On the Fourth Commandment.
536. Why is it commanded to keep the seventh, rather than any other day, holy to God?
Because God in six days made the world, and on the seventh day rested from the work of creation.
537. Is the Sabbath kept in the Christian Church?
It is not kept, strictly speaking, as a holy day; but still in memory of the creation of the world, and in continuation of its original observance, it is distinguished from the other days of the week by a relaxation of the rule for fasting.
538. How, then, does the Christian Church obey the fourth commandment?
She still to every six days keeps a seventh, only not the last of the seven days, which is the Sabbath, but the first day in every week, which is the Day of the Resurrection, or lord's Day.
539. Since when do we keep the Day of the Resurrection?
From the very time of Christ's resurrection.
540. Is there any mention in holy Scripture of keeping the day of the Resurrection?
In the book of the Acts of the Apostles it is mentioned that the disciples--that is, the Christians--came together on the first day after the Sabbath, which was the first day of the week, or Day of the Resurrection, for the breaking of bread, that is to say, for the celebration of the Sacrament of the Communion. Acts xx. 7. The Apostle and Evangelist John also in the Apocalypse mentions the Lord's Day, or the Day of the Resurrection.
541. Is there not yet something more to be understood under the name of the seventh day, or Sabbath?
As in the Church of the Old Testament the name Sabbath was understood to include divers other days appointed like the Sabbath for festivals or fasts, as the festival of the Passover, and the day of Atonement, so likewise are we now in the Christian Church bound to keep, besides the Lord's Day, certain others also, which have been appointed as festivals to the glory of God and the honor of the Blessed Virgin and other saints, or as days of fasting. (See Orthod. Confess. Pt. III. Q. 60; Pt. I. Q. 88.)
542. Which are the chief festivals?
Those appointed in memory of the chief events relating to the Incarnation of the Son of God for our salvation, and to the Manifestation of the Godhead; after these, those appointed in honor of the Most Holy Mother of God, as the instrument of the mystery of the Incarnation. Such, in the order of the events, are the following:
1. The day of the birth of the Most Holy Mother of God.
2. The day of her being brought to the Temple to be dedicated to God.
3. The day of the Annunciation; that is, when the angel announced to the Most Holy Virgin the Incarnation of the Son of God.
4. The day of the birth of Jesus Christ.
5. The day of the baptism of our Lord, and the Epiphany, or Manifestation of the Most Holy Trinity.
6. The day of our Lord's being met in the Temple by Simeon.
7. The day of our Lord's Transfiguration.
8. The day of our Lord's entry into Jerusalem.
9. Pasch, or Easter: the feast of feasts, the anticipation of the everlasting feast of everlasting blessedness.
10. The day of our Lord's Ascension into heaven.
11. The feast of Pentecost; in memory of the Descent of the Holy Ghost, and in honor of the Most Holy Trinity.
12. The day of the Elevation of the Cross of our Lord, discovered by the Empress Helena.
13. The day of the Rest [316] of the Most Holy Mother of God.
543. What is the chief fast?
The great fast; that is, Lent, or Quadragesima.
544. Why is it called Quadragesima?
Because it continues forty days, besides the week of Christ's Passion.
545. Why has it been appointed that the great fast should continue forty days?
After the example of Jesus Christ himself, who fasted forty days. Matt. iv. 2.
546. Why has it been appointed to fast on the Wednesday and the Friday?
On Wednesday, in memory of the betrayal of our Lord Jesus Christ to suffer; and on Friday, in memory of his actual suffering and death.
547. For what cause are the fasts before the Nativity, the Rest of the Blessed Virgin and the Day of the Holy Apostles?
The first two as preparatory exercises of abstinence, the better to honor the ensuing feasts of the Nativity, and of the Rest of the Mother of God; the last not only for like reason, but also in imitation of the Apostles, who fasted to prepare themselves for the work of preaching the Gospel. Acts xiii. 3.
548. How should we spend our time on Sundays, and the other greater holy days, in order to keep the fourth commandment?
First, on these days we should not labor, or do worldly and temporal business; secondly, we should keep them holy, that is, use them for holy and spiritual works, to the glory of God.
549. Why are we forbidden to work on holy days?
That we may with the less hindrance employ them in holy and godly works.
550. What particular things is it fit to do on holy days?
First, to go to church, for the public worship, and for instruction in the Word of God; secondly, when at home, to give ourselves to prayer and reading, or edifying conversation; thirdly, to dedicate to God a portion of our means, expending it on the necessities of the Church and her ministers, and in alms to the poor, to visit the sick and prisoners, and to do other works of Christian charity.
551. But should we not do such things on work-days also?
It is well, if any can; but he whom business prevents should at any rate devote holy days to such works. But as regards prayer, it is certainly our bounden duty to use it every day, morning and evening, before and after both dinner and supper, and, as far as possible, at the beginning and ending of every work.
552. What are we to think of those who on holy days allow themselves to indulge in indecent plays and shows, vulgar songs, and intemperance in meat and drink?
Such people greatly desecrate holy days For if even works innocent and useful for this present life are unfit for holy days, much more such as these, which are unprofitable, carnal, and vicious.
553. When the fourth commandment speaks of working six days, does it not thereby condemn those who do nothing?
Without doubt it condemns all who on common days do not give themselves to works befitting their calling, but spend their time in idleness and dissipation.
On the Fifth Commandment.
554. What special duties are prescribed by the fifth commandment in regard to parents, under the general phrase of honoring them?
1. To behave respectfully to them.
2. To obey them.
3. To support and comfort them in sickness and age.
4. After their death, as well as during their lives, to pray for the salvation of their souls; and faithfully to fulfill their last wills, so far as they are not contrary to law, divine or civil. See 2 Macc. xii. 43, 44; Jer. xxxv. 18, 19. (J. Damasc. Serm. de Mort.)
555. What degree of sin is there in undutifulness to parents?
In proportion as it is easy and natural to love and honor parents, to whom we owe our being, the more grievous is the sin of undutifulness towards them: for this cause in the law of Moses he that cursed father or mother was to be put to death. Exod. xxi. 17.
556. Why has this particular commandment to honor parents a promise added to it of prosperity and long life?
That men by a visible reward might be the more moved to fulfill a commandment on which the good order first of families and afterwards of all social life depends.
557. How is this promise fulfilled?
The examples of the old Patriarchs or Fathers show that God gives special force to the blessing of parents. Gen. xxvii. The blessing of the father establisheth the houses of the children. Ecclus. iii. 9. God of his wise and just providence specially protects the life and promotes the prosperity of such as honor their parents upon earth; but for the perfect reward of the perfect virtue he gives everlasting life and blessedness in the heavenly country.
558. Why in those commandments which teach love to our neighbors is mention made first of all of parents?
Because parents are naturally nearer to us than all others.
559. Are there not others also to be understood in the fifth commandment under the name of parents?
Yes; all who in different relations stand to us in the place of parents.
560. Who stand to us in the place of parents?
1. Our sovereign and our country; for an empire is a great family, in which the sovereign is father, and the subjects children of the sovereign and their country.
2. Our spiritual pastors and teachers; for they by their doctrine and by the Sacraments beget us to spiritual life, and nurture us up in it.
3. Our elders in age.
4. Our benefactors.
5. Our governors, or superiors, in different relations.
561. How does holy Scripture speak of the honor due to the sovereign?
Let every soul be subject to the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God. Rom. xiii. 1, 2.
Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience' sake. Rom. xiii. 5.
My son, fear God and the king, and oppose neither of them. Prov xxiv. 21.
Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar's; and unto God the things that are God's. Matt. xxii. 21.
Fear God; honor the king. 1 Pet. ii. 17.
562. How far should love to our sovereign and country go?
So far as to make us ready to lay down our life for them. John xv. 13.
563. How does holy Scripture speak of the duty of honoring spiritual pastors and teachers?
Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. Heb. xiii. 17.
564. Is there in holy Scripture any particular injunction to honor elders in age as parents?
The Apostle Paul writes to Timothy thus: Rebuke not an elder, but entreat him as a father; younger men as brethren; elder women as mothers. 1 Tim. v. 1,2.
Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honor the face of the old man, and fear the Lord thy God. Lev. xix. 32.
565. How may we be assured that we ought to honor benefactors as parents?
By the example of Jesus Christ himself, who was subject to Joseph; although Joseph was not his father, but only his guardian. Luke ii. 51.
566. Besides these, who are our superiors, whom we must honor after parents, and like them?
They who in place of parents take care of our education, as governors in schools, and masters; they who preserve us from irregularities and disorders in society, as civil magistrates; they who protect us from wrong by the power of the law, as judges; they to whom the sovereign intrusts the guardianship and defense of the public safety against enemies, as military commanders; and, lastly, masters, so far as relates to those who serve them, or belong to them.
567. What does holy Scripture prescribe as to our duty with respect to authorities generally?
Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. Rom. xiii. 7.