First Commandment

The numbers in parenthese that follow the questions refer to related paragraphs in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

First Commandment

1. What are the main reasons for praying?
2. Is sacrifice a form of prayer?
3. What is a vow?
4. What kinds of vows are there?
5. What vows do religious make?
6. Do we make promises to God?
7. May we disregard the fulfillment of our vows?
8. Can we be dispensed from vows and promises?
9. Is religious freedom a right?
10. What is idolatry?
11. What is superstition?
12. In what other ways can we fail to honor God?
13. What are the main sins of irreligion?
14. Is it simony to give money to have Masses offered?
15. Who is an atheist?
16. Who is an agnostic?
17. What is indifferentism?
18. What is infidelity?
19. How can we help to bring unbelievers to God?
20. In venerating relics and sacred images, do we pray to or adore them?

1. What are the main reasons for praying?
The main reasons for praying are to adore God, to thank him, to ask his forgiveness and make up for sin, and to ask his help for ourselves and others. (2098)

Then he told them a parable about the need for them to pray always and not become discouraged... (Lk 1:18).

2. Is sacrifice a form of prayer?
Sacrifice is a sign of our prayer, adoration, thanksgiving, contrition or supplication. We unite our sacrifices to the one true and indispensable sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. (2099-2100)

He presented himself as an unblemished offering to God and will purify our consciences from dead works so that we will be to worship the living God (Heb 9:14).

3. What is a vow?
A vow is a free and deliberate promise made to God. It is "an act of devotion in which the Christian dedicates himself to God or promises him some good work." (2102)

You shall be careful to perform what has passed your lips, for you have voluntarily vowed to the Lord your God what you have promised with your mouth (Dt 23:23).

4. What kinds of vows are there?
There are two kinds of vows: public vows which are accepted in the name of the Church by a lawful religious superior, and private vows which an individual makes directly to God.

5. What vows do religious make?
Religious make three vows: chastity (not to marry), poverty (to give up ownership of material goods), and obedience (to obey their superiors, who hold God's place). These vows are called evangelical counsels. (2103)

6. Do we make promises to God?
We do make promises to God, such as the baptismal promises, or the promises made in Marriage or Holy Orders. Some people also make promises to fulfill a certain religious act: a pilgrimage, support of a good work, certain prayers, etc. These are acts made out of love and respect for the goodness of God. (2101)

7. May we disregard the fulfillment of our vows?
We may not disregard the fulfillment of our vows. To do so would be sinful, more or less grievous, according to the nature of the vow and the intention we had when we made it.

8. Can we be dispensed from vows and promises?
The Church can and sometimes does dispense from vows and promises for serious reasons. The person seeking a dispensation must apply to the proper religious or ecclesial authority. (2103)

9. Is religious freedom a right?
Yes, every person has the right to freely express his or her religious convictions in accordance with conscience. No one may restrain or interfere with the exercise of this right, because it is based on the duty of each person to worship God individually and with the community. (2104-2109)

10. What is idolatry?
Idolatry is giving to a creature (another human, the devil, a created object, money, power, pleasure) the supreme honor due to God alone. (2112-2114)

You cannot serve God and mammon! (Mt 6:24).

11. What is superstition?
Superstition is failing to render God the honor due him by placing too much trust in external practices or religious objects. (2111)

12. In what other ways can we fail to honor God?
We would dishonor God if we attributed to creatures powers which belong to God alone, by believing in horoscopes, dreams, crystal gazing, charms and the like; by consulting spiritualists; by using magic; by Satanism, which is invoking the devil. (2115-2117)

There shall not be found among you...any one who practices divination, a soothsayer, or an augur, or a sorcerer, or a charmer, or a medium, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord... (Dt 18:10-12).

13. What are the main sins of irreligion?
The main sins of irreligion are:

tempting God, which is testing him by word or deed, setting up a challenge to God's power or loving care; (2119)

sacrilege, which is the abuse of a person, place, or thing consecrated to God and his service; (2120)

simony, which is the buying and selling of sacred things. (2121)

14. Is it simony to give money to have Masses offered?
It is not simony to give money to have Masses offered because the money is not buying the sacrament. It is a courtesy offering used to defray expenses and is not required of the poor. (2122)

The worker is deserving of his living (Mt 10:10).

15. Who is an atheist?
An atheist is a person who claims that there is no God or at least lives as though God does not exist. (2123-2126)

16. Who is an agnostic?
An agnostic is a person who thinks that we cannot know whether God exists or not. (2127)

From the creation of the world God's invisible attributes-his eternal power and divine nature-have been accessible to human knowledge through what can be perceived, and so they have no excuse (Rom 1:20).

17. What is indifferentism?
Indifferentism is the idea that religion is unimportant or the belief that one religion is as good as another. (2128)

18. What is infidelity?
Infidelity is unfaithfulness or disloyalty, in this case, to God.

19. How can we help to bring unbelievers to God?
We can help to bring unbelievers to God by prayer, by the witness of our lives, and by being informed Catholics who are willing to share our knowledge of the faith with others.

20. In venerating relics and sacred images, do we pray to or adore them?
We do not pray to or adore relics and sacred images, but we honor and pray to the persons whom they represent. (2129-2132)

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