17
reaching out to help those suffering
from poverty, distress, sickness and
tribulation.
To be Catholic means we shall ever be
unswerving in our loyalty to God and
country, abstaining from membership
in associations forbidden by the Church.
Joining these secret Societies, a man
automatically incurs excommunication
(Canon 2335) which deprives him of
the right to share in the prayers of the
Faithful and to receive the Sacraments
in life and a Christian Burial. This was
confirmed again in 1983 in Canon 1374.
Catholics are forbidden to marry those
who join such Societies.
To be Catholic means above all to have
Faith in God and to remember the
Apostles’ words: “Though we, or an angel
from Heaven, preach a new Gospel to
you besides that which we have given to
you, let him be anathema.” (Galatians 1:8)
IF WE LOVE OUR FAITH:
We will accept cheerfully not only
its privileges but also its prohibitions,
not only its prerogatives but also its
sacrifices, not only its favors but
also its commands.
We shall strive in word and in
work to make its principles the
guiding light of our lives.
We will fulfill its practices and never
stoop to ridicule it to appear “broadminded”
or “liberal” in the eyes of
others.
We will be ready to explain it to all
who are interested or desire to have
knowledge of it.
We will desire to see it loved and
respected by others. If our Faith is
attacked, we shall not hesitate to
defend it by seeking to enlighten
those who attack us.
Nothing and nobody can take it
from us.
We will be ready to die rather than
transgress the laws of God received
from our Fathers. (2 Maccabees 7: 2)
We shall live it!
TO LIVE AS A CATHOLIC MEANS:
We must keep the Ten Commandments
of God.
We must keep the Law of Love. “I
give you a new commandment,
that you love one another as I
have loved you.” (John 13:34)
To love means to desire to attain
the good of another, to refrain from
all that hurts and harms needlessly,
to keep from deliberate action which
would be a breach of charity; it means
to bear one another’s burdens.
We must raise our hearts to God in
prayer - in the morning, at night,
before meals, in time of temptation,
sickness and trial. We should think
of God, to adore Him, to thank Him
and to make reparation to Him for
our sins and the sins of the whole
world.
We must teach our children when
they reach the age of reason, about
Holy Communion, the privilege of
being present at the Mass and ready
them for the Sacrament of Confession.
And, as soon as possible after Holy