ODDS AND ENDS

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

THE CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY

THE SPIRITUAL WORKS OF MERCY

THE BEATITUDES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

1.    I AM THE LORD THY GOD; THOU SHALT NOT HAVE STRANGE GODS BEFORE ME.
            COMMANDS: faith, hope, love and worship of God, reverence for holy things, prayer.
            FORBIDS: idolatry, superstition, spiritualism, seances, astrology, fortune telling, ouija boards and all
            occult practices; tempting God, sacrilege, attendance at false worship.

2.    THOU SHALT NOT TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD THY GOD IN VAIN.
            COMMANDS: reverence in speaking about God and holy things; the keeping of oaths and vows.
            FORBIDS: blasphemy, the irreverent use of God's name, speaking disrespectfully of holy things, false
            oaths and the breaking of vows.

3.    REMEMBER THOU KEEP HOLY THE SABBATH DAY.
            COMMANDS: going to church on Sundays and Holy Days.
            FORBIDS: missing church through ones own fault; unnecessary servile work; public buying and selling;
            court trials.

4.    HONOR THY FATHER AND MOTHER.
            COMMANDS: love, respect, obedience on the part of children; care on the part of parents for the spiritual
            and temporal welfare of their children; obedience to civil and religious superiors.
            FORBIDS: hatred of parents and superiors; disrespect and disobedience.

5.    THOU SHALT NOT KILL
            COMMANDS: safeguarding of one's own life and bodily welfare of that of others; controlling one's anger.
            FORBIDS: unjust killing, suicide, abortion, euthanasia, artificial contraception, sterilization, fist fights,
            endangering life and limb of self or others.

6.    THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY.
            COMMANDS: chastity in word and deed; avoiding occasions of sin.
            FORBIDS: pornography, bad movies, obscene speech; impure actions alone or with others; masturbation,
            fornication, homosexuality, incest, bestiality.

7.    THOU SHALT NOT STEAL.
            COMMANDS: respect for the property and rights of others; the paying of just debts; paying just wages to
            employees; integrity in public officials.
            FORBIDS: theft; damage to the property of others; not paying just debts; not returning found or borrowed
            articles; giving unjust measure or weight in selling; not paying just wages; bribery; graft; cheating; fraud;
            accepting stolen property; not giving an honest day's work for wages received; violation of contract.

8.    THOU SHALT NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS AGAINST THY NEIGHBOR.
            COMMANDS: truthfulness, respect for the good name of others; the observance of secrecy when
            required.
            FORBIDS: lying, injury to the good name of others, slander, tale bearing, rash judgment, contemptuous
            speech; and violation of secrecy.

9.    THOU SHALT NOT COVET THY NEIGHBOR'S WIFE.
            COMMANDS: purity of thought.
            FORBIDS: willful impure thoughts and desires.

10.    THOU SHALT NOT COVET THY NEIGHBOR'S GOODS.
            COMMANDS: respect for the rights of others.
            FORBIDS: the desire to take, to keep, or to damage the property of others.
 
 
 

THE CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY:

1.    FEED THE HUNGRY.
2.    GIVE DRINK TO THE THIRSTY.
3.    CLOTHE THE NAKED.
4.    SHELTER THE HOMELESS.
5.    COMFORT THE IMPRISONED.
6.    VISIT THE SICK.
7.    BURY THE DEAD.
 

THE SPIRITUAL WORKS OF MERCY:

1.    ADMONISH SINNERS.
2.    INSTRUCT THE UNIFORMED.
3.    COUNSEL THE DOUBTFUL.
4.    COMFORT THE SORROWFUL.
5.    BE PATIENT WITH THOSE IN ERROR.
6.    FORGIVE OFFENSES.
7.    PRAY FOR THE LIVING AND THE DEAD.
 

THE BEATITUDES

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.