Treatise — Sabetti-Barrett, Compendium of Moral Theology
Treatise VII. On the Precepts of the Church
Many particular precepts of the Church exist; here we shall speak only of those which regard all the faithful, of whatever state or condition they may be. In proposing them, Doctors and Catechisms differ not a little, although this difference consists rather in the manner of speaking than in the very substance of the matter. Yet to obtain uniformity, which in this matter is wholly necessary, we shall follow that order which the Catechism recently published by order of the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore employs. Therefore there they are stated thus.
The Precepts of the Church
I. - To hear Mass on Sundays and other feast days.
II. - To observe fasting and abstinence on certain days.
III. - To confess sacramentally at least once in the year.
IV. - To receive the Sacred Eucharist within Easter time.
V. - To contribute some support for the suitable sustenance of Pastors.
VI. - To abstain from the celebration of marriage in those circumstances in which the Church prohibits it.
Within this treatise
- On the First Precept of the Church: To Hear Mass on Sundays and Other Feast Daysn. 327
On the Second Precept of the Church: To Observe Fasting and Abstinence on Certain Daysnn. 328–338
Chapter I. On the Law of Abstinence and Fastingnn. 330–337
- Article I. On Abstinence from Meat and Broth from Meatnn. 330–331
- Article II. On the Law of Fastingnn. 332–333
- Article III. On the Days of Abstinence Alone, of Abstinence Together with Fasting, and of Fasting Alonen. 334
- Article IV. On the Permanence of Particular Indultsn. 335
- Article V. On the Subjects of This Lawn. 336
- Article VI. On the Hour of Refectionn. 337
- Chapter II. On Causes Excusing from Fastingn. 338
- On the Third Precept of the Church: To Confess Sacramentally at Least Once in the Yearnn. 339–340
- On the Fourth Precept of the Church: To Receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist within Paschal Timenn. 341–342
- On the Fifth Precept of the Church: To Contribute Some Subsidy for the Suitable Support of Pastorsn. 343
- On the Censure and Prohibition of Booksnn. 344–345