Of the Commandments of the Church and the Counsels
Card. Bellarmine’s Short Catechism
Student: Add to the Commandments of the Church, those few which the Church has added.
Teacher: The commandments of the Church are six:
I. To hear Mass on all Sundays, and Holy days of obligation.
II. To keep the fasts commanded for lent and vigils,
ember days, and not to eat flesh on Fridays
[ed. note: back when written, it added, “and Saturdays”]
III. & IV. To Confess at least once a year.
To receive Communion, at the least, each Easter.
V. To Pay Tithes.
VI. Not to celebrate marriage in forbidden times, that is
from the first Sunday of Advent until the Twelfth day of Christmas,
and from the first day of Lent until Low Sunday inclusive.
Student: Besides the Commandments, which we are bound to keep, be there any Counsels of Perfection?
Teacher: There be three Counsels, by our Savior Jesus Christ, given to those that desire to attain to perfection.
I. Voluntary Poverty.
II. Perpetual chastity.
III. Obedience in everything that is not sin.
< < < Go Back to the Previous Lesson
GO BACK TO THE CONTENTS
