Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on the 2nd Sunday of Advent.
My dear Parishioners,
Peace! There are six (6) Commandments of the Church treated in three (3) articles of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2041–2043. The following is a reflection on the “Commandments of the Church” in general.
The “Commandments of the Church” are a part of our moral life. Obviously the Commandments of God are a part of our moral life. God says ‘X’ so we do (honor God’s Name, keep holy the Sabbath) or don’t do ‘X’ (commit adultery, steal, lie…) accordingly. That we are to listen to the Church is made clear when Jesus says “Whoever hears you hears Me; whoever despises you despises Me; and whoever despises Me despises Him who sent Me” (Luke 10:16). The Commandments or Precepts of the Church are principles of right and wrong behavior observed by the members of the Church.
The “Commandments of the Church” rely upon and are nourished by the liturgical life. As we can not keep the Commandments of God without His grace, so too the Commandments of the Church require the help of God. When we are well confesses and strengthened by the Eucharist God gives us the grace we need to be pleasing in His sight. If we fail to keep the Commandments of the Church we should go to Confession and begin again with God’s grace, mercy and help, just like when we fail to keep God’s Commandments given of old on Sinai Mount through Moses (cf. Leviticus 5:5; John 1:17; James 5:16; 1 John 5:3).
The “Commandments of the Church” are obligatory upon members of the Church. Just as the Commandments of God are not “optional” neither are the Commandments of the Church. If we are members of the Church we live according to her precepts, her commands.
The “Commandments of the Church” are positive laws decreed by the pastoral authorities of the Church. There are six “Commandments of the Church” which we will treat individually in following articles. The “Commandments of the Church” echo the teachings of Sacred Scripture and encourage and foster the life of virtue in us, especially the theological virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity (cf. 1 Corinthians 13:13). That Mother Church has the authority to make “positive laws” should be clear from Sacred Scripture where we read: “What you bind on Earth, shall be bound in Heaven; what you loose on Earth, shall be loosed in Heaven” (Matthew 18:18).
The “Commandments of the Church” guarantee to the Faithful the indispensable minimum required in the spirit of prayer, moral effort, and growth in love of God and neighbor. The “Commandments of the Church” are like Cliffs Notes to the spiritual life. If we fail to keep the Commandments of the Church our commitment to Christ and His Kingdom may be lukewarm at best (cf. Revelation 3:16). By keeping the Commandments of the Church we avoid the judgment made against the Church in Ephesus which had lost it’s first love (cf. Revelation 2:4).
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr