Ten Commandments: First Three

• Chapter 17 focuses on the first three of the Ten Commandments, guiding principles for a moral and spiritual life.

The First Commandment

• The First Commandment states, "I am the Lord, your God. You shall not have other gods besides me."
• Recognizing God's Sovereignty involves acknowledging that God alone is worthy of worship and devotion.
• Committing to Faithfulness requires pledging undivided allegiance to the one true God.
• Rejecting False Idols means turning away from anything that threatens to replace God in one's heart.

False Gods

• False gods can come in the form of golden calves, Baal, modern idols, money and material possessions, power, status, technology, entertainment, social validation, and popularity
• False gods demand attention, but they leave people wanting.

Paths to a Divine Relationship

• Knowing God is achieved through God's divine revelation in Scripture and Church teaching.
• Loving God involves developing a personal relationship through prayer and communion.
• Serving God means putting divine love into action through faithful words and deeds.

Prayer

• Vocal Prayer involves speaking to God through words, like the Our Father.
• Meditation consists of seeking God through reflection on Scripture and spiritual writings.
• Contemplation is enjoying God's presence through loving attention and silence.
• Prayer is a transformative conversation that lifts hearts and minds to God.
• Sacred expressions of prayer include:
• Adoration & Praise: Acknowledging God's greatness and expressing love
• Contrition: Expressing sorrow for sins and seeking reconciliation
• Thanksgiving: Recognizing God's blessings and provisions
• Supplication: Humbly asking for God's help
• The Prayer Process consists of Acknowledge, Relate, Receive and Respond

Living the First Commandment

• Faithful Observance involves putting God first in daily decisions, worshiping regularly, and maintaining a consistent prayer life.
• Common Violations include prioritizing other things above God and engaging with occult practices or horoscopes.
• Heart Examination is regularly reflecting on what occupies thoughts, time, and resources.

The Second Commandment

• The Second Commandment states, "You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain."
• Using God's name in vain means doing so for no good purpose or reason.
• It's critical to honor God's name, speaking it only with reverence and proper intention.
• It is important to respect holy persons, places, and things
• Live the second commandment by using God's name in prayer and reverence, make the sign of the cross reverently, make a vow
• Break the second commandment by using God's name disrespectfully, curse or swear, blasphemy, breaking a vow

The Third Commandment

• The Third Commandment focuses on remembering the Sabbath.
• The commandment calls to set aside time for worship and rest.
• Catholics fulfill this by attending Sunday Mass and renewing the covenant with God, providing sacred time for reflection.
• Fulfilling obligations can bring spirituality, community connection with the universal Church, strengthening family foundations and Catholic identity.

Holy Days in the United States

• January 1: Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God which honors Mary's divine motherhood.
• August 15: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary which commemorates Mary's bodily assumption into heaven.
• December 8 & 25: Immaculate Conception and Christmas which celebrates Mary's conception without sin and Christ's birth.
• Variable: Ascension Thursday which celebrates Christ's ascension into heaven.
• November 1: All Saints Day to honor all saints, known and unknown.

Participating at Mass

• Actions include to listen, say, sing, offer yourself to God during the Offertory, receive Holy Communion worthily, and make a Thanksgiving.

Dispensations and Exceptions

• Those who are sick are excused from attending Mass.
• Elderly people who cannot safely attend are excused.
• Parents with infants who cannot attend may be excused.
• Bishops may issue dispensations for their diocese.