Catholic Doctrine and Commandments

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the Ten Commandments, works of mercy, virtues, sins, and precepts of the Church from Lessons 15 through 22.

Two Great Commandments

The commandments containing the whole law of God: first, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind, and with thy whole strength; second, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

Chief Corporal Works of Mercy

Seven charitable actions concerning bodily needs: 1. To feed the hungry, 2. To give drink to the thirsty, 3. To clothe the naked, 4. To visit the imprisoned, 5. To shelter the homeless, 6. To visit the sick, and 7. To bury the dead.

Chief Spiritual Works of Mercy

Seven charitable actions concerning spiritual needs: 1. To admonish the sinner, 2. To instruct the ignorant, 3. To counsel the doubtful, 4. To comfort the sorrowful, 5. To bear wrongs patiently, 6. To forgive all injuries, and 7. To pray for the living and the dead.

Worship of God

The acts of faith, hope, and charity, and adoring Him and praying to Him, offering to God alone the supreme worship that is due Him under the first commandment.

Sins Against Faith

Sins committed by apostasy, heresy, indifferentism, and by taking part in non-Catholic worship (which professes belief in a religion known to be false).

Presumption

A sin against hope committed when a person trusts that he can be saved by his own efforts without God's help, or by God's help without his own efforts.

Despair

A sin against hope committed when a person deliberately refuses to trust that God will give him the necessary help to save his soul.

Taking God's Name in Vain

Using the name of God or the holy name of Jesus Christ without reverence, such as to express surprise or anger; ordinarily a venial sin.

Cursing

The calling down of some evil on a person, place, or thing.

Blasphemy

Insulting language which expresses contempt for God, either directly or through His saints and holy things; a grievous sin that can become venial only through lack of reflection or consent.

Servile Work

Work that requires labor of body rather than of mind; all unnecessary servile work is forbidden on Sunday by the third commandment unless the honor of God, our own need, or that of our neighbor requires it.

Fourth Commandment Obligations

The precept obliging us to respect and to obey our parents, as well as all our lawful superiors.

Fifth Commandment Prohibitions

The sins forbidden by the fifth commandment: murder, suicide, fighting, anger, hatred, revenge, drunkenness, and bad example.

Sixth Commandment Prohibitions

All impurity and immodesty in words, looks, and actions, whether alone or with others.

Dangers to Chastity

The chief dangers to the virtue of chastity: idleness, sinful curiosity, bad companions, drinking, immodest dress, and indecent books, plays, and motion pictures.

Seventh Commandment Prohibitions

Stealing, cheating, unjust keeping of what belongs to others, unjust damage to the property of others, and the accepting of bribes by public officials.

Eighth Commandment

'Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor'; commands us to speak the truth in all things (especially concerning the good name and honor of others) and forbids lies, rash judgment, detraction, calumny, and telling bound secrets.

Rash Judgment

The sin committed when, without sufficient reason, a person believes something harmful to another's character.

Detraction

The sin committed when, without a good reason, a person makes known the hidden faults of another.

Calumny (or Slander)

The sin committed when a person injures the good name of another by lying.

Sinful Impure Thoughts

Thoughts about impure things that become sinful when a person thinks of an unchaste act and deliberately takes pleasure in so thinking, or when unchaste desire or passion is aroused and consent is given to it.

Chief Commandments of the Church

Six laws: 1. Assist at Mass on all Sundays and holydays of obligation; 2. Fast and abstain on appointed days; 3. Confess sins at least once a year; 4. Receive Holy Communion during Easter time; 5. Contribute to the support of the Church; 6. Observe marriage laws.

Holydays of Obligation (United States)

Six specific feast days: Christmas Day (December 25), The Circumcision (January 1), Ascension Thursday (40 days after Easter), The Assumption (August 15), All Saints' Day (November 1), and The Immaculate Conception (December 8).

Fast Days Obligation

The Church law binding all baptized persons between the ages of twenty-one and fifty-nine to observe prescribed fasting, unless excused or dispensed.

Abstinence Days Obligation

The Church law binding all baptized persons seven years of age or over who have attained the use of reason to observe prescribed abstinence, unless excused or dispensed.

Annual Confession Precept

The strict obligation for a person to make a good confession within the year, if having a mortal sin to confess.

Easter Duty Neglect

A mortal sin committed by a Catholic who neglects to receive Holy Communion worthily during the Easter time.