PRECEPTS OF THE CHURCH

WHAT ARE THE PRECEPTS OF THE CHURCH?

• The minimum action that Catholics perform
• Remind us that we must pray and be active Catholics
• These are a requirement!
• Together with 10 commandments, represent the minimum level of mortal living
• Intentional violation of these is mortal sin!

WE MUST ATTEND MASS!

• The first precept is to attend mass
• We must go to mass on Sundays
• We must go to mass on Holy days of obligation
• We must sanctify the Lords day
• We must rest on the Lords day and leave it as a relaxation day

CONFESS YOUR SINS

• At LEAST once a year confess your sins
• They are multiplying in side of you
• When we confess our sins we are purified
• Reconciliation prepares us for the Eucharist
• It makes us clean so we can meet Christ

RECEIVE CHRIST

• We should have Christ in our body
• We should take the Eucharist at least during Easter
• When we recieve the Eucharist our bond with Christ is made stronger
• This is only the minimum amount

FASTING AND ABSTINENCE

• Jesus sacrificed for us, we must sacrifice for him
• You may be excused from fasting for certain reasons
• We should fast for Christ not because we have to
• God also sacrificed for us
• We should do something in return to show respect

HELPING OUR PARISH

• Our church helps us become better Catholics
• We should help them financially
• Time, Talent, and treasure should be given
• We want to help our church look beautiful
• He should help our church help others

MORE ON FASTING

• Fasting and abstinence are signs of repentance
• Repentance is to turn away from sin
• Catholic spirituality requires in repentance a form of penance
• Penance helps us resist temptation
• Only people who have a bad condition may be excused

ABSTINENCE

• Abstinence means you can't eat meat
• In some countries fasting is required all Fridays of the year
• All Catholics 14 and older must abstain
• Days of abstinence are: Good Friday, Ash Wednesday and all Fridays in lent
• We do this as a sacrifice for Christ

GO BEYOND

• Attend mass 2 or more times a week
• Make it a habit to practice your virtues
• Help your parish as much as possible
• Attend confession as much as possible
• The precepts are just the minimum!