The Penny Catechism - Charity

 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS

Charity

169. What is Charity?

Charity is a supernatural gift of God by which we love God above all things, and our neighbour as ourselves for God's sake.

170. Why must we love God?

We must love God because he is infinitely good in himself and infinitely good to us

171. How do we show that we love God?

We show that we love God by keeping his commandments: for Christ says: 'If you love me, keep my commandments'. (John 14:15: Matt. 19:16-19.. Rom. 13..9-10)

172. How many Commandments are there?

There are ten Commandments.

173. Say the ten Commandments.

1. I am Yahweh your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no gods except me. You shall not make yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything in heaven, or on the earth beneath or in the waters under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them.
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
3. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
4. Honour your father and your mother.
5. You shall not kill.
6. You shall not commit adultery.
7. You shall not steal.
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.
9. You shall not covet your neighbour's wife.
10. You shall not covet your neighbour's goods.

174. Who gave the ten Commandments?

God gave the ten Commandments to Moses in the Old Law, and Christ confirmed them in the New.

The First Commandment

175. What is the first Commandment?

The first Commandment is, 'I am Yahweh your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no gods except me. You shall not make yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything in heaven, or on the earth beneath or in the waters under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them'.

176. What are we commanded to do by the first Commandment?

By the first Commandment we are commanded to worship the one, true, and living God, by Faith, Hope, Charity, and Religion.

177. What are the sins against Faith?

The sins mainst Faith are all false religions, wilful doubt, disbelief, or denial of any article of Faith, and also culpable ignorance of the doctrines of the Church.

178. How do we expose ourselves to the danger of losing our Faith?

We expose ourselves to the danger of losing our Faith by neglecting our spiritual duties, reading bad books, going to non-Catholic schools.

179. What are the sins against Hope?

The sins against Hope are despair and presumption.

180. What are the chief sins against Religion?

The chief sins against Religion are the worship of false gods or idols, and the giving to any creature whatsoever the honour which belongs to God alone.

181. Does the first Commandment forbid the making of images?

The first Commandment does not forbid the making of images, but the making of idols; that is, it forbids us to make images to be adored and honoured as gods.

182. Does the first Commandment forbid dealing with the devil and superstitious practices?

The first Commandment forbi& all dealing with the devil and superstitious practices, such as consulting spiritualists and fortune-tellers, and trusting to charms, omens, dreams, and such-like fooleries.

183. Are all sins of sacrilege and simony also forbidden by the first Commandment?

All sins of sacrilege and simony are also forbidden by the first Commandment.

184. Is it forbidden to give divine honour or worship to the Angels and Saints?

It is forbidden to give divine honour or worship to the Angels and Saints, for this belongs to God alone.

185. What kind of honour or worship should we pay to the Angels and Saints?

We should pay to the Angels and Saints an inferior honour or worship, for this is due to them as the servants and special friends of God.

186. What honour should we give to relies, crucifixes, and holy pictures?

We should give relics, crucifixes, and holy pictures a relative honour, as they relate to Christ and his Saints, and are memorials of them.

187. Do we pray to relics or images?

We do not pray to relies or images, for they can neither see, nor hear, nor help us.

The Second Commandment

188. What is the second Commandment?

The second Commandment is, 'You shall not take the name of the Lord Your God in vain'.

189. What are we commanded by the second Commandment?

By the second Commandment we are commanded to speak with reverence of God and all holy persons and things, and to keep our lawful oaths and vows.

190. What does the second Commandment forbid?

The second Commandment forbids all false, rash, unjust, and unnecessary oaths; as also blaspheming, cursing and profane words.

191. Is it ever lawful to swear or to take an oath?

It is lawful to swear, or to take an oath, only when God's honour, or our own, or our neighbour's good requires it.

The Third Commandment

192. What is the third Commandment?

The third Commandment is 'Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.'

193. What are we commanded by the third Commandment?

By the third Commandment we are commanded to keep the Sunday holy.

194. How are we to keep the Sunday holy?

We are to keep the Sunday holy by hearing Mass and resting from servile works.

195. Why are we commanded to rest from servile works?

We are commanded to rest from servile works that we may have time and opportunity for prayer, going to the Sacraments, hearing instructions, and reading good books.

The Fourth Commandment

196. What is the fourth Commandment?

The fourth Commandment is, 'Honour your father and your mother.'

197. What are we commanded by the fourth Commandment?

By the fourth Commandment we are commanded to love, reverence, and obey our parents in all that is not sin.

198. Are we commanded to obey our parents only?

We are commanded to obey, not only our parents, but also our bishops and pastors, the civil authorities, and our lawful superiors.

199. Are we bound to assist our parents in their wants?

We are bound to assist our parents in their wants, both spiritual and temporal.

200. Are we bound in justice to contribute to the support of our pastors?

We are bound in justice to contribute to the support of our pastors; for St Paul says: 'The Lord directed that those who preach the Gospel should get their living from the Gospel'. (1 Cor. 9:14)

201. What is the duty of parents towards their children?

The duty of parents towards their children is to provide for them, to instruct and correct them, and to give them a good Catholic education.

202. What is the duty of masters, mistresses, and other superiors?

The duty of masters, mistresses, and other superiors is to take proper care of those under their charge, and to enable them to practise their religious duties.

203. What does the fourth Commandment forbid?

The fourth Commandment forbids all contempt, stubbornness, and disobedience to our parents and lawful superiors.

204. Is it sinful to belong to a Secret Society?

It is sinful to belong to any Secret Society that plots against the Church or State, or to any Society that by reason of its secrecy is condemned by the Church; for St Paul says: 'You must all obey the governing authorities. Since all government comes from God, the civil authorities were appointed by God, and so anyone who resists authority is rebelling against God's decision, and such an act is bound to be punished.' (Rom. 13:1.2)

The Fifth Commandment

205. What is the fifth Commandment?

The fifth Commandment is, 'You shall not kill'.

206. What does the fifth Commandment forbid?

The fifth Commandment forbids all wilful murder, fighting, quarrelling, and injurious words; and also scandal and bad example.

207. Does the fifth Commandment forbid anger?

The fifth Commandment forbids anger, and still more, hatred and revenge.

208. Why are scandal and bad example forbidden by the fifth Commandment?

Scandal and bad example are forbidden by the fifth Commandment, because they lead to the injury and spiritual death of our neighbour's soul.

The Sixth Commandment

209. What is the sixth Commandment?

The sixth Commandment is, 'You shall not commit adultery'.

210. What does the sixth Commandment forbid?

The sixth Commandment forbids all sins of impurity with another's wife or husband.

211. Does the sixth Commandment forbid whatever is contrary to holy purity?

The sixth Commandment forbids whatever is contrary to holy purity in looks, words, or actions.

212. Are immodest plays and dances forbidden by the sixth Commandment?

Immodest plays and dances are forbidden by the sixth Commandment, and it is sinful to look at them.

213. Does the sixth Commandment forbid immodest songs, books, and pictures?

The six Commandment forbids immodest songs, books, and pictures, because they are most dangerous to the soul, and lead to mortal sin.

The Seventh Commandment

214. What is the seventh Commandment?

The seventh Commandment is, 'You shall not steal'.

215. What does the seventh Commandment forbid?

The seventh Commandment forbids all unjust taking away, or keeping what belongs to another.

216. Is all manner of cheating in buying and selling forbidden by the seventh Commandment?

All manner of cheating in buying and selling is forbidden by the seventh Commandment, and also every other way of wronging our neighbour.

217. Are we bound to restore ill-gotten goods?

We are bound to restore ill-gotten goods if we are able, or else the sin will not be forgiven; we must also pay our debts.

218. Is it dishonest for workers to waste their employer's time or property?

It is dishonest for workers to waste their employer's time or property, because it is wasting what is not their own.

The Eighth Commandment

219. What is the eighth Commandment?

The eighth Commandment is, 'You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour'.

220. What does the eighth Commandment forbid?

The eighth Commandment forbids all false testimony, rash judgment, and lies.

221. Are calumny and detraction forbidden by the eighth Commandment?

Calumny and detraction are forbidden by the eighth Commandment, and also tale-bearing, and any words which injure our neighbour's character.

222. If you have injured your neighbour by speaking ill of him, what are you bound to do?

If I have injured my neighbour by speaking ill of him, I am bound to make him satisfaction by restoring his good name as far as I can.

The Ninth Commandment

223. What is the ninth Commandment?

The ninth Commandment is, 'You shall not covet your neighbour's wife'.

224. What does the ninth Commandment forbid?

The ninth Commandment forbids all wilful consent to impure thoughts and desires, and all wilful pleasure in the irregular motions of the flesh.

225. What sins commonly lead to the breaking of the sixth and ninth Commandments?

The sins that commonly lead to the breaking of the sixth and ninth Commandments are gluttony, drunkenness, and intemperance, and also idleness, bad company, and the neglect of prayer.

The Tenth Commandment

226. What is the tenth Commandment?

The tenth Commandment is, 'You shall not covet your neighbour's goods'.

227. What does the tenth Commandment forbid?

The tenth Commandment forbids all envious and covetous thoughts and unjust desires of our neighbour's goods and profits.

The Commandments of the Church

228. Are we bound to obey the Church?

We are bound to obey the Church, because Christ has said to the pastors of the Church: 'Anyone who listens to you, listens to me: anyone who rejects you rejects me'. (Luke 10:16)

229. What are the chief Commandments of the Church?

The chief Commandments of the Church are: 
1. To keep the Sundays and Holy days of Obligation holy, by hearing Mass and resting from servile works.
2. To observe the appointed days of penance.
3. To go to confession at least once a year.
4. To receive the Blessed Sacrament at least once a year, and that at Easter or thereabouts.
5. To contribute to the support of our pastors.
6. Not to marry within certain degrees of kindred.

230. What is the first Commandment of the Church?

The first Commandment of the Church is, 'To keep the Sundays and Holy days of Obligation holy, by. hearing Mass and resting from servile works'.

231. Which are the Holy days of Obligation observed in England and Wales?

The Holy days of Obligation observed in England and Wales are: Christmas Day, the Epiphany, the Ascension, Corpus Christi, SS Peter and Paul, the Assumption of our Lady, and All Saints.

232. Are Catholics bound to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy days of Obligation?

Catholics are under a serious obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy days of Obligation unless prevented by other serious duties or by ill-health.

233. Are parents, masters, and mistresses bound to provide that those under their charge shall hear Mass on Sundays and Holy days of Obligation?

Parents, masters and mistresses are bound to provide that those under their charge shall hear Mass on Sundays and Holy days of Obligation.

234. What is the second Commandment of the Church?

The second Commandment of the Church is 'To observe the appointed days of penance'.

235. Which are the appointed days of penance?

The appointed days of penance are each Friday of the year and the Season of Lent.

236. What are days of Penance?

Days of Penance are days on which we are in a special manner to devote ourselves to prayer, works of charity and self-denial.

237. What are the Friday forms of Penance?

On Fridays other than Solemnities we are to abstain from meat or some other food, drink or amusement or undertake one of the other works of penance stipulated by the Bishops' Conference. (Abstinence is binding from the age of 14).

238. On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday what forms of penance are we to observe?

On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday we are to fast and observe the Friday forms of penance.

239. What is fasting?

Fasting is eating considerably less food. The Church commands us to fast and abstain that so we may mortify the flesh and satisfy God for our sins. (Fasting is binding between the age of 18 and 59).

240. How often should we go to Confession?

If we have been guilty of serious sin we should go to Confession as soon as possible, but never less than once a year.

241. How soon are children bound to go to confession?

Children are bound to go to confession as soon as they have come to the use of reason, and are capable of serious sin.

242. When are children generally supposed to come to the use of reason?

Children are generally supposed to come to the use of reason about the age of seven years.

243. What is the fourth Commandment of the Church?

The fourth Commandment of the Church is, 'To receive the Blessed Sacrament at least once a year, and that at Easter or thereabouts.

244. How soon are Christians bound to receive the Blessed Sacrament?

Christians are bound to receive the Blessed Sacrament as soon as they are capable of distinguishing the Body of Christ from ordinary bread, and are judged to be sufficiently instructed.

245. What is the fifth Commandment of the Church?

The fifth Commandment of the Church is, 'To contribute to the support of our pastors'.

246. Is it a duty to contribute to the support of religion?

It is a duty to contribute to the support of religion according to our means, so that God may be duly honoured and worshipped, and the kingdom of his Church extended.

247. What is the sixth Commandment of the Church?

The sixth Commandment of the Church is, 'Not to marry within certain degrees of kindred'.

248. Are there any times of the year in which it is forbidden to marry?

There are no times of the year in which it is forbidden to marry, but couples who marry during Advent or Lent should take into consideration the special liturgical nature of these times.

Image Credit Waiting for the Word