The Precepts of the Catholic Faith, Part 3
The Third of a Seven Part Series
Jesus Christ: yesterday, today, and forever.
This week we continue our series on the Precepts of the Catholic Church: “pre” meaning “before”, and “cept” meaning “life” – before there can be full life in God, these seven laws must be observed. Failure to live them out would constitute a mortal sin: when one has knowledge of them, and acts without undue coercion to disregard them. “The obligatory character of these positive laws decreed by pastoral authorities is meant to guarantee to the faithful the very necessary minimum in the spirit of prayer and moral effort, in the growth in love of God and neighbor”. Catechism #2041. This week we continue working our way through them by exploring the third precept. They are listed here again as a reminder.
The Precepts of the Catholic Church
To attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation and resting from servile works.
To observe the days of abstinence and fasting.
To confess our sins to a priest, at least once a year.
To receive Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist at least once a year during Easter Season.
To contribute to the support of the Church (tithing & volunteering).
To obey the laws of the Church concerning Matrimony.
To participate in the Church's mission of Evangelization of Souls.
Forgiveness of sins is so important that God decided to sacramentalize it. Today the Catechism of the Catholic Church calls that sacrament by various names: Confession, Reconciliation, Penance, Forgiveness, and even Conversion. A supernatural thing happens when we go to confession: our sins are absolved (removed), no matter how bad or how often they have been committed, and we are restored and strengthened in our life of grace with God. There is no other way on earth to have our mortal sins absolved other than through sacramental confession. So why don’t more people take advantage of it: ignorance of the information being presented here, and pride.
After Adam and Eve had sinned, they too did not want to confess their guilt to God, they hid remember? Its human nature to protect ourselves and confessing our sins feels a whole lot like making ourselves more vulnerable, not stronger. Ask yourself this: is a marriage stronger or weaker after a spouse has apologized for hurting the other? At its core, the Sacrament of Confession is about restoring our relationship with God to what it should be.
The third Precept sets us up for the fourth precept in that we can only receive Holy Communion in a state of grace. If one is aware of a mortal sin, then that person needs to go to Confession before receiving Holy Communion lest another mortal sin be committed at Mass.
Lastly: the saints went to Confession often, not because they necessarily had mortal or even venial sins to confess (they had faults), but because they relied on God’s grace from the sacrament to help them grow in holiness. Although the Church tells us that we need to go to Confession at least once a year, she suggests that we go monthly. Pope Francis revealed recently that he goes to Confession every other week. St. Teresa of Calcutta and her entire order of sisters known as the Sisters of Charity, go to Confession weekly, I try to do the same. Many saints used this sacrament weekly too. Please take advantage of Sacramental Confession frequently, but at a minimum at least once a year. Confessions at Holy Redeemer are offered on Fridays 4-5:15pm, Saturdays 3-4:15, and Sundays before all three Masses. Please make a point to come frequently.
Next week: precept #4.
May Our Lord and His Blessed Mother Keep You,
Fr. Thomas Nathe
