Follow the Word of God

The precepts are rules that the Church provides for its members to ensure that they receive the necessary minimum for growth in the love of God and neighbor (CCC 2041). There are currently five precepts listed in our Catechism.

1. You shall attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation and rest from servile labor. The Sunday celebration of the Lord’s Day and the Eucharist is at the heart of the Church’s life (CCC 2217).

2. You shall confess your sins at least once a year. Catholics are only required to confess mortal (serious) sins. However, the Church highly recommends that the faithful receive this sacrament for venial (less serious) sins as well.

3. You shall receive the sacrament of the Eucharist at least during the Easter season. The Eucharist is the source and summit of all Christian life (CCC 1324). It is the body, blood, soul, and divinity of our Lord (CCC 1374). The Church strongly encourages the faithful to go beyond this precept by receiving the Eucharist on all Sundays and feast days, or more often still, even daily (CCC 1389).

4. You shall observe the prescribed days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church. In general, there are certain days of the year in which the faithful are required to fast (i.e. on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday) and to obstain from eating meat (i.e. during the Fridays of Lent).

5. You shall help to provide for the needs of the Church. The Catholic Church is the largest charitable organization on the planet, bringing relief and comfort to those in need (see #8).

Read the Bible

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge;” Hosea 4:6
DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS (EWTN)
Biblegateway.com

Read the Catechism

Blessed John Paul the Great considered one of his greatest achievements as pope to be the Catechism of the Catholic Church. This book is a complete summary of our Catholic faith! It contains four sections:

SECTION 1: The Profession of the Faith (What we believe)
SECTION 2: The Celebration of the Christian Mystery
(Our liturgy, especially in the Sacraments)
SECTION 3: Life in Christ (How we live as Christians)
SECTION 4: Christian Prayer (How we pray)

This is a very important book for a number of reasons. For one, it makes it easier for any Catholic (or nonCatholic) to access the complete Faith in one place. This is important because it would take a lifetime to access our faith in its entirety if it were not in summary form. A second extremely important aspect of this work is that it promotes unity in our Church. Truth is not relative. It has been revealed to us by God in the flesh, and entrusted to the Apostles for safeguarding until the end of the world. The Catechism promotes continuity in this truth.

The Catechism, however, can be a tough read for many. This is especially true if one does not have a strong background in the Catholic Faith. Here are a few things that could help:
First, know that every major theme in the Catechism is followed by an “In Brief” section. So for example, let’s say one wants to learn about the Third Commandment: “Keep Holy the Sabbath.” One can read the full 21 paragraphs the Catechism has on it, or simply skip to the “In Brief:” section which only has 7 (and most of these are just one sentence).

Another great option available to make the Catechism more readable is a work called The Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. This small book has everything the Catechism has, but in a much shorter dialogue format (every paragraph is an answer to a question that titles it).

Another amazing catechism that recently came out is called the YOUCAT (short for Youth Catechism). Pictures, quotes, definitions, and Bible verses are a few features that make this Catechism accessible and engaging to teenagers and young adults. St. Philomene Parish offers yet another resource to help parishioners access the Catechism. Please visitcatholicpillars.com to learn more.

Pray the Rosary

“All generations will call me blessed: The Church’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship.” The Church rightly honors “the Blessed Virgin with special devotion. From the most ancient times the Blessed Virgin has been honored with the title of ‘Mother of God,’ to whose protection the faithful fly in all their dangers and needs…This very special devotion…differs essentially from the adoration which is given to the incarnate Word and equally to the Father and the Holy Spirit, and greatly fosters this adoration.” The liturgical feasts dedicated to the Mother of God and Marian prayer, such as the rosary, an “epitome of the whole Gospel,” express this devotion to the Virgin Mary (CCC 971).

THE HOLY ROSARY – Why pray the rosary today? What is its history?
THEHOLYROSARY.ORG

Online Resources

REAL PRESENCE EUCHARIST EDUCATION AND ADORATION ASSOCIATION

Stay Connected to the Official Church

DIOCESE OF SACRAMENTO

CALIFORNIA CATHOLIC CONFERENCE

UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS (USCCB)

VATICAN – THE HOLY SEE

Support Charitable Organizations

CATHOLIC FOUNDATION OF THE DIOCESE OF SACRAMENTO

SACRAMENTO LOAVES AND FISHES

CRS (CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES)

SACRAMENTO FOOD BANK AND FAMILY SERVICES

SACRAMENTO LIFE CENTER

Watch Catholic TV

EWTN – EWTN CHANNEL FINDER

EWTN (YOUTUBE)

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS (YOUTUBE)

THE VATICAN (YOUTUBE)

THE CATHOLIC TV NETWORK (YOUTUBE)

Listen to Catholic Radio
CATHOLIC RADIO
CATHOLIC RADIO STATIONS (SACRAMENTO 1620 AM; SIRIUS CHANNEL 130)

Learn more about your faith and how to defend it
CATHOLIC ANSWERS LIVE (RADIO SHOW)
CATHOLICANSWERS.COM
APOLOGETICA.ORG

Explore the Lives of Saints
PATRON SAINTS (ALPHABETICAL SEARCH)
PATRON SAINTS (PATRONAGE SEARCH)

Other Resources
CORAZONES.ORG
CATHOLICS COME HOME
CATHOLIC.NET
ENCUENTRA.COM
IGLESIA.INFO