the greatest commandments

The Greatest CommandmentsThe Greatest Commandments

“You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.”

First three commandments (I,II,III)

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

The other seven commandments (IV through X)

The DecalogueThe Decalogue

• AKA the Ten Commandments

• Summary of God’s Law 1) written in every person’s heart.

This Law of God is called Natural Law, the basis of all human laws: moral or civil. It is also 2) universal in its precepts, 3) extends to all people, and 4) established by reason. (CCC 1956)

The First CommandmentThe First Commandment“I am the Lord, your God. You shall not have “I am the Lord, your God. You shall not have

strange gods before me.”strange gods before me.”

• He is our Creator; we are the creatures. • Some Sins against this commandment: atheism,

idolatry, superstition, sacrilege, divination.• Virtue acquired: faith in the true God• Historical note: In Church History, a group of

individuals called iconoclasts “image destroyers” began a campaign to destroy all sacred art representing God, Mary, angels, and saints. In the year 787, the seventh Council of Nicaea justified the use of such sacred images that “whoever venerates an image venerates the person portrayed in it.”



• Atheism, agnosticism, sacrilege, idolatry, astrology, magic, fortune-telling, superstition, divination, simony

• Secularism, individualism, skepticism, relativism, indifference, materialism

• Money, power, riches, status, drugs, alcohol, sex



What does the virtue of faith have to do with the First Commandment?

God gave us these three ways to know Him: 1) by reasoning 2) by our inner longing for the infinite 3) by faith through revelation

‘Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.’ (Hebrews 11:1 )

The world is full of uncertainty, false and competing ideologies, and unanswerable questions. The First Commandment calls us to faith in God so we can live with a blessed assurance in the reality of God and the glorious conviction that we are loved and saved by God.

The Second CommandmentThe Second Commandment “ You shall not take the name of the Lord, your “ You shall not take the name of the Lord, your

God, in vain.”God, in vain.”

• Holy is His Name and we must give due reverence to His Name.

• This commandment invites everyone to be conscious of the sacred and what is holy in creation and in each person we meet.

• Sins against this commandment: blasphemy, perjury, cursing, profanity, secularism

• Virtue acquired: Reverence for God and others



• The Second Commandment also invites us to not make wrong use of His name. To use God’s name other than for praise or glory or blessing is an affront to His very name or His nature.

• Cursing or blasphemy dishonor God’s name.

• “In the name of God (Allah)…”



“Fear” and “Awe” are Christian feelings. Why?

These are feelings that we should have because such feelings make His Presence known.

‘In proportion as we believe that He is present, we shall have them; and not to have them, is not to realize, not to believe that He is present.’ –John Cardinal Newman

The Third CommandmentThe Third Commandment“Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.”“Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.”

• The Christian Sunday is set aside as a day to honor God. We keep this day holy by acknowledging the primacy of our relationship with God.

• We worship God and re-create our proper relationship with God, our family, with others, and all creation.

• The purpose of Sunday: Sunday is a day to pray and play, giving time to God, ourselves, and our families; giving us refreshment and renewal.

• Virtue acquired: worship, dependence on God• Sins against this commandment: false pride, self-

salvation


• Do You Eat Food Regularly? Do You Get Thirsty? Do You Eat Or Drink Alone?

• So is it necessary for you to spiritually nourish your soul as when you nourish your own body.

• It is so important that we celebrate the Eucharist with the whole Church that we are obligated to participate in the celebration on Sundays as well as holy days of obligation.

• Hear God’s Word…Partake in the Holy Eucharist!


Holy Days of ObligationJan 1—Feast of Mary, the

Mother of GodAscension Day—40 days after

EasterAug 15—Feast of the

Assumption of MaryNov 1—All Saints’ DayDec 8—Feast of the

Immaculate ConceptionDec 25—Christmas Day

Precepts of the Catholic Church1) You shall attend Mass on

Sundays and on holy days of obligation and rest from unnecessary labor.

2) You shall confess your sins at least once a year.

3) You shall receive the sacrament of the Eucharist at least during the Easter season.

4) You shall observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church.

5) You shall help to provide for the needs of the Church.


What should our response to those who say that ‘Mass is boring’ or to those that stopped going to Mass because they ‘get nothing out of it?’

• There are 168 hours in a week. God only requires 1 hour for His praise and worship.

• “What one gets” is proportionate to “what one GIVES”—the more you Give, the more you will receive.

• All week long we have been “getting” from God—it is time to “pay up.” Sunday is the time for US to show humility and appreciation for what God has given.

• The Mass is the highest form of liturgical worship—we pray with the Whole Church living and dead; we even get fed with His very Presence

Works CitedCatholic Church. (1994). Catechism of the Catholic Church. Vatican: Libreria

Editrice Vaticana.

Hahn, S. (2003). Lord, have mercy: the healing power of confession. New York: Double Day.

Klein, P. (2000). The Catholic source book: a comprehensive collection of information about the Catholic Church. Orlando: Brown-Roa.

McBride, A. (1995). Father McBride’s teen catechism. Huntington,IN: Our Sunday Visitor.

McBride, A. (2000). Father McBride’s college catechism. Huntington,IN: Our Sunday Visitor.

Poust, M. (2008). The complete idiot’s guide to the Catholic catechism. New York: Alpha Books

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