The Precepts Of The Church

[ContemporaryCaflicCrusader]

Hey. My dad and I had a discussion that was more of an arguement. He would just about swear up and down there are 5 precepts of the Church when I showed him in my old Baltimore Chatechism that there are 6, He showed me in some newer official Catholic book, approved by the Knights of Columbus that there are 5. I remember it as from High School Theology as...

Confession yearly.

Give what you can in time and $.

Eucharist During Lent.

Mass on all Sundays or Saturday nights and on Holy days of obligation.

Marry in the Church.

Fast and Obstain on days required.


Whose right? Appreciate thoughts and comments and stuff. God Bless and peace.

[TeresaBenedicta]

+JM

Great question!

Here is a [url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04154a.htm"]great article[/url] on the history of the Precepts of the Church.

It gives you:

I. The nature of the Commandments of the Church in general;
II. The history of the Commandments of the Church;
III. Their classification.

And, as a quick answer to your question, the first sentence under roman numeral number three:

[quote]The Church in her supreme authority has defined nothing regarding the form and number of the Commandments of the Church. [/quote]

Of course, we follow and are bound to the current direction and teaching of our Bishops. The Catechism of the Catholic Church currently gives us:

-to keep the Sundays and Holy Days of obligation holy, by hearing Mass and resting from servile work;
-to keep the days of fasting and abstinence appointed by the Church;
-to go to confession at least once a year;
-to receive the Blessed Sacrament at least once a year and that at Easter or thereabouts;
-to contribute to the support of our pastors;
-not to marry within a certain degree of kindred nor to solemnize marriage at the forbidden times.

Hope that helps! God bless you!

-TB