Day 268: The Precepts of the Church

The precepts of the Church are set in the context of a moral life bound to and nourished by liturgical life. The obligatory character of these positive laws decreed by the pastoral authorities is meant to guarantee to the faithful the indispensable minimum in the spirit of prayer and moral effort, in the growth in love of God and neighbor. CCC 2041

In today's reading, the Catechism discusses the precepts of the Church. These are the basic commandments in the Church for the faithful to follow for the "indispensable minimum" in our walk with Christ. Really, we should do more than these if we are able to and as God directs us, but these are a start. The barest of minimums, you could say.

The Catechism Compendium summarizes what the precepts of the Church are:

They are: 1) to attend Mass on Sundays and other holy days of obligation and to refrain from work and activities which could impede the sanctification of those days; 2) to confess one's sins, receiving the sacrament of Reconciliation at least once each year; 3) to receive the sacrament of the Eucharist at least during the Easter season; 4) to abstain from eating meat and to observe the days of fasting established by the Church; and 5) to help to provide for the material needs of the Church, each according to his own ability. (#432)

Finally, Fr. Mark-Mary and Br. Michelangelo both speak about the 5 Precepts in this good video: