Splendor of Truth - The Moral Life THE TEN COMMANDMENTS Questions and Answers on Living by the Ten Commandments by SCTJM The first commandment: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” (Matt 22:37) Are we allowed to worship others gods? Do other gods even exist? If we know that other gods do not even exist, why was this command given to the Israelites and how does it apply to us today? How do I sin against this commandment in the matter of faith? How do I sin against this commandment in the matter of hope? How do I sin against this commandment in the matter of love? What does the first commandment require that we give to God? What about the people who are worshiping other gods in other religions? What are some of the ways people commonly worship other gods today? Are we as Catholics breaking the First Commandment when we venerate statues and images of Jesus? Are we breaking the First Commandment when we venerate statues and images of other people and saints? Shouldn’t we only venerate images of God Himself? Do we violate the First Commandment when we worship the Eucharist? Wouldn’t the Eucharist be considered a graven image made by man? The Second Commandment: “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.” (Ex 20:7, Dt 5:11) Why is the name of Lord so important? Is it so important that is deserves a whole commandment? What are some other ways in which people commonly take the Lord name’s in vain? When Jesus says, “Do not swear at all…Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’”, isn’t He forbidding oaths of any kind? Are we even allowed as Catholics to take oaths? Are our names sacred as well, or does this commandment only have to do with God? The Third Commandment: “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work; but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work.” (Ex 20:8-10) If God is really perfect, why did He need to rest on the seventh day? If the Jews celebrated the Sabbath on Saturday, why do we celebrate it on Sunday? Is it necessary that we attend Mass every Sunday, or is refraining from work enough to observe this commandment? What are we supposed to do on Sundays? Are we allowed do charitable work on Sunday’s (for example, feeding the poor, visiting the sick and the elderly, etc)? Should employees insist on Sundays off from their employers? The FOURTH Commandment: “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the Lord your God gives you” (Ex 20:12, Dt 5:16). Does the fourth commandment apply only to our parents, or does it extend to other people in authority over us? What does is mean to honor them? What if the person we are called to honor is asking us to sin? What if it seems as if the person is authority is incompetent or not doing a very good job? What if I think I could do a better job? Does this commandment require me to take care of my parents in their old age or if they are ill? What if I feel the Lord is calling me down a certain path (for example, to a religious vocation or the priesthood) and my parents are opposed to it? Am I required to obey them in this regard? What are the duties of parents toward their children? What are the duties of civil authorities before their citizens? What if other authorities are asking me to do things contrary to what my parents are asking of me? The Fifth Commandment: "You Shall Not Kill" (Ex 20:13, DT 5:17) Why are we not allowed to kill? Is abortion a violation of the fifth commandment? If someone encourages a woman to get an abortion, are they are guilty of violating the fifth commandment? What about those who perform them? What if a woman gets pregnant from a rape? Does she have an obligation to keep the child? Is abortion OK if it is known that a child will be severely handicapped or disabled? Is it true that using birth control can be a violation of the fifth commandment? Is in vitro fertilization a violation of the fifth commandment? What is the role of punishment and what are its limitations? This page is a work in progress. Return to main page www.piercedhearts.org This page is the work of the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary
Splendor of Truth - The Moral Life
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
Questions and Answers on Living by the Ten Commandments by SCTJM
The first commandment: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” (Matt 22:37) Are we allowed to worship others gods? Do other gods even exist?
If we know that other gods do not even exist, why was this command given to the Israelites and how does it apply to us today? How do I sin against this commandment in the matter of faith? How do I sin against this commandment in the matter of hope? How do I sin against this commandment in the matter of love? What does the first commandment require that we give to God? What about the people who are worshiping other gods in other religions? What are some of the ways people commonly worship other gods today? Are we as Catholics breaking the First Commandment when we venerate statues and images of Jesus? Are we breaking the First Commandment when we venerate statues and images of other people and saints? Shouldn’t we only venerate images of God Himself? Do we violate the First Commandment when we worship the Eucharist? Wouldn’t the Eucharist be considered a graven image made by man?
The Second Commandment: “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.” (Ex 20:7, Dt 5:11) Why is the name of Lord so important? Is it so important that is deserves a whole commandment? What are some other ways in which people commonly take the Lord name’s in vain?
When Jesus says, “Do not swear at all…Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’”, isn’t He forbidding oaths of any kind? Are we even allowed as Catholics to take oaths? Are our names sacred as well, or does this commandment only have to do with God? The Third Commandment: “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work; but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work.” (Ex 20:8-10) If God is really perfect, why did He need to rest on the seventh day?
If the Jews celebrated the Sabbath on Saturday, why do we celebrate it on Sunday? Is it necessary that we attend Mass every Sunday, or is refraining from work enough to observe this commandment?
What are we supposed to do on Sundays? Are we allowed do charitable work on Sunday’s (for example, feeding the poor, visiting the sick and the elderly, etc)? Should employees insist on Sundays off from their employers? The FOURTH Commandment: “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the Lord your God gives you” (Ex 20:12, Dt 5:16). Does the fourth commandment apply only to our parents, or does it extend to other people in authority over us? What does is mean to honor them? What if the person we are called to honor is asking us to sin? What if it seems as if the person is authority is incompetent or not doing a very good job? What if I think I could do a better job? Does this commandment require me to take care of my parents in their old age or if they are ill? What if I feel the Lord is calling me down a certain path (for example, to a religious vocation or the priesthood) and my parents are opposed to it? Am I required to obey them in this regard? What are the duties of parents toward their children? What are the duties of civil authorities before their citizens? What if other authorities are asking me to do things contrary to what my parents are asking of me? The Fifth Commandment: "You Shall Not Kill" (Ex 20:13, DT 5:17) Why are we not allowed to kill? Is abortion a violation of the fifth commandment? If someone encourages a woman to get an abortion, are they are guilty of violating the fifth commandment? What about those who perform them? What if a woman gets pregnant from a rape? Does she have an obligation to keep the child? Is abortion OK if it is known that a child will be severely handicapped or disabled? Is it true that using birth control can be a violation of the fifth commandment? Is in vitro fertilization a violation of the fifth commandment? What is the role of punishment and what are its limitations? This page is a work in progress.
