1. What is the Second Commandment?
The Second Commandment is: Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain.
Thy Name is worthy of praise and glorious forever” (Daniel 3:26).
2. What does the Second Commandment oblige me to do?
The Second Commandment obliges me always to use the Holy Name of God and of Jesus Christ reverently.
“In the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth’s (Philippians 2:10).
3. What does the Second Commandment forbid me to do?
The Second Commandment forbids me to use the Holy Name of God and of Jesus irreverently or without good reason, and to blaspheme or insult God, to curse, to swear falsely or to break an oath.
“He that blasphemeth the Name of the Lord, dying let him die” (Leviticus 24:16).
4. What kind of a sin is it to say “hell” or “damn” or to use vulgar language?
To say “hell” or “damn” or to use vulgar language usually is no sin at all unless I mean what I say or say it out of anger or impatience.
“Fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not so much as be named among you, as becometh saints, or obscenity, or foolish talking” (Ephesians 5:3, 4).
5. What is the Third Commandment?
The Third Commandment is: Remember thou keep holy the Sabbath Day.
“Six days shalt thou labor, and shalt do all thy works. But on the seventh is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: thou shalt do no work on it”’ (Exodus 20:9, 10).
6. What does the Third Commandment oblige me to do?
The Commandment obliges me to be present in church for Mass on all the Sundays of the year and on the six Holy Days of Obligation and to avoid all unnecessary manual(heavy) work on these days.
7. What are the six Holy Days of Obligation in the United States?
The six Holy Days of Obligation in the United States are:
1) Christmas (December 25), the feast of the Birth of Jesus
2) New Year’s Day (January 1), the feast of the Circumcision of Jesus
3) Ascension Thursday (the 40th day after Easter)
4) Assumption of the Blessed Virgin (August 15)
5) All Saints (November 1)
6) Immaculate Conception (December 8)
8. Am I ever excused from the obligation of hearing Mass on Sundays or Holy Days?
I am excused from the obligation of hearing Mass on Sundays or Holy Days only for very serious reasons.
Example: sickness, working on my job during the hours when Mass is said, if my boss demands that I work.
9. What should I do if I foresee that it will be impossible to hear Mass?
If I foresee that it will be impossible for me to hear Mass on a Sunday or a Holy Day, then it would be well to ask my Pastor or the Priest in Confession to excuse me.
It should be borne in mind that frequent missing of Mass has caused many people to lose their Faith, and therefore I must be very strict with myself and not make up silly reasons for missing Mass.
10. What does the Third Commandment oblige me to do as a parent?
As a parent, I have the very serious obligation to see to it that my children hear Mass on Sundays and Holy Days; it is a mortal sin not to fulfill this obligation.
11. What kind of a sin is it to be late for Mass?
If, through my own fault, I come into the church
1) anytime before the Priest finishes the sermon, I commit a venial sin, unless I stay for this part in another Mass.
2) anytime shortly after the Priest finishes the sermon, I commit a mortal sin, unless I stay for another entire Mass.
12. What kind of work am I forbidden to do on Sundays and Holy Days?
On Sundays and Holy Days, I am forbidden to do manual (heavy) work, unless it is absolutely necessary, such as railroading, taking care of the sick, necessary housework.
13. Besides hearing Mass and not working, how should I spend Sunday?
I should remember that Sunday is the Lord’s Day and should spend it accordingly, by attending services later in the day, saying extra prayers, reading the Bible, Catholic literature.
I may also enjoy amusements which are not sinful so long as they do not interfere with my religious obligations.
14. What is the fourth Commandment?
The Fourth Commandment is: Honor thy father and thy mother.
“Honour thy father, and forget not the groanings of thy mother; Remember that thou hadst not been born but through them; and make a return to them as they have done for thee”
(Ecclesiasticus 7:29, 30).
15. What are the duties of children toward their parents?
The duties of children toward their parents are:
1) to love and respect them as long as they live
2) to obey them in all things except sin
“Children, obey your parents in all things; for this is pleasing to the Lord” (Colossians 3:20).
3) to help them in their old age or when they are sick and helpless
“Son, support the old age of thy father, and grieve him not in his life. And if his understanding fail, have patience with him, and despise him not when thou art in thy strength; for the relieving of the father shall not be forgotten” (Ecclesiasticus 3:14-15).
4) to see that they receive the Last Sacraments and a Catholic funeral, if they are Catholic; if they are not, to encourage them to join the True Church.
16. What are the sins against the Fourth Commandment?
The sins against the Fourth Commandment are: disobeying one’s parents, hating, threatening, cursing, striking, insulting them, being ashamed of them, wishing them evil, speaking or acting unkindly towards them, causing them anger or sorrow.
“Of what an evil fame is be that forsaketh his father: and be is cursed of God that angereth his mother’s (Ecclesiasticus 3:18).
17. How long is a child obliged to obey his parents?
A child is obliged to obey his parents until his 21st birthday or until he or she leaves home to be married or to become a Priest or a Sister.
However, when a child gets married, his (or her) first duty is toward his (or her) married partner. Parents come second. See Genesis 2:24.
18. What are the duties of parents toward their children?
The duties of parents toward their children are to be found in Lesson 32.
19. What else does the Fourth Commandment oblige me to do?
The Fourth Commandment also obliges me to respect all lawful authority, especially the authority of the Church, the State and the School.
“Let every soul be subject to higher powers: for there is no power but from God … Render therefore to all men their dues. Tribute, to whom tribute is due; custom, to whom custom; honor, to whom honor” (Romans 13:17).