‘’I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery’’ -Exodus 20:2

When we read or think about God’s commandments, we should consider the context in which He gave these life-giving precepts to the Israelites. This understanding can radically change our approach to the spiritual life and our relationship with God.

The Ten Commandments are intended to keep us from the slavery of sin. Living in obedience to what God has commanded guarantees freedom from sin.

—–A detailed list regarding mortal sins that every Catholic should be aware of.——

1^st Commandment: ‘’I am the Lord thy God, thou shalt have no other gods before me..’’

1. Polytheism
2. Idolatry (power, pleasure and money)
3. Superstition (horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums)
4. Magic or sorcery (making attempts to tame occult power)
5. Tempting God, in words or deeds
6. Sacrilege
7. Simony
8. Atheism
9. Agnosticism

2^nd Commandment: ‘’You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.’’

1. Blasphemy
2. Curses
3. Unfaithfulness to promises
4. False Oaths
5. Perjury

3^rd Commandment: ‘’Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day’’

1. Not attending Mass on Sundays or holy days of obligation without good reason.

-the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants) or dispensed by their own pastor.

4^th Commandment: ‘’Honor your father and your mother.’’

Children must respect and obey their parents. They must also see to the care of their parent when they are old. Parents are given the duty to raise their children in the faith and care for them

5^th Commandment: ‘’You shall not kill.’’

1. Murder (Infanticide, fratricide and parricide)
2. Abortion
3. Euthanasia
4. Suicide
5. Scandal (an attitude or behavior which leads another to do evil)
6. Drug Abuse
7. Gluttony (an excessive and disordered love for food and worldly things)
8. Alcohol abuse
9. Scientific, medical, or psychological experiments on human individuals
10. Terrorism
11. Extreme anger
12. Hatred
13. Extortion

6^th Commandment: ‘’You shall not commit adultery.’’

1. Marital infidelity (Adultery)
2. Divorce
3. Polygamy
4. Concubinage
5. Masturbation
6. Fornication (sexual acts before or outside of marriage)
7. Pornography
8. Prostitution
9. Rape
10. Homosexuality
11. Contraception
12. Sterilization
13. Artificial insemination
14. In vitro fertilization (IVF)
15. Donation of sperm or ovum, surrogate uterus
16. Incest
17. Co-habitation

7^th Commandment: ‘’You shall not steal.’’

1. Theft
2. Fraud
3. unjust wages
4. unjust wagers
5. taking advantage of the poor
6. disordered desire for money and their selfish use
7. corruption
8. tax evasion
9. forgery
10. Willfully damaging private or public property
11. Enslavement of others

8^th Commandment: ‘’You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.’’

1. False witness and perjury
2. Rash judgment
3. Detraction
4. Calumny
5. Violation of the sacramental seal
6. Adulation
7. Lying
8. Divulgation of professional secrets

9^th Commandment: ‘’You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.’’

1. Lust – forbids thoughts and desires connected to the sixth commandment

10^th Commandment: ‘’You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.’’

1. Avarice (greed)
2. Envy
3. Voluntary doubt of the faith
4. Incredulity, heresy, apostasy, schism

Reference:

Catechism of the Catholic Church. Part Three: Life in Christ. Section Two: The Ten Commandments, 2084 – 2550 CCC