What Are Precepts?
In a Catholic context, the word “precept” is nearly synonymous with the word “commandment.” In general, the word “commandment” makes us think of the ten moral laws which God revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai (see Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5). However, since Our Lord has entrusted His authority to the Catholic Church, the Church can also decree moral laws which bind us.
Today the laws of the Church are generally grouped as a body in the Code of Canon Law. The faithful remain largely ignorant of most of these laws, as they are rarely affected by them. However, the Precepts of the Church are set apart because they bind all Catholics and directly impact how we live our Catholic lives.
These long-standing laws are part of our Catholic tradition. Magisterial legislation, including councils and papal teaching, have addressed these matters over the centuries. In the past, catechisms always listed these Six Precepts. Catholic children preparing for First Holy Communion were required to memorize them, alongside the Ten Commandments.
How Many Precepts Are There?
The Precepts of the Church are traditionally listed as six. These are precepts (or Commandments) of the Church which Catholics have a solemn obligation to obey. This responsibility constitutes grave matter. Therefore, a knowing and willful disregard, or rejection, of these precepts is considered mortally sinful.[i]
The six principal Precepts of the Catholic Church are:[ii]
- To assist at Holy Mass on all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation;
- To fast and abstain on all days appointed;
- To confess our sins at least once a year;
- To receive Holy Communion at least once a year (Easter season);
- To contribute to the support of the Church;
- To observe the laws of the Church concerning Marriage
Unfortunately, the Sixth Precept is omitted on more recent lists.[iii] Thus, some lists of Precepts maintain only five in number. To confuse matters further, other lists also include a seventh precept: to participate in the Church’s mission of evangelization of souls. In some explanations, this seventh precept is blended with the fifth.
The Six Precepts of the Catholic Church in Detail
- To Assist at Holy Mass on All Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation
The Third Commandment requires Sundays to be kept holy and, in doing so, explicitly forbids servile work on that day. The Church further commands that all Sundays – and all other Holy Days of Obligation – are mandatory days of Mass attendance. Missing Mass on one of these days without a grave reason or without dispensation – illness, inability to reasonably obtain transportation, etc. – is therefore mortally sinful.
But the Commandment to honor the Lord’s Day, which can never be optional, is different than the precept to attend Mass on Sundays. They are related but not the same.
The First Precept of the Church requires Catholics to assist (i.e., hear and attend) Holy Mass on all Holy Days of Obligation (also called ‘days of precept’). But unlike Sundays, these days have changed over the course of the centuries. The local bishop normally oversees the legislation of these days.
As affirmed in both the 1917 and 1983 Codes of Canon Law, Mass attendance is satisfied only at a Catholic rite of Mass. As a result, Catholics do not fulfill their obligation at Orthodox Liturgies, even though such priests do offer a valid, though illicit, Liturgy. However, Catholics may certainly fulfill their obligation at Eastern Rite Catholic Liturgies (e.g., Byzantine, Mozarabic, Maronite, etc.). The vast majority of Catholics in the West belong to the Roman Rite, so they satisfy their obligation at the Traditional Latin Mass. This was declared valid in perpetuity by Pope St. Pius V (Quo Primum, 1570). Since 1969, the Pope and local bishops have also accepted that attendance at the New Order of Mass satisfies this precept.
Failure to attend Holy Mass on a Holy Day of Obligation (as well as on Sundays) without a valid reason to miss the Mass (e.g., a dispensation, illness, transportation issue, etc.) is a mortal sin that must be confessed in the Sacrament of Confession. See “How Can I Sanctify Sundays …?” for more information.
- To Fast and Abstain on All Days Appointed
The requirement to fast and abstain on certain days is determined by the Church and has been legislated and observed since the time of the Apostles. The Apostles themselves instituted the Lenten fast and weekly fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays. In addition to these days, fasting on certain vigils and during certain periods (e.g., leading up to Christmas, leading up to the Feast of the Assumption, etc.) had been practiced throughout the centuries.
Unfortunately, as per the current Code of Canon Law (1983), the days of fasting have been reduced to only two (Ash Wednesday and Good Friday) and the days of abstinence are only the Fridays in Lent. Such a reduction in penance goes directly against Our Lady of Fatima’s request that Catholics offer more penance to atone for mankind’s many sins. Thus, we strongly urge all Catholics to heed Our Lady’s request and willfully choose to fast and abstain more frequently. As a helpful aid in such a laudable effort, The Fatima Center produces a yearly calendar that lists days of fast and abstinence as they would have been practiced by Catholics in 1917 when Our Lady appeared at Fatima.
For a complete history of fasting and abstinence and how the specifics of the Second Precept have changed over time, see “The Definitive Guide to Catholic Fasting and Abstinence”.
- To Confess Our Sins At Least Once a Year
The Third Precept of the Church is to confess our sins at least once a year. While we are only required under the penalty of mortal sin to confess our sins sacramentally once a year, we are encouraged – and most of us need – to go much more frequently.
Frequent Confession restores sanctifying grace in our souls (if we were in the state of mortal sin before our Confession), absolves all sin (venial and mortal), strengthens our resolve, and encourages us in virtue.
According to some theologians such as St. Alphonsus, waiting more than a month with mortal sin on one’s soul is another mortal sin; so there are times when confession is required more often than once a year.
It is most highly recommended for the Catholic faithful to go to Confession every two weeks. This practice means they are always eligible to merit any of the Church’s many indulgences, as many of them require confession within eight days. Catholics who practice the First Saturday devotion every month would confess their sins at least once each month. Our Lady is certainly encouraging us to go to confession more than the minimum required by this precept.
- To Receive Holy Communion at least once a year (Easter Duty)
The Fourth Precept of the Church requires us to receive our Divine Savior in Holy Communion at least once a year. Unlike the precept on Confession, the reception of Holy Communion must take place during a specified timeframe. Whereas the precept of confessing our sins at least once a year may be done at any time in the year, the obligation imposed by this fourth precept is only fulfilled by receiving Holy Communion anytime between the First Sunday in Lent and the Sunday after Pentecost, which is Trinity Sunday. Naturally, Holy Communion may only be received when in the state of grace (that is, one is not aware of any unconfessed mortal sin).
For more on this and how this precept differs from country to country, see “What is Our Easter Duty?”
Catholics desirous of living the Message of Fatima would also receive Holy Communion every First Saturday, with the intention of making reparation for sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
- To Contribute to the Support of the Church
The Fifth Precept of the Church requires us to support the Church and the clergy by our contributions. However, because of the false Protestant ideology, some Catholics wrongly think that they are required to tithe a certain percentage of their earnings in order to fulfill this precept. For a complete consideration of this topic, see “Do Catholics Tithe?”
- To Observe the Laws of the Church Concerning Marriage
To observe the Church’s laws on marriage is the Sixth Precept of the Church; and these laws include that marriage should take place before a priest, preferably with a nuptial Mass. A man may only marry one non-married woman and vice versa. The marriage lasts until one of the spouses dies. Polygamy is forbidden. Divorce is also forbidden, for what God has joined together, let no man put asunder (see Mark 10:9).
Church legislation prevents marriages among those within three degrees of blood relationships (e.g., second cousins and those nearer in blood relation) without special dispensation. And those who receive Matrimony are likewise forbidden to marry privately without the blessing of a priest or without witnesses.
Marriage in front of a non-Catholic minister is also condemned, and in previous times, incurred excommunication. Also, marriages are not to be solemnized during certain liturgical seasons – that is, as stated in the Baltimore Catechism, “during Lent and Advent the marriage ceremony should not be performed with pomp or a nuptial Mass.”
See “What Are the Church’s Laws on Marriage?” for more information.
ENDNOTES:
[i] Requiring obedience to a precept under the pain of mortal sin can only be imposed by the legitimate Church authority. Thus, Catholics are obligated to keep the norms as they are currently promulgated. Nevertheless, Catholics may freely choose to keep the traditional precepts. When done with the intention of pleasing God, saving souls, or offering penance, such a self-imposed practice can gain greater merit, render necessary reparation, and call down many graces for ourselves and others.
[ii] The Six Precepts, as listed in the Baltimore Catechism (online version: Lesson #35. question #389).
[iii] This will be covered in the follow-up article, “The History of the Precepts of the Catholic Church.”