Sarah Mitchell
The Catholic religion, a reformation of the Jewish faith, was established in the Mediterranean during the first century. It is a monotheistic religion, with 1.4 billion followers worldwide. The religion is led by the Pope, who resides in Vatican City, Rome. Catholics are required to live a Christian life, pray daily, participate in the sacraments, obey the moral law, and accept the teachings of Christ. The Ten Commandments are considered divine law and must be obeyed. Catholics must also attend Mass every Sunday, go to confession annually, receive Holy Communion during Easter, observe laws on fasting and abstinence, obey marriage laws, and support the Church.
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What You'll Learn
Obey the Ten Commandments
In the Catholic religion, the Ten Commandments are considered divine law, revealed by God himself. They are:
I am the Lord thy God
This commandment is about worship and monotheism. It commands Catholics to worship the Lord and serve Him only, insisting on the belief in one God. It forbids idolatry, the worship of false gods, and polytheism.
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain
This commandment commands reverence when speaking about God and holy things. It forbids blasphemy and the irreverent use of God's name.
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy
This commandment commands Catholics to go to church on Sundays and holy days of obligation. It forbids missing church without a valid reason and unnecessary work on those days.
Honour thy father and thy mother
This commandment commands respect and obedience towards parents and other superiors. It also commands parents to care for the spiritual and temporal welfare of their children. It forbids hatred, disrespect, and disobedience.
Thou shalt not kill
This commandment forbids murder, which is the killing of an innocent person.
Thou shalt not commit adultery
This commandment honours human sexuality.
- Thou shalt not steal
- Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour
- Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's goods
Obeying these commandments is considered a path to eternal happiness in Catholicism. They are viewed as commandments for protection rather than arbitrary rules.
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Attend Mass and receive Holy Communion
For Catholics, attending Mass and receiving Holy Communion are essential aspects of their faith. Mass is a gathering of the faithful to worship and receive spiritual nourishment. It is a time to hear God's Word, offer prayers, and receive the sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist.
Catholics are expected to attend Mass every Sunday and on Holy Days of Obligation. By participating in Mass, they fulfil their duty to worship God and receive His graces. During Mass, the priest consecrates the bread and wine, which become the Body and Blood of Christ through transubstantiation. This miracle is at the heart of Catholic belief and is known as the Holy Eucharist or Holy Communion.
Holy Communion is considered a great mystery and a spiritual gift, uniting the faithful with Christ and His Church. It is an intimate encounter with Christ, where Catholics sacramentally receive Him into their bodies. Catholics believe that in receiving Holy Communion, they deepen their unity with the Church and are strengthened to resist mortal sin.
To receive Holy Communion worthily, Catholics must be in a state of grace. This means they should be free from mortal sin and have fasted for at least one hour beforehand, with only water and medicine permitted during that time. The elderly, ill, and their caregivers are exempt from this Eucharistic fast. Additionally, individuals with serious sins must first receive forgiveness through the Sacrament of Reconciliation or confession.
While receiving Holy Communion is encouraged, it is not mandatory at every Mass. Catholics who do not receive Communion can still participate in the Mass, offering prayers and seeking God's blessing.
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Obey marriage laws and receive sacraments
Catholics are expected to follow a set of commandments that define ethical behaviour. The two major commandments are to love God and keep his commandments. The Ten Commandments, as outlined in the Old Testament books of Exodus and Deuteronomy, include:
- Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
- Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.
- Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
- Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
- Honour thy father and thy mother.
- Thou shalt not kill.
- Thou shalt not commit adultery.
- Thou shalt not steal.
- Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
- Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's goods.
In addition to these, there are six chief commandments of the Catholic Church.
One of the key commandments is to "honour thy father and thy mother", which includes obeying marriage laws. Marriage in the Catholic Church, or holy matrimony, is a sacred covenant between a man and a woman, intended to last a lifetime. It is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, which are rites performed by bishops or priests to bring grace from God to ordinary people. The other six sacraments include baptism, confirmation, first Eucharist, penance or reconciliation, anointing of the sick, and holy orders for ordained ministers.
To have a sacramental marriage in the Catholic Church, both parties must be baptised. If a Catholic wishes to marry a non-Catholic Christian, they must obtain consent from the diocesan bishop, known as "dispensation to enter into a mixed marriage". Marrying a non-Christian is seen as invalid unless a dispensation, or "dispensation from disparity of cult", is granted. In this case, the marriage is considered valid but natural rather than sacramental, as sacraments can only be received by the baptised.
Catholics who do not abide by the church's marriage laws are not permitted to receive Holy Communion or other sacraments, as they are considered to have put themselves out of communion with the Church. However, the Church does not close the door on those who marry outside of the Catholic faith. A priest can validate a civil union after the couple has completed premarital instructions and made a new act of consent, thus recognising their marriage as valid within the Church.
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Confess sins and accept forgiveness
The Catholic Church has a set of commandments and laws that guide the behaviour and practices of its followers. One of the key practices in Catholicism is the act of confessing sins and seeking forgiveness. This process is often referred to as the Sacrament of Penance, Reconciliation, or Confession.
Catholics believe that confessing their sins is an important part of their faith journey. They confess their sins to a priest, who acts as a human intermediary between them and God. This practice is based on the belief that Jesus Christ gave his apostles the authority to forgive sins in his stead. The apostles then passed on this authority to their successors, the bishops, and priests.
The act of confession involves a Catholic admitting their sins to a priest, expressing contrition or sorrow for their actions, and seeking absolution or forgiveness. This process is believed to restore the individual to a state of grace with God and the Church. It is recommended that Catholics go to confession at least once a year, but they can also confess as needed or on a regular basis.
There are two types of sins in Catholicism: mortal sins and venial sins. Mortal sins are considered more serious as they rupture the individual's relationship with God. These sins must be confessed before receiving Holy Communion. Venial sins, on the other hand, are less severe and can be forgiven at the start of every Mass. However, confessing venial sins regularly is still encouraged.
It is important to note that while Catholics confess their sins to a priest, they understand that it is God who ultimately forgives their sins. This belief is supported by Bible verses such as First John 1:9, which mentions "confessing our sins" without specifying the recipient of confession. Additionally, Catholics believe that confessing to a priest provides benefits such as learning humility, receiving sacramental graces, and obtaining guidance to avoid future sins.
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Love God and each other
The Catholic religion is monotheistic, meaning that Catholics believe in only one God. This God is referred to as almighty, eternal, immeasurable, incomprehensible, and infinite in understanding, will, and perfection. The Catholic God has three aspects, known as the Holy Trinity: God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
The two major commandments of the Catholic religion are that believers must love God and keep his commandments. The Ten Commandments are considered divine law because God himself revealed them. These commandments include "Thou shalt not kill", "Thou shalt not commit adultery", and "Thou shalt not steal". The commandment to love God is further supported by the belief that God is love and that he loves everyone. This is demonstrated by the fact that he sent his only Son, Jesus Christ, to become one of us and to save the human race.
As such, Catholics are instructed to love one another as God has loved them. This means showing kindness, generosity, and love towards others. It also means not using others for personal gain or being selfish, arrogant, or cruel. Catholics are also called to forgive others, as God has forgiven them through Jesus Christ.
To love God, Catholics are encouraged to build a relationship with Him through daily prayer and worship. This involves talking to God, telling Him what is in one's heart, and expressing gratitude for the good things He has given. Catholics are also instructed to read the Bible and learn more about the Catholic faith. By obeying God's commandments and putting their beliefs into action, Catholics can show their love for God and bring His love to perfection within themselves and the world.
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