Anaya Nolan
The Catholic Church is the interpreter of God's revelation for all time, and it has the authority to enact laws that are obligatory for all the faithful. The laws of the Church, or Canon Law, are applications of the laws of God and govern how the Church operates and the obligations and duties of its members. The Church's laws are based on the moral law, which is unchanging, and the Church's self-understanding, which are part of the Deposit of Faith. The Pope and Bishops have the authority to make and change rules regarding the pursuit of holiness, such as fasting and abstinence, but they cannot change the moral law. The precepts of the Church are the minimum requirements in prayer and moral effort expected of the baptized, and they include obligations such as attending Mass on Sundays and holy days, confessing sins annually, and receiving the Eucharist during the Easter season.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who can make the laws | The Catholic Church |
| Who can interpret the laws | The Catholic Church |
| Who can change the laws | The Pope and Bishops |
| Who must follow the laws | The faithful |
| What are the laws based on | The laws of God |
| What do the laws include | Commandments, disciplines, and precepts |
| What are precepts | Minimum requirements in prayer and moral effort |
| What are some examples of precepts | Attending Mass on Sundays and holy days, confessing sins, receiving the Eucharist, fasting and abstinence, providing for the needs of the Church |
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What You'll Learn
The Pope and Bishops
One of the key precepts is the obligation to attend Mass and rest from servile labour on Sundays and holy days of obligation. This precept is linked to the sanctification of the Lord's Day of Resurrection and is considered essential for full communion with the Catholic Church. Another precept is the requirement to confess sins and receive the sacrament of Reconciliation at least once a year, preparing individuals for the reception of the Eucharist.
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Fasting and abstinence
The precepts of the Church are the minimum requirements in prayer and moral effort that are expected of the baptised. They are based on the laws of God and are applications of His teachings. The Church's precepts are distinct from the moral law and matters of faith proclaimed by the magisterium.
The obligation to observe the laws of fasting and abstinence is serious. While failure to observe one penitential day is not considered a serious sin, failure to observe any penitential days at all, or a substantial number of penitential days, is considered serious.
For Catholics, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence. The norms on fasting are obligatory for members of the Latin Catholic Church from the ages of 18 to 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal and two smaller meals that do not equal a full meal. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Latin Catholic Church from the age of 14 onwards.
Eastern Christians observe two major times of fasting: the "Great Fast" before Easter and "Phillip's Fast" before the Nativity. During the fast period before Christmas, specific practices vary, but some days involve abstaining from meat, dairy products, and oil, while other days have no restrictions.
The rules regarding fasting and abstinence can be changed by the pope and bishops if they believe it will be helpful to the pursuit of holiness. For example, the Church previously required that all Catholics abstain from meat every Friday of the year, but after 1965, this rule was changed to give Catholics a choice.
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Moral law
The precepts of the Church are applications of the laws of God and are set in the context of a moral life bound to and nourished by liturgical life. The Church's law provides rules and norms that help the faithful live a moral life and guide them towards holiness. These rules are called the precepts of the Church. They are the minimum requirements in prayer and moral effort expected of the baptised.
The precepts of the Church are distinct from the moral law and matters of faith proclaimed by the magisterium. The moral law is unchanging and comes from God, while the precepts of the Church are rules that the Church makes in particular times and places to guide the faithful. The Church does not make up the moral law but discovers it by reflecting on creation and divine revelation and faithfully transmitting it through its teachings. While popes and bishops can change rules about things like fasting, they have no authority to change the moral law.
The precepts of the Church are obligatory and are meant to guarantee the faithful the indispensable minimum in the spirit of prayer and moral effort. There are five precepts of the Church, according to the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
- To attend Mass on Sundays and other holy days of obligation and to refrain from work and activities which could impede the sanctification of those days
- To confess one's sins, receiving the sacrament of Reconciliation at least once each year
- To receive the sacrament of the Eucharist at least during the Easter season
- To observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church
- To help provide for the needs of the Church
These precepts are requirements that, together with the Ten Commandments, represent the minimum level of moral living. Intentional violation of the precepts is considered a grave matter, meaning a mortal sin.
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Commandments of the Church
The Catholic Church considers itself the interpreter of God's revelation for all time and, as such, has the authority to enact laws that are obligatory on all the faithful. These laws are called Canon Law and are rules and norms that guide the faithful towards holiness and a moral life. The precepts, or laws, of the Church are applications of the laws of God.
The Commandments of the Church, or the Precepts of the Church, are certain laws considered binding on the faithful. They are moral and ecclesiastical in nature, broad in character, and limited in number. In modern times, there are five:
- To attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation, and to refrain from work and activities that could impede the sanctification of those days.
- To confess one's sins and receive the sacrament of Reconciliation at least once each year.
- To receive the sacrament of the Eucharist at least during the Easter season.
- To abstain from eating meat.
- Not to attend Mass or other religious functions celebrated by a priest living in open concubinage.
It is important to note that the Church's rules are distinct from the moral law, which comes from God and does not change. The Church's rules are disciplines that can be adapted to particular circumstances and times. For example, the Church's laws regarding fasting and abstinence on Fridays have evolved over time.
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Eucharistic celebration
The laws and precepts of the Church are distinct from the moral law and matters of faith proclaimed by the magisterium. They are governed by Canon Law, which sets out the rules and norms that guide the faithful towards holiness. The precepts of the Church are the minimum requirements in prayer and moral effort expected of the baptised.
One such precept is the obligation to attend Mass and rest from servile labour on Sundays and holy days of obligation. This is linked to the 3rd Commandment of the Decalogue, sanctifying the Lord's Day of Resurrection. This precept also includes the obligation to assist at the Eucharistic celebration.
The Eucharist, derived from the Greek word "eucharistia", meaning "thanksgiving", is the source and summit of the Christian life. It is the sacrifice of the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus, which he instituted to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross. The Church celebrates the Eucharist to commemorate Christ's Passover, and it is believed that the sacrifice he offered once for all on the cross remains ever-present in the Eucharist.
The Liturgy of the Eucharist begins with the preparation of the gifts and the altar. Ministers prepare the altar, while representatives bring forward the bread and wine that will become the Body and Blood of Christ. Monetary gifts for the support of the Church and the care of the poor may also be offered. This is followed by the Eucharistic Prayer, which is the heart of the Liturgy. The Prayer of Consecration transforms the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit and the instrumentality of the priest.
The Eucharistic celebration is presided over by a bishop or priest acting in the person of Christ. All those gathered have their own active parts, including readers, those who bring up the offerings, and those who give communion. The Liturgy of the Word includes readings from the Old Testament ("the writings of the prophets") and the New Testament ("the memoirs of the apostles" and the Gospels). The Eucharistic assembly is a time when Christians come together in one place, with Christ himself as the principal agent, presiding invisibly.
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Frequently asked questions
The Catholic Church is responsible for making the laws and precepts that are binding on the faithful. The pope and bishops may command a particular practice that they believe will aid in the pursuit of holiness.
Disciplines can be changed, whereas the moral law is unchanging. The wrongness of abortion is a part of the moral law that comes from God, whereas the Church's rules about fasting are disciplines that can be changed.
The precepts of the Church include attending Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation, resting from servile labor, and helping to provide for the needs of the Church.
