How the Commandments Are Not Impossible

Catholic Apologetics #62

“Keep My Commandments”

“If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).

Our Lord has said if we truly love Him, we are to keep His Commandments. Unfortunately, Our Lord is openly hated by many in a world that continues to grow more atheistic and materialist by the week. And beyond these souls who wish to crucify Our Lord anew, there are others who claim to be Christians yet who openly attack Catholicism: the Sacraments, grace, Purgatory, invoking the saints, attending Mass, etc. Some of these who are members of heretical sects claim to be Christians, yet they revile the Lenten fast, destroy statues of Our Lord, and literally break Rosaries.

And while we should certainly pray for the conversion of all these souls, surely it is the lukewarm, liberal Catholics who are even more offensive to Our Lord.[1] These souls are openly promoting abortion or socialism and advocating a new kind of social justice that is devoid of the Gospel and authentic Christianity. These, as well as the modernists who hate the Traditions of the Faith, continue to crucify the Lord anew in their hearts.

Many of them claim that the Commandments were not established for all times and all peoples but are adaptable to change. Such a modernistic statement was condemned by Pope St. Pius X in Pascendi Dominici Gregis.

“God Commands Not Impossibilities”

Yet, there exists even among otherwise good traditional Catholics the notion, at least implicitly, that keeping the Commandments today is too hard. We live in an age where the Faith is under constant assault from both within and without. It seems that so few authentic Catholics are left practicing the Faith. Is it possible to keep the Commandments of God and the Precepts of the Church in such an age?

We find the answer in St. Paul: “I can do all these things in Him who strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13). And after recounting all of his sufferings for spreading the Faith, St. Paul writes: “And He said to me: My grace is sufficient for thee; for power is made perfect in infirmity. Gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

The Commandments of God are not impossible for us, by virtue of God’s grace in us which allows us to keep them.

In Session VI of the Council of Trent, Chapter XI of the Decree on Justification reads in part:

“But no one, how much soever justified, ought to think himself exempt from the observance of the commandments; no one ought to make use of that rash saying, one prohibited by the Fathers under an anathema, – that the observance of the commandments of God is impossible for one that is justified. For God commands not impossibilities, but, by commanding, both admonishes thee to do what thou are able, and to pray for what thou art not able (to do), and aids thee that thou mayest be able; whose commandments are not heavy; whose yoke is sweet and whose burthen light.”[2]

The Commandments, whether the Ten Commandments and their applications or the Six Precepts of the Church, apply to everyone. No one, no matter how holy he thinks he is, or how weak he thinks he is, is exempt from them. And the Council of Trent wisely taught that the Commandments are not impossible to obey, for “God commands not impossibilities.”

Granted, if fallen man relies only on his natural powers, then he is not able to resist the enemies of his soul’s salvation – the devil, the world and the flesh. The devil, after all, has infused knowledge and preternatural powers which make him far more intelligent and powerful than man. Even Adam and Eve – who did not have a fallen nature – succumbed to his attack. Thus, man needs supernatural aid – he needs God’s grace, both sanctifying grace and actual grace.

Truly, if we love Our Lord, if we could respond to His words in John 14:15 with a life in accordance with the Commandments, then and only then can we demonstrate our love for Him. Our Redeemer has given us so many aids from the Sacraments (chief among them being Confession and the Eucharist), Sacramentals, promises for the First Fridays, First Saturdays, and the Rosary, and countless other devotions.

Above all, whenever we are tempted, as soon as we are tempted, we must have prompt recourse to prayer! We ought to get on our knees; call upon our Guardian Angel, our patron saints, St. Michael; and, above all, invoke the holy names of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. If we continue to pray, then we will not fall to the temptation and we will not sin. Yet if we fail to pray – as Adam failed to pray in Eden – then we will surely fall.

God provides us with all the means we need and more to remain faithful. If we truly want to love Our Lord, all we need is to pray, keep the Commandments and live in the state of grace.


[1] When France was under attack from numerous forces, including the invading Prussian army, St. Bernadette Soubirous famously stated that there was nothing to fear, except bad Catholics.

The following comes from Edmond Lafond’s, La Salette, Lourdes, Pontmain: voyage d’un croyant (Paris, 1872) p. 238. The first printed version appeared while St. Bernadette was still alive. A visitor came to Sister Marie Bernard (St. Bernadette) and asked her the following questions:

 – Did you receive, in the grotto of Lourdes, or after then, any revelations related to the future and fate of France? Did not the Blessed Virgin deliver any warning for France, any threats?
No
– The Prussians are at our gates; does that not cause you any fear?
No.
– There is thus nothing to fear?
I only fear bad Catholics.
– You do not fear anything else?
No, nothing else.

[2] The entire section may be read at http://www.thecounciloftrent.com/ch6.htm

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