easter season unless it is fulfilled for a just cause at another time during the year.”
- You shall observe the prescribed days of fasting and abstinence. Canon 1249 states: “The divine law binds all the Christian faithful to do penance each in his or her own way. In order for all to be united among themselves by some common observance of penance, however, penitential days are prescribed on which the Christian faithful devote themselves in a special way to prayer, perform works of piety and charity, and deny themselves by fulfilling their own obligations more faithfully and especially by observing fast and abstinence, according to the norm of the following canons.” The norms for fasting and abstinence are presented in Canons #1250 & #1251: “The penitential days and times in the universal Church are every Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent. Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.”
- You shall help to provide for the needs of the Church. This precept is captured in Canon #222: “The Christian faithful are obliged to assist with the needs of the Church so that the Church has what is necessary for divine worship, for the works of the apostolate and of charity, and for the decent support of ministers. They are also obliged to promote social justice and, mindful of the precept of the Lord, to assist the poor from their own resources.” Sometimes, because of issues we might have with the Church as an institution, we may be inclined to only donate directly to charities. It is important to remember that we are obligated to contribute to the Church through our weekly envelopes and through fund drives such as the CSA.
Once again, it must be clear that following these precepts is obligatory. They are considered grave matter and thus failure to follow them can be considered mortally sinful, subject to the normal conditions of knowledge and will. The precepts are also the minimum requirements for a Catholic. We should all strive to do more than the minimum out of love for God and our neighbor, so that we can grow in holiness and not just be good enough.