The Precepts of the Church
First Precept of the Church#
Have I...
- You shall attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation and rest from servile labor.
Second Precept of the Church#
You shall confess your sins (to a Priest) at least once a year. Have I...
- Made a good Confession of my mortal sins at least once a year?
- Purposely omitted telling my mortal sins in my last Confession?
- Neglected to perform the penance I was given?
- Neglected to make reparation for any harm I have done to others?
Third Precept of the Church#
You shall humbly receive your Creator in Holy Communion at least once during the Easter season. Have I...
- Neglected to fulfill my Easter duty to receive Holy Communion at least once between the First Sunday of Lent and Trinity Sunday?
- Received Holy Communion while in the state of mortal sin?
- Failed to fast for at least one hour before receiving Holy Communion?
- Received Holy Communion more than twice in one day?
Fourth Precept of the Church#
You shall observe the prescribed days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church. Have I...
- Neglected to do penance every Friday of the year, if not abstaining from meat?
- Neglected to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent (if I am 14 years of age and/or older)?
- Neglected to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday (if I am between the ages of 18 and 59)?
- Participated in diversions on days of penance (e.g., attended crawfish boils and fish fries, ballgames, movies, shopping on Ash Wednesday & Good Friday)?
- Neglected to spend time in prayer, do spiritual and corporal works of mercy, and practice self-denial?
Fifth Precept of the Church#
You shall contribute to the support of the Church. Have I...
- Neglected to contribute a just amount of my time, talents and money to support my parish and the work of the Church?
- Neglected to support the Church by not trying to become a saint or by not striving to make sincere progress each day in sanctity?
An Additional Precept of the Church#
You shall observe the laws of the Church concerning marriage. Have I...
- Been living in a invalid and/or illicit marriage according to the laws of the Catholic Church?
- Abandoned my spouse and/or family by separation or divorce?
- Kept company with someone whom I cannot marry in the Catholic Church?
- Given scandal by living with a member of the opposite sex without the benefit of a marriage blessed by the Catholic Church?
- Entered into marriage with more than one person at the same time?
- Failed to embrace the teachings given by the Catholic Church, which are supported by the Natural Law: that marriage can only exist between one man and one woman, and that no other union (i.e., between members of the same sex) can be a valid natural and/or sacramental marriage? [If one holds that same sex unions can be valid marriages one must recant and repent before one can make a valid confession.]
- Supported pro same-sex union politicians?
- Publicly proclaimed that the Church's teaching on marriage is wrong and as such taught others to reject it?