Catechism: The Second and Third Commandment

CCC 2142 the second Commandment➜ & 2168 the Third Commandment➜

Many years ago, a Catholic policeman enabled me to appreciate what praying in the name of Jesus involves. He said, “It is a terrible pity that so many Catholics take the holy name of Jesus in vain.” Thinking that

he was referring to the sad fact that so many Catholics invoke the Holy Name in an irreverent way in the course of everyday conversation, I agreed with him. He responded by saying, “while that is bad, it is not

what I was referring to. Because so many Catholics do not have a personal relationship with Jesus, and are unaware that he loves them and lives in their hearts,

they use the Holy name of Jesus in a vain or magical way, with little or no appreciation of its holiness and real power.

As we know, when people have to give testimony in court they have to swear by Almighty God, while holding the Bible, that they will speak the truth, the whole truth

and nothing but the truth. It is a solemn undertaking. But nevertheless, we have reason to believe that in recent years, in particular, many people commit perjury by

telling lies in court. On Tues 19 July 2022 the Irish Examiner said that a Department of Justice report had stated that, “Unfortunately, all too frequently some people have

deliberately lied in court or misrepresented the truth in affidavits which materially affected the course of justice and equity.”

As you may know Saturday was the Jewish sabbath day, a time when they refrained from work, took a rest, and focused on the worship of God. Needless to say, Jesus

and his apostles observed the sabbath. While early Christians, many of whom were Jewish, initially observed the Sabbath on Saturday, the practice gradually shifted to

Sunday, known as the Lord's Day, in recognition of Jesus' resurrection. Catholics are obliged to attend Mass on Sundays and other holy days of obligation. The Church

teaches that Sunday should be a day of rest, worship, and renewal. It encourages believers to refrain from unnecessary work and focus on spiritual and family life.

Catholic Mass attendance in Ireland has seen a significant decline over the past few decades. In 1972, 91% of Irish Catholics attended weekly Mass, but by 2011, that

number had dropped to 30%. The decline has been particularly noticeable in urban areas, with Dublin reporting a weekly attendance rate of just 14% in 2011. 41% of

those who stopped going to church on Sundays during Covid have not returned, citing reasons such as weakened faith, preference for virtual Mass, and lingering

concerns about infection. I am of the opinion that people will only come back to the Sunday celebration of Mass, if they move from knowing about the person Jesus to

knowing him in person as a result of being baptised in the Holy Spirit either as a result of attending a Life in the Spirit Seminar or an Alpha Course. Many people

attest to the fact that as soon as they form a personal relationship with Jesus, the Mass takes on new meaning as a focal point not only of worship but also of meeting

other members of the community, hearing God’s word in the readings/homily and receiving holy communion.

The Holy Days of Obligation in Ireland are

• The Immaculate Conception (8 December)

• Christmas Day (25 December)

Epiphany (6 January )

• St Patrick (17 March)

• Assumption of Our Lady (15 August)

• All Saints (1 November)

• Although for a variety of reasons many Catholics fail to attend church on Holy Days of obligation, strictly speaking, they are obliged to do so if at all possible.