The Ten Commandments (Decalogue).
Part I.
The first three commandments of the Decalogue concern God.
Article 1.
On the First Commandment of the Decalogue.
190. What does God forbid in the First Commandment of the Decalogue: "You shall have no other gods before Me"?
In the First Commandment of the Decalogue, "You shall have no other gods before Me," God forbids giving the worship due to Him to anyone or anything else.
191. What kind of worship do we owe to God?
We owe to God, and to Him alone, the highest form of worship, which is adoration.
192. Why should we honor and adore God?
We should honor and adore God because He created us, sustains us, cares for us, and is our ultimate end.
193. How should we honor and adore God?
We should honor and adore God as the Creator of all, who sustains and cares for us, and is our first origin and ultimate end. This should be done through internal and external acts of reverence, which are revealed both by nature and more fully by divine revelation. Among these acts, the most important is sacrifice, which cannot be offered to any creature.
194. How does one sin against the First Commandment of the Decalogue?
One sins against the First Commandment through:
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Superstition, including idolatry, divination, witchcraft, and spiritism (part of divination and witchcraft).
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Irreligion, such as neglecting prayer and proper worship, committing sacrilege, and simony.
195. Should we honor the saints?
Yes, we should honor the saints, especially the Blessed Virgin Mary, but with a different and lesser veneration than that given to God, which is reverence for their holiness and to seek their intercession.
196. What is the name of the worship given to God, and what is the name of the veneration given to saints and the Blessed Virgin Mary?
The worship given to God is called adoration or latria; the veneration given to saints is called respect or dulia; and the veneration given to the Blessed Virgin Mary is called higher respect or hyperdulia.
197. Should we also venerate the relics of martyrs and other saints?
Yes, we should venerate the relics of martyrs and other saints because their bodies were living members of Christ and temples of the Holy Spirit. Christ will resurrect them to eternal life and glory, and through these relics, God grants many blessings.
198. Should holy images also be given due respect and veneration?
Yes, holy images should be given due respect and veneration because the honor paid to them refers to the persons they represent. Therefore, by showing reverence to these signs, we worship Christ and respect the saints they depict.
199. Why did God forbid sculptures and images in the Old Testament?
God did not absolutely forbid sculptures and images in the Old Testament but prohibited their use in pagan worship practices, ensuring the worship of the true God was not compromised by idolatry.
Article 2.
On the Second Commandment of the Decalogue.
200. What does God forbid in the Second Commandment: "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain"?
In the Second Commandment, God forbids any misuse of His name.
201. Who is guilty of misusing God's name?
Those who invoke God's name without proper cause or respect, break vows, or swear falsely, rashly, or unjustly, especially those who blaspheme, misuse God's name.
202. Is it also forbidden to misuse the names of God's saints?
Yes, it is forbidden to misuse the names of God's saints, especially the Blessed Virgin Mary, for the same reason we are obliged to respect them.
Article 3.
On the Third Commandment of the Decalogue.
203. What does God command in the Third Commandment: "Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day"?
In the Third Commandment, God commands us to dedicate holy days to Him by abstaining from physical labor and activities that prevent proper worship.
204. What were the holy days in the Old Testament?
In the Old Testament, there were several holy days, but the principal one was the Sabbath, which means "rest," designated for honoring God.
205. Why is the Sabbath not observed in the New Testament?
In the New Testament, the Sabbath was replaced by Sunday to commemorate Christ’s Resurrection and the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The Church also added other feast days.
206. What are our obligations regarding holy days today?
We are obliged to observe Sundays and other holy days prescribed by the Church, as directed by the Church.
Part II.
The remaining seven commandments of the Decalogue concern our duties toward ourselves and others.
Article 1.
On the Fourth Commandment of the Decalogue.
207. What does God command in the Fourth Commandment: "Honor your father and your mother"?
In the Fourth Commandment, God commands us to honor our parents and those who act in their place with love, respect, obedience, and care.
208. Is it enough to show honor to our parents?
We must also assist our parents, especially in their spiritual and material needs.
209. What reward does God promise to children who honor their parents?
God promises blessings and long life to children who honor their parents, provided it contributes to their salvation.
210. Does this commandment apply only to the duties of children toward their parents?
This commandment also encompasses the duties of spouses toward each other, parents toward their children, and mutual obligations of subordinates and superiors, such as workers and employers.
211. What are the mutual duties of spouses?
Spouses should love each other, assist one another, and remain mutually faithful. The wife is also bound to obey her husband.
212. What are the duties of parents towards their children?
Parents, by natural law, have duties towards their children: they must care for their upbringing, especially in religious and moral matters, and strive to provide for their temporal welfare as much as they can.
213. Besides parents, who else has the right and duty to ensure the proper upbringing of the youth?
In addition to parents, the state has the right and duty to ensure the proper upbringing of the youth, complementing parental deficiencies for the common good. Moreover, the Church has this right and duty to a higher degree, given the mission entrusted to it by Christ to teach all nations and guide them to supernatural holiness and, ultimately, eternal life.
214. What are the duties of subjects towards their rightful superiors?
Subjects owe their rightful superiors, whether ecclesiastical or secular, respect and obedience, akin to the love children owe their parents.
215. Which Church superiors deserve not only respect but also obedience?
According to canon law, the Pope, one's Bishop or another ecclesiastical prelate with authority, and one's parish priest when performing his pastoral duties deserve not only respect but also obedience.
216. Why does secular authority deserve respect and obedience?
Secular authority deserves respect and obedience because, like the state, it originates from nature and therefore from God, the Creator of nature. Respect and obedience are due to legitimate state authority, regardless of the person holding the office.
217. What are the duties of superiors towards their subordinates?
Superiors should care for their subordinates within the scope of their office, set a good example in all matters, as they will account for their actions not only before people but also before God.
218. What are the duties of workers towards their employers?
Workers are obligated to faithfully and entirely fulfill their agreed and just duties. They must not harm their employer's property or person. In defending their rights, they should avoid violence and refrain from riots or engaging with immoral individuals.
219. What duties do employers have towards their workers?
Employers must sincerely love their workers as brothers in Christ, provide fair wages, and ensure workers can fulfill religious duties at convenient times. They must not divert workers from caring for their homes, families, or savings, nor impose tasks that harm their health, exceed their strength, or are inappropriate for their age and gender.
220. When should we not obey parents or other superiors?
We should not obey parents or other superiors if their commands conflict with higher authority, such as when they contradict God's or the Church's commandments.
221. When can we disobey them?
We may disobey them if their command concerns matters in which we are not subordinate, e.g., the choice of one’s state in life.
Article 2.
On the Fifth Commandment of the Decalogue.
222. What does God forbid in the Fifth Commandment of the Decalogue: You shall not kill?
In the Fifth Commandment: You shall not kill, God forbids taking another’s life or causing harm to their body or soul, including contributing to such actions.
223. How can one harm another’s soul?
One harms another’s soul by scandal, which involves inappropriate words or actions that provide an occasion for spiritual downfall.
224. What is the obligation of someone who has caused harm to another?
Anyone who has harmed another is obliged to repair the harm as much as possible.
225. Does this commandment also forbid suicide?
This commandment also forbids suicide, which, like murder, violates justice, infringes on God’s right to human life, and conflicts with the love owed to oneself and others. It also deprives one of time for repentance.
226. Does this commandment also prohibit dueling?
This commandment prohibits dueling, regardless of the cause, as it encompasses the malice of both murder and suicide.
227. Are only the mentioned acts forbidden by this commandment?
This commandment forbids not only the mentioned acts but also private vengeance, anger, hatred, envy, quarrels, and insults, which often lead to such sins.
Article 3.
On the Sixth Commandment of the Decalogue.
228. What does God forbid in the Sixth Commandment of the Decalogue: You shall not commit adultery?
In the Sixth Commandment: You shall not commit adultery, God forbids not only marital infidelity but also any external sin against chastity and anything leading to impurity.
229. What are the main causes leading to sins against chastity that should be carefully avoided?
Apart from Satan’s temptations and the stirrings of lust, the main causes are idleness, gluttony, bad company, obscene speech, reading immoral texts, improper spectacles, immodest dances, indecent clothing, dangerous familiarities, and occasions of sin.
230. What are the usual effects of sins of unchastity?
Besides frequent harm to health, the main effects are mental obscurity, loss of the fear of God, aversion to divine and virtuous matters, hardness of heart, loss of faith, and often persistence in sin without repentance until death.
231. What are the main means of preserving chastity?
The main means of preserving chastity include vigilance over the senses, self-discipline, avoiding occasions of sin, moderation in eating and drinking, prayer, devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, frequent Confession, and Holy Communion.
Article 4.
On the Seventh Commandment of the Decalogue.
232. What does God forbid in the Seventh Commandment of the Decalogue: You shall not steal?
In the Seventh Commandment: You shall not steal, God forbids any unjust use of another's labor or property and causing or contributing to such harm.
233. What is the obligation of someone who violates this commandment?
Anyone who violates this commandment must, according to justice, return the property and compensate for the damage caused.
234. When is restitution and compensation absolutely required?
Restitution and compensation are required if the matter is significant, either by common standards or by the extent of the harm done to the owner.
Article 5.
On the Eighth Commandment of the Decalogue.
235. What does God forbid in the Eighth Commandment of the Decalogue: You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor?
In the Eighth Commandment: You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor, God forbids lies, perjury, and any harm caused to others through words.
236. How does one harm another through words?
One harms another through words by slander, gossip, insult, reckless accusations, or violating secrecy.
237. What is the obligation of someone who has harmed another’s reputation?
Anyone who has harmed another’s reputation is obliged, by justice, to restore it and compensate for any resulting damage, especially if the harm was significant.
Article 6.
On the Last Two Commandments of the Decalogue.
238. What does God forbid in the Ninth Commandment of the Decalogue: You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife?
In the Ninth Commandment: You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, God forbids not only impure desires but also any internal sin against chastity, just as the Sixth Commandment forbids external sins.
239. What does God forbid in the Tenth Commandment of the Decalogue: You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods?
In the Tenth Commandment: You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods, God forbids unjust and disordered desires for another’s possessions.
240. What is the greatest commandment of the Decalogue?
The greatest commandment of the Decalogue is: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength, and your neighbor as yourself.
241. Must everyone fulfill the duties of their state?
Everyone must conscientiously fulfill the duties of their state, meaning the obligations arising from their vocation or office.
