Chapter 25 — "The First Commandment: Believe in the True God"
OPENING PRAYER
The Gloria
Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to people of good will.
We praise you,
we bless you,
we adore you,
we glorify you,
we give you thanks for your great glory,
Lord God, heavenly King,
O God, almighty Father.
Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son,
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us;
you take away the sins of the world,
receive our prayer;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father,
have mercy on us.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father.
Amen."THE FIRST COMMANDMENT: BELIEVE IN THE TRUE GOD"
—CCC, Nos. 2083–2141
Do you worship any “idols” or other “gods” besides the one, true God?
Idolatry exists in many forms—whenever God’s existence is denied or not acknowledged, or something or someone besides God is given absolute value or our adoration. Such forms include atheism, agnosticism, New Age spirituality, witchcraft, astrology, palm reading, clairvoyance, power, prestige, money, possessions, materialism, or the adoration of celebrities or other “idols.”
God’s unconditional love and grace, the theological, cardinal, and human virtues, and the Church and the Sacraments help us to live a moral life. God also teaches us how we should live. One way God does this is by giving us laws to guide our actions, including the Ten Commandments that God has revealed to us. The first three Commandments treat our relationship with God and the last seven concern our relationships with each other.
The First Commandment states: "I, the LORD, Am Your God...You shall have not have other gods besides me" (Ex 20:2-3).
—CCC, Nos. 2083–2141
Idolatry exists in many forms—whenever God’s existence is denied or not acknowledged, or something or someone besides God is given absolute value or our adoration. Such forms include atheism, agnosticism, New Age spirituality, witchcraft, astrology, palm reading, clairvoyance, power, prestige, money, possessions, materialism, or the adoration of celebrities or other “idols.”
God’s unconditional love and grace, the theological, cardinal, and human virtues, and the Church and the Sacraments help us to live a moral life. God also teaches us how we should live. One way God does this is by giving us laws to guide our actions, including the Ten Commandments that God has revealed to us. The first three Commandments treat our relationship with God and the last seven concern our relationships with each other.
The First Commandment states: "I, the LORD, Am Your God...You shall have not have other gods besides me" (Ex 20:2-3).
The First Commandment calls us to practice the Theological Virtues—to love God with all our heart, mind, and will, in other words, our entire being; and to have faith and hope in the one, true God. The First Commandment fosters the virtue of religion that moves us to adore God alone because God alone is holy and is worthy of our worship and praise.
The First Commandment prohibits idolatry, worshipping false gods. However, as a result of our faith in the Incarnation of Christ, the Church recognizes and permits artistic images such as icons that can portray the mysteries of salvation. Whoever venerates the holy image of Jesus Christ, Mary, a saint, or an angel, venerates the person portrayed by that image. This, in turn, can lead us to a deeper contemplation of God. However, adoration belongs solely to God alone.
The First Commandment also prohibits us from tempting God by seeking to put God’s power to the test, as Satan did with Jesus in the desert. It also prohibits sacrilege, which means to treat persons, places, or things consecrated by God with disrespect—above all, the Eucharist. Likewise, it prohibits simony, which is the buying and selling of spiritual things.
At the center of our faith is our assent of mind, heart, and will to all that God reveals and that the Church defines and presents through her ordinary and universal Magisterium as Christ’s way to salvation.
Please read this week USCCA,Chapter 25, "The First Commandment: Believe in the True God," (pages 339–349), the CCC, Nos. 2083–2141, (pages 505–518), and the Compendium, Nos. 442–446
VIDEOS
"God's Liberating Commandments" (Pope Francis)
"The First Commandment" (Fr. James Kubicki, S.J.)
"The First Commandment" (Fr. Dan O'Reilly)
"Idolotry" (Bishop Robert Barron)
"The Ten Commandments" (Bishop Robert Barron)
"Is God the Center of Your Life?" (Fr. Mike Schmitz)
"The Power of the First Commandment" (USCCB)
"Worship the Lord" - CCC 2083-2109 (Fr. Daniel Mahan)
"No Other Gods" - CCC 2110-2141 (Fr. Daniel Mahan)
"The First Commandment" (Fr. James Kubicki, S.J.)
"The First Commandment" (Fr. Dan O'Reilly)
"Idolotry" (Bishop Robert Barron)
"The Ten Commandments" (Bishop Robert Barron)
"Is God the Center of Your Life?" (Fr. Mike Schmitz)
"The Power of the First Commandment" (USCCB)
"Worship the Lord" - CCC 2083-2109 (Fr. Daniel Mahan)
"No Other Gods" - CCC 2110-2141 (Fr. Daniel Mahan)
MUSIC
"You Raise Me Up" (Celtic Women)
"Heal Me Oh Lord"
"How Great is Our God"
"Here in this Place"
OTHER RESOURCES
"The Challenge of the Ego" (Fr. Albert Haase OFM - Video)
"A Brief Examination of Conscience Based on the Ten Commandments" (USCCB)
"A Brief Examination of Conscience Based on the Ten Commandments" (USCCB)