Questions & Answers
Apart from the precept of attending Mass and abstaining from servile work on Sundays, what are the other precepts of the Church?
The precepts of the Church are many—in fact they are all the prescriptions of the Code of Canon Law. The five Church commandments listed in popular catechisms concern the virtue of religion, that is, the minimum requirements of prayer and moral effort that are expected of every Catholic.
These precepts are:
As the first precept has been the object of two previous articles in The Angelus, let us look at the other four.
What is required by the second precept?
The Code of Canon Law lists the obligations implied in the precept: sacramental confession at least once a year, and in the danger of death, and before receiving Communion.
What is required by the precept of annual confession?
The Code of Canon Law states:
All members of the faithful of either sex after attaining the years of discretion, that is, the use of reason, are bound faithfully to confess all their sins at least once a year (canon 906).
It obliges all who have attained the use of reason, even if they are not yet of seven years of age, but only if a mortal sin has been committed.
It may be fulfilled at any time of the year, not necessarily at Easter. But it may indirectly oblige at Easter time, if the person who has to receive communion at that time is in the state of mortal sin. For the purpose of the annual confession, the year can be counted from January to December, or from confession to confession, or from Easter to Easter.
The annual confession can be made anywhere (not necessarily in one’s own parish) and with any legitimately approved confessor (canon 905).
Why do we have to go to confession if we are in the danger of death?
The Code of Canon Law states:
In danger of death, from whatever cause it arises, the faithful are bound by the precept of receiving Holy Communion (canon 864 § I).
If one is aware of being in the state of mortal sin, confession is obligatory for two reasons.
First, on account of the grave precept of receiving the Viaticum, which obliges every Catholic and cannot be received without prior confession of mortal sins (a simple act of contrition is not enough).
Secondly, for the obligation, even more serious, that every Christian has to do everything he can to save himself. Now, he who, being able to confess himself, does not want to do so, cannot obtain forgiveness for his mortal sins, even if he makes an act of contrition, which in this case is purely illusory, because contrition has value only for the sacrament of penance which the sinner intends to receive.
Do we have to go to confession before Communion?
The Code of Canon Law states:
No one burdened by mortal sin on his conscience, no matter how contrite he believes he is, shall approach Holy Communion without prior sacramental confession; but if there is urgent necessity and a supply of ministers of confession is lacking, he shall first elicit an act of perfect contrition (canon 856).
It is obligatory if we are aware of having committed a mortal sin.
By express prohibition of the Church, a simple act of contrition, however intense and sincere it may be, is not enough to be able to receive Communion, unless two circumstances come together—an urgent need, and the unavailability of a confessor. This may occur, for example, in the case of a priest who, in the state of mortal sin and having to celebrate Sunday Mass for the faithful, cannot find a confessor to obtain absolution before Mass. In such cases, an act of perfect contrition could be made, but always with the obligation to confess afterwards, as soon as possible.
What is required by the third precept?
We must distinguish between the divine precept and the ecclesiastical precept regarding Holy Communion.
The divine precept of receiving communion worthily is recorded in the words of the Gospel:
Amen, amen I say unto you: Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath everlasting life: and I will raise him up in the last day (Jn. 6:54-55).
It obliges: certainly, in danger of death and sometimes during life; eventually, when it is not possible otherwise to avoid sin.
The purpose of the ecclesiastical precept is to determine the divine law.
Canon 859 of the Code of Canon Law determines how the divine law is to be fulfilled, by prescribing the obligation of paschal communion.
[§1] All the faithful of either sex after they have arrived at the years of discretion, that is, the use of reason, must once a year, at least at Easter, receive the sacrament of the Eucharist, unless perchance with the advice of their own priest, for some reasonable cause, they are led to abstain from this reception for a while.
[§2] Easter Communion should be made from Palm Sunday to Low Sunday; but it is fundamental to the local Ordinary that, if conditions of persons or place require, this time can be anticipated for all the faithful, but not before the fourth Sunday of Lent, or extended, but not beyond the feast of the Most Holy Trinity.
[§3] The faithful are to be persuaded to satisfy this precept in their own parishes; those who satisfy it in another parish should take care to let their own pastor know about their fulfilling the precept.
[§4] The precept of paschal Communion continues to bind if, for any reason, it is not fulfilled by one during the prescribed time.
Two other canons complete the listing of the obligations.
The obligation of the precept of receiving Communion that binds those below the age of puberty falls especially on those who are bound to have their care, that is, parents, guardians, confessors, teachers, and pastors (canon 860).
The precept of receiving communion is not satisfied by a sacrilegious communion (canon 861).
The legislation is very clear and nothing needs to be added. It should be noted, however, that Easter communion—and therefore the duty to make First Communion—obliges children when they attain the use of reason, even if they have not yet reached the age of seven, and the responsibility for failing to do so falls especially on their parents and educators.