The Fourth of a Seven Part Series

July 23, 2023

You can read part one here, part two here, and part three here.

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 fourth 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.

Remember the first precept, that we are obligated to attend Mass on all the Holy Days of Obligation, and Sunday is always a Holy Day of Obligation. However, we are not obligated to receive the Holy Eucharist (Communion) at each of those Masses, for that-we need to be in a “state of grace” or free of mortal sin. Concerning the fourth precept, as evident by the percentage of people who receive the Holy Communion at Mass, most Catholics in the U.S. assume that they are supposed to receive Holy Communion if they attend Mass, this is not correct. Only those who are Catholic, have received their 1st Communion, and are not aware of unconfessed mortal sin are able to receive Holy Communion. God says to us through St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:27-30 “This means that whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily sins against the body and blood of the Lord. A man should examine himself first; only then should he eat of the bread and drink of the cup. He who eats and drinks without recognizing the body eats and drinks a judgment on himself. That is why many among you are sick and infirm, and why so many are dying.” It is a mortal sin to receive Holy Communion in a state of mortal sin. The last thing we want to do at Mass is commit a mortal sin!

We are obligated to put into practice precepts three and four at least once a year during the season of Lent or the season of Easter, both of which are about seven weeks long. We do this by going to Confession, and while still in a state of grace, receiving Holy Communion at Mass.

Next week: Precept #5

May Our Lord and His Blessed Mother Keep You,