Explore the Moral Teaching of the Catholic Church through the Ten Commandments.
What are we to make of these ancient words carved in stone? The Ten Commandments, as handed down through Catholic tradition, remain far more than historical artifacts. According to the Church Fathers, these divine precepts were “implanted in their hearts and in their souls” even before the Lord formally delivered them to Moses on Mount…
What Does the Tenth Commandment Forbid? The Tenth Commandment prohibits envious desire for others’ possessions and requires contentment with God’s provision. The Catechism teaches that the tenth commandment forbids greed and the desire to amass earthly goods without limit and requires poverty of spirit, detachment from riches, and purification of the heart from envy (CCC,…
What Does the Ninth Commandment Prohibit? The Ninth Commandment forbids lustful thoughts and desires directed toward another person’s spouse, but extends more broadly to require purity of heart regarding all sexual matters. The Catechism teaches that the ninth commandment warns against lust or carnal concupiscence and that everyone should cultivate chastity in keeping with their…
What Does the Eighth Commandment Require? The Importance of the Eighth Commandment in Modern Society The Eighth Commandment requires truthfulness in speech and action, protecting truth as foundational to human relationships, society, and relationship with God. The Catechism teaches that the eighth commandment forbids misrepresenting the truth in our relations with others and that offenses…
What Does the Seventh Commandment Require? The Seventh Commandment forbids theft and requires respect for property rights, just distribution of resources, care for creation, and economic justice. The Catechism teaches that the seventh commandment forbids unjustly taking or keeping the goods of one’s neighbor and wronging him in any way with respect to his goods…
What Does the Sixth Commandment Teach? The Sixth Commandment requires chastity according to one’s state in life and protects the dignity of human sexuality. The Catechism teaches that sexuality affects all aspects of the human person in the unity of body and soul and that it is ordered toward the conjugal love of man and…
What Does the Fifth Commandment Protect? The Fifth Commandment prohibits the direct and intentional killing of innocent human beings. The Catechism teaches that human life is sacred because from its beginning it involves the creative action of God and it remains forever in a special relationship with the Creator, who is its sole end (CCC,…
What Does It Mean to Honor Parents? The Fourth Commandment establishes the foundation for all human relationships by requiring honor, respect, and obedience toward parents and legitimate authority. The Catechism teaches that this commandment introduces the second tablet of the Decalogue, which concerns love of neighbor, beginning with the family as the fundamental cell of…
What Does the Third Commandment Require of Believers? The Third Commandment requires believers to set aside one day each week for rest, worship, and spiritual renewal. The Catechism teaches that the sabbath brings everyday work to a halt and provides respite from servitude to work and worship of money (CCC, 2172). For Catholics, Sunday replaced…
You Shall Not Take the Name of the Lord Your God in Vain What Does the Second Commandment Mean? The Second Commandment requires reverence for God’s name and all that is sacred. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “The second commandment prescribes respect for the Lord’s name. Like the first commandment, it belongs…
