Charity and the Decalogue
What is charity?
Charity is an infused and supernatural virtue by which we love God for Himself and our neighbor for God.
How many commandments does the precept of charity contain?
The precept of charity contains two main commandments: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength; this is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. In these two commandments is contained the whole doctrine of the law and the prophets.
What is the distinctive characteristic of charity towards God?
The distinctive characteristic of charity towards God is the observance of the commandments. “For the love of God consists in keeping His commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome.” And Jesus Christ Himself teaches us: Whoever has received My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me.
What are the distinctive characteristics of charity towards the neighbor?
Charity is patient and full of goodwill; it is not envious, does not act with malice, is not puffed up, is not ambitious, does not seek its own interests, is not easily angered, does not think evil, does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth : it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Why did God promulgate the Ten Commandments of the Decalogue?
Although the fullness of the law is contained in the two precepts of charity, the precepts of the Decalogue were added so that all men might more clearly understand what is necessary to show this charity to God and to the neighbor.
What are the precepts of the Decalogue?
You shall worship one God, and love Him perfectly.
You shall not take God’s name in vain, nor anything else in the same way.
You shall keep the Sundays holy by devoutly serving God.
You shall honor your father and mother in order to live long.
You shall not kill, neither by action nor by consent.
You shall not commit lustful acts, neither by the body nor by consent.
You shall not take or keep the goods of others knowingly.
You shall not bear false witness, nor lie in any way.
You shall not desire the work of the flesh except in marriage.
You shall not covet the goods of others to have them unjustly.
What does the first commandment: You shall worship one God mean?
The first commandment: You shall worship one God forbids and condemns idolatry or the worship of false gods, magic, divination, vain observances, or superstitions; in a word, all impious worship. At the same time, it commands us to believe in, honor, and invoke one God, supremely great and good.
Is it permissible to honor and invoke the Saints?
Yes, we may honor and invoke the Saints; but the worship we give them is much inferior to the worship we owe to God. We honor and invoke God as our Creator, Redeemer, and the source of all good; whereas we honor and invoke the Saints as God’s intimate friends, as our intercessors and patrons before Him.
Is the veneration of images of Jesus Christ and the Saints contrary to this commandment?
No, the veneration of images is not contrary to this commandment; for these words from the law of Moses, You shall make no graven images, are immediately followed by the reason: to worship them, meaning as the pagans did, who raised statues to false gods and rendered sacrilegious worship to their idols. But we honor in the images of Jesus Christ and the Saints the persons they represent, following the pious custom and tradition of our forefathers.
What does the second commandment: You shall not take the name of God in vain forbid?
The second commandment: You shall not take the name of God in vain forbids the abuse of God’s name and the irreverence committed by perjurers and blasphemers, who invoke God, the Saints, or any other creature without sufficient cause, truth, or respect.
What does the third commandment: You shall keep the Sundays holy command us?
The third commandment: You shall keep the Sundays holy commands us to sanctify the seventh day, that is, the day dedicated in the Church to the service of God through works of piety, by attending church and assisting at Mass. Moreover, it absolutely forbids work and servile labor on those days.
We are currently living through the Great Apostasy, during which the true, uncompromising traditional Catholic faith has nearly vanished. As a result, there are nearly no options to attend Mass and receive Communion today. However, there are still options for Confession.
Please note that before approaching Confession or receiving any other Sacrament, one must fully embrace and profess the true traditional Catholic Faith without compromise. This includes rejecting all heretical groups, such as the Vatican II Sect, the SSPX, the FSSP, the SSPV, the CMRI, and others, along with their heresies.
What does the fourth commandment: Honor your father and mother command us?
The fourth commandment: Honor your father and mother commands us to give respect, obedience, and assistance to those who are, after God, the authors of our life, in a word, all kinds of good service. It also commands us to regard civil and ecclesiastical superiors as our fathers and teachers, to obey them willingly, and to respect their power and authority.
How should we show respect for the power of the Church?
We should show respect for the power of the Church through our veneration and complete submission to the ecumenical councils, the institutions, and decrees of the Apostles and the Fathers adopted by the Church, the practices approved by antiquity, and the authority of the early pastors and Popes. It is a serious fault against this commandment to attack and outrage divine worship, the regulations and ceremonies of the Church; to speak ill of the councils and Popes; to usurp the rights of priests and churches; and to profane holy things.
What does the fifth commandment: You shall not kill forbid?
The fifth commandment: You shall not kill forbids violence, murder, and anything that could harm the body and life of our neighbor. It also condemns and absolutely forbids anger, hatred, resentment, indignation, and any unruly affection that tends to hurt our neighbor in any way.
What does the sixth commandment: You shall not commit adultery forbid?
The sixth commandment: You shall not commit adultery forbids everything that is contrary to honesty, modesty, and chastity.
What does the seventh commandment: You shall not steal forbid?
The seventh commandment: You shall not steal forbids the unlawful use and usurpation of the goods of others, such as theft, plunder, usury, unjust gains, fraud, and unjust contracts; in short, any exchange or sharing that harms Christian charity and tends to deceive the neighbor.
What does the eighth commandment: You shall not bear false witness forbid?
The eighth commandment: You shall not bear false witness forbids false testimony, lying, perjury, and any abuse of speech to the detriment of our neighbor, such as murmuring, detraction, slander, flattery, and any word against the truth.
What do the last two commandments: You shall not desire the flesh and You shall not covet the goods of others forbid?
The last two commandments: You shall not desire the flesh and You shall not covet the goods of others forbid any wrongful desire against purity or the goods of others; for not only are we forbidden from unjustly seizing the goods of others according to our whims, but we are also forbidden to even covet them. We should be content with what we have, living free from envy, jealousy, and greed.
What is the summary and end of the precepts of the Decalogue?
The summary and end of the precepts of the Decalogue is the sincere love of God and of our neighbor. We have a symbol of this in the division of the law into two tables: the first contained the three commandments related to the love of God, and the second contained the seven that relate to the love of our neighbor.
How do the commandments of the first table teach the love of God?
The commandments of the first table teach the love of God:
By condemning and banishing vices contrary to the worship and honor of God: idolatry, apostasy, heresy, perjury, and superstitions;
By warning us to render true and pure worship to God with our heart, mouth, and actions. In this way, God receives from us the worship of adoration, or latria, which is due to Him alone.
How do the commandments of the second table teach us to love our neighbor?
The commandments of the second table teach us to love our neighbor by outlining our duties towards him. These duties not only require us to honor those in authority over us, but also to wish well to our neighbor, to serve him through our actions and words, and not to harm him in his person, family, or property.
What is the summary of the commandments related to the love of our neighbor?
The summary of the commandments related to the love of our neighbor is contained in these two words: Do not do to others what you do not want done to you. Do to others what you want them to do to you. This is the whole doctrine of the law and the prophets.
Are there other commandments besides the Decalogue?
Yes, there are other commandments, and it is not only useful but also necessary to observe them. These are primarily the commandments of the Church, to which we are all children and to which we owe obedience as to the Bride of Christ, and our very holy Mother.
How many commandments of the Church are there?
There are six main ones:
You shall sanctify the feast days that are commanded to you.
You shall attend Mass on Sundays and on feast days as well.
You shall confess all your sins at least once a year.
You shall receive your Creator humbly at least at Easter.
You shall fast on Ember Days, vigils, and throughout Lent.
You shall not eat meat on Fridays, nor on Saturdays likewise.
What benefit do we gain from observing these commandments?
These and similar commandments strengthen the faith, humility, and obedience of the faithful.
They provide for all that is necessary or appropriate for divine worship, wise discipline, and public tranquility, thus wonderfully ensuring that everything in the Church is conducted decently and in order.
Finally, if our obedience is enlivened by charity, it merits for us eternal life.