The Third Precept of the Church

27 Q. What does the Church command us in the words of the Third Precept: To go to Confession at least once a year?

A. By the words of the Third Precept: To go to Confession a least once a year, the Church obliges all Christians, who have come to the use of reason, to approach the sacrament of Penance at least once a year.

28 Q. What is the best time to satisfy the precept of annual Confession?

A. The best time to satisfy the precept of annual Confession is Lent, in accordance with the usage introduced and approved by the whole Church.

29 Q. Why does the Church say that we are to confess at least once a year?

A. The Church uses the words at least to let us see her desire that we should approach the sacraments more frequently.

30 Q. Is it useful, then, to go often to Confession?

A. It is most useful to go often to Confession, especially as it is difficult for one who goes only rarely to make a good Confession and to avoid mortal sin.

31 Q. What does the Church command us to do by the other words of the Third Precept: To receive Holy Communion at Easter, each one in his own parish?

A. By the words of the Third Precept: To receive Holy Communion at Easter, each one in his own parish, the Church obliges all Christians who have come to the age of discretion to receive the Blessed Eucharist every year at Paschal time in their own parish.

32 Q. Are we bound to go to Holy Communion at other times besides Easter?

A. We are also bound to go to Holy Communion when in danger of death.

33 Q. Why is it said that we are to receive Holy Communion at least at Easter?

A. Because the Church earnestly desires us to approach Holy Communion which is the divine food of our souls, not only at Easter, but as often as we possibly can.

34 Q. Is this Precept fulfilled by a sacrilegious Confession or a sacrilegious Communion?

A. This Precept of the Church is not fulfilled by sacrilegious Confession and Communion, because the intention of the Church is that we receive those Sacraments for the end on account of which they were instituted, that is, for our sanctification.

The Fourth Precept of the Church

35 Q. How are we to observe the Fourth Precept: To contribute to due support of the Church?

A. The Fourth Precept is satisfied by paying the dues or making the offerings which have been established in recognition of God's supreme dominion over all things and as a means of providing for the becoming support of His ministers.

36 Q. How are these dues and offerings to be paid?

A. They are to be paid in the way and manner customary in the place in which we live.

The Fifth Precept of the Church

37 Q. What does the Church forbid in the Fifth Precept: Not to solemnise marriage at forbidden times?

A. In the Fifth Precept the Church does not forbid the celebration of the sacrament of marriage; but only the nuptial solemnities, from the first Sunday of Advent until the Epiphany, and from the first day of Lent until Low Sunday.

38 Q. What are the nuptial solemnities which are forbidden?

A. The nuptial solemnities forbidden by this Precept are the celebration of the nuptial Mass, the nuptial benediction, and marriage festivities on a large scale. 39 Q. Why are marriage festivities on a large scale out of place in Advent and Lent?

A. Pompous displays are out of place in Advent and Lent because these seasons are specially consecrated to penance and prayer.

On the Virtues and Vices

The Main Virtues

Theological Virtues

1 Q. What is a supernatural virtue?

A. A supernatural virtue is a quality infused by God into the soul by which the latter acquires inclination, facility, and promptness to know good and do it towards eternal life. 2 Q. How many principal supernatural virtues are there?

A. The principal supernatural virtues are seven: three theological, and four cardinal virtues.

3 Q. What are the theological virtues?

A. The theological virtues are: Faith, Hope and Charity.

4 Q. Why are Faith, Hope and Charity called theological virtues?

A. Faith, Hope and Charity are called theological virtues, because they have God as their immediate and principal object, And are infused by Him.

5 Q. How can the theological virtues have God for their immediate object?

A. The theological virtues have God for their immediate object, in this way that by Faith we believe in God, and believe all He has revealed; by Hope, we hope to possess God; and by Charity, we love God and in Him we love ourselves and our neighbour.

6 Q. When does God infuse the theological virtues into the soul?

A. God in His goodness infuses the theological virtues into the soul when adorning us with His sanctifying grace; and hence when receiving Baptism we were enriched with these virtues and, along with them, with the gifts of the Holy Ghost.

7 Q. Is it enough towards salvation, to have received the theological virtues in Baptism?

A. For one who has come to the use of reason, it is not enough to have received the theological virtues in Baptism; it is also necessary to make frequent acts of Faith, Hope and Charity.

8 Q. When are we obliged to make acts of Faith, Hope and Charity?

A. We are obliged to make acts of Faith, Hope and Charity, when we come to the use of reason; often during life; and when in danger of death.

On Faith

9 Q. What is Faith?

A. Faith is a supernatural virtue, which God infuses into our souls, and by which, relying on the authority of God Himself, we believe everything which He has revealed and which through His Church He proposes for our belief.

10 Q. How do we know the truths God has revealed?

A. We know the revealed truths by means of the Church, which is infallible; that is, by means of the Pope, the successor of St. Peter, and by means of the Bishops, the successors to the Apostles, who were taught by Jesus Christ Himself.

11 Q. Are we certain of the truths the Church teaches us?

A. We are most certain of the truths the Church teaches, because Jesus Christ pledged His word that the Church should never be led into error.

12 Q. By what sin is the Faith lost?

A. Faith is lost by denying or voluntarily doubting even a single article proposed for our belief.

13 Q. How is lost Faith recovered

A. Lost Faith is recovered by repenting of the sin committed and by believing anew all that the Church believes.