God’s Law 1.

He is infinitely good and perfect and worthy of

love. “One there is who is good, that is God”
Besides believing what God has revealed, we (Matt. 19:17). We can see the goodness and
must keep His law. “But if thou wilt enter into life, keep perfection of God all around us. If we meditate on
the commandments”. his goodness, we shall never tire of loving him.
The law of God is contained in both natural and We love our parents and friends because they are
revealed law. Natural law is imprinted by God in the good. Their goodness is nothing compared to the
hearts and minds of all men. It teaches the most important goodness of God.
rules of morality: homage due to God, treatment of others 2. He loves us, and is always doing good to us. We
as we expect others to treat us, the evil of willful injury to only have to think of ourselves and our lives to
oneself, the virtue of truth and honesty. Thus natural law find an innumerable number of favors he has
is a definite expression of God's will, requiring obedience. granted us. “For God so loved the world that he
Beside the natural law, there is the revealed law, gave his only begotten son, that those who believe
chiefly composed of the Ten Commandments and the in him may not perish, but may have life
Two Precepts of Charity. The revealed law is only a everlasting.” (John 3:16). “With age-old love I
repetition and amplification of the natural law. have loved you; so I have kept my mercy toward
you.” (Jer. 31:3). “Every good gift and every
The Two Great Commandments perfect gift from above, coming down from the
Once a doctor of the law asked our Lord: “Master, Father of Lights.” (James 1:17)
which is the greatest commandment of the law?” Jesus 3. he wants and command us to love him. We are
said to him: “THOU SHALT LOVE THE LORD THY God's creatures. Is it not wonderful that he, the
GOD WITH THY WHOLE HEART, AND WITH THY infinite, should care for our love? Our Lord said
WHOLE SOUL, AND WITH THY WHOLE MIND very clearly: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God
AND WITH THE WHOLY STRENGTH.” This is the with full heart and with thy whole soul, and with
greatest and the first commandment. And the second is thy whole mind, and with thy whole strength.”
similar to it: “THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOR (Mark 12:30)
AS THYSELF.” (Matt. 22:36-39) 4. Loving God makes us good. After studying the
The love of God is the greatest commandment ultimate goal of all human acts, this appears easy
because it includes all other commandments. If we truly to understand. All human faculties tend towards
love God, we will do nothing to offend him. We would something good, whether they be on the physical
not commit sin, because sin is displeasing to him. We level corresponding to our external faculties; or
would obey the commandments. Moreover, if we truly on the intellectual level corresponding to our
love Him, we would do all things which he does not intellectual faculties which are more proper to our
require, but which we know will please him. rational nature and are capable of being elevated
The command to love our neighbor is not new. to the supernatural. There is no doubt, that the
But Christ did give a new commandment of love: “A new love of God is the highest goal man could ever
commandment I give to you, that you love one another; attained in his life. In fact, this is what St.
even as I have loved you, but you also love one another” Augustine referred 2 when he said; “Thou hast
(John 13:34). What is new in Christ’s commandment of made us for thy self O Lord, and our hearts are
love is the standard which he sets, the standard which he restless until they rest in you.” (Confessions)
himself is. This is standard demands the maximum of
human love, and it transform human love into a love The Perfect Love of God
which is divine. The love of God is the heart of the Christian life.
Through the eyes of faith, we see that the whole It is true that the goodness of life, truth, and friendship
Christian morality revolves around the Law of Love. give energy to live and stir us on to action. Taking into
“Love and do what you will”, says St. Augustine. This consideration the tenor of the first great commandment,
means to say that, those who are united with God also we cannot but see the glaring truth that we must give to
have freedom to do as they please, for what pleases them God our total and unreserved love - perfect love.
is to please God. When is our love of God perfect? Or love of God
The two great commandments are in separably is perfect when we love him above all things, and for his
united, so that one cannot be observed without the other. own sake.
As Holy Scripture says: “If anyone says “I love God”, and 1. We love God above all things when we would
hates his neighbor, he is a liar” (1 John 4:20). Thus, it is rather lose life, property, friends, and all things
clear from this statement of St. John that our love of God else, rather than offend him; when we are ready
is best measured by the love we give to our neighbor. to do anything in order to resemble him, to give
More specifically, the first great commandment him pleasure. “He who loves father or mother
embraces the first three of the Ten Commandments; while more than me, is not worthy of me.” (Matt. 10:37)
the second great commandment embraces the last seven. God permits us to love creatures, urges us to love
The two great commandments affect and control all the our fellow men; but such love must be
powers of man: his will, his understanding, his emotions, subordinate to the love of God. He will not take
and his actions. Would we not have a perfect world, second place in our affections, “For I, the Lord,
needing no other laws, if all men obeyed these two great your God am a jealous God.” (Ex. 20:5) He will
commandments strictly? For this reason, our Lord said: not permit us to love anything which detracts one
“On these two commandments depend the whole law.” with from our complete love of him.
(Matt. 22:40) 2. We love God for his own sake when we love him
for his infinite perfection. Our love of God is not
The Love of God perfect when we love him only because he gives
Why should we love God? We should love God because: us gifts, or threatens us with punishment, or
 promises us heaven. Nevertheless, imperfect love relationships. The most common example of such a
of God is often the beginning of perfect love. relationship is that of husband and wife. If a husband's
Little by little perfect love develops from it. love depends solely upon his positive emotions, he will
probably love his wife more intensely before marriage
Proof of Our Love to God then after, and the intensity of his love will certainly vary
1. We can prove our love to God by showing from day to day. To endure, a man's love will must be
obedience to his commandments. “If you love built on something firmer than emotions. Similarly, a man
me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) We can't view his marriage as a set of rules and responsibility
should show our love more by deeds than thy which he must dutifully fulfill. His love must be deeply
words as St. John says; “My dear children, let us personal and all encompassing. To sum up, the type of
not love in words, neither with the tongue, but in love that cements a marriage is committed; it is not based
deed.” (1 John 3:18) loving God is not a mere on emotions but on a decision to give oneself fully to
delight in thinking of him; it consists rather of an another. This love is also personal; it is not an adherence
act of the natural will, to live a godly life on to the guidelines and regulations, but a profound and total
account of that love. commitment to a whole person. The personal quality of
2. We can also show our love of God by frequently the relationship involves emotions, though the
thinking and Speaking of him. It is a human trait relationship is not based on them.
to think and speak often regarding the object of Similarly, the Christian’s relationship with God
our affection. One who loves God intensely is should be a committed personal relationship of love. It is
united to him at every moment in every fiber of committed love: one which binds man to God in a firm
his being: in thought, word, and deed. “Where thy decision, including but independent of man's emotions. It
treasure is, there thy heart also will be.” (Matt. is also a personal love: one which involves the whole
6:21) person in a total bond.
3. Also, we show greater love of God when we not The Christian’s relationship with God differs
only avoid what he forbids, but do all things that from the husband and the wife relationship of love. In one
will give him pleasure. Thus God does not significant respect: the Christian partner is the creator and
commands us to go to mass every day, but is we Lord of the universe. Man and God do not stand together
do so, there he is pleased by this mark of our love. as equals, but differ more in power and wisdom than a
4. Moreover, we show greater love of God by man differs from a bird or an insect. We should respond
accepting all things that comes from his hands, with awe and obedience to this God of greatness, power,
not the only blessings but also misfortunes. One glory, and holiness. But, God's love is as unfathomable as
who habitually murmurs at all inconveniences, his holiness; he does not compel our obedience but calls
sickness, trials and difficulties in life, does not us to offer it freely, he calls us to give our lives as “living
have the true Christian love of God. Let us sacrifice” (Rom. 12:1), to order our lives so that they
remember the fact that God never promised us revolve completely around the Lord himself.
deliverance from all earthly ills in this present Therefore, Christians should use all their time,
life. St. Paul attests to this: “If I give away all I money, and actions to serve and glorify God. This does
have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but not necessarily rule out a new car, attractive clothes, a trip
have not love, I gain nothing.” to Florida, or other desirable objects. However, the basis
for these pleasures should be God's plan and not the
Increasing Our Love of God Christians. God will give Christians some of the pleasures
We can increase our love of God by loving him. that they want. Men should only be concerned with
“Practice makes perfect” so goes the saying. The more we pleasing God, and let the Lord be concerned with pleasing
love God, the more we can love him. Every piece of good them. When we are in a committed personal relationship
work we do makes us grow in God's love. Our love of God of love with the creator of the universe, they can be certain
then increases in intensity, and not necessarily by quantity that he will satisfy all their needs and many of their
but by quality. desires.

The Meaning of Loving God Practical Ways to Love God

Many Christians are confused about the place of If Christians are to understand what loving God
loving God in their lives because they do not understand means for them in daily life, they must take specific steps
what loving God means. One common error equates and actions to express and nourish their love of God.
loving God with an emotional experience: either a blissful These steps are the goals which together serve the
“religious high” or a constant “nice feeling” about God. Christian idea of loving God above all things.
Christians who hold this view are in trouble; their 1. Personal prayer. The first and most foremost
emotions are variable. They will either rush between important step in growing in our love of God is
emotional highs and lows, loving God in consistently, or the regular practice of personal prayer. In prayer,
they will settle into a state of chronic discouragement and Christians can begin to experience God in new
hopelessness over their inability to love God all the time. and deeply personal ways and grow in
A second error views loving God as a rigid obligation of appreciating his power, holiness and glory.
obedience to lived out with joyless severity. For these However, prayer is not always a moving
Christians, the love of God is essentially an abstraction, emotional experience. Christians truly
an impersonal command of duty. demonstrate their fervent love for God by
Contrary to these views, the love of God is remaining faithful to a personal prayer time
expressed and embodied in a personal committed regardless of their emotional state. As a Christian
relationship. This concept is especially difficult for many persevere in prayer through times of joy and times
modern men to understand, for contemporary society of dryness, he expressed as his deep committed
offers few examples of successful committed personal love for God. He also finds that God often works
 most powerfully at the times when prayer is most God includes making decisions according to his
difficult. will.
2. Corporate prayer. Christians should also
express their love of God through corporate Love of Ourselves
prayer of the church. God has made the church “a We must love ourselves because:
holy temple” (Eph. 2:21, 1 Pet. 2:5). This means 1. God wishes and requires it.
the church is God's appointed place of worship, 2. We are made after God's image.
the central sanctuary. Therefore, a Christian who 3. We are redeemed by the blood of Christ.
wants to love God and live his presence should 4. By the merits of Jesus Christ we are made
meet regularly with other Christians for common children of God and temples of the Holy Spirit.
worship and prayer. This can happen in large 5. We are destined believe eternally with God and
assemblies such as church services and prayer the angels in heaven.
meetings. It can also happen in small gatherings,
for Jesus said: “Where two or three are gathered In what consists true love of self?
in my name, I am in the midst of them” (Matt. True love of self consists in avoiding scene and
18:20; see John 4:19-23). Christians who belong practicing virtue.
to churches with sacramental tradition should 1. We must first assure our internal salvation, before
partake of these sacraments as a way of loving we attend to earthly things which are but means
God. Corporate worship joins a Christian with to our last end.
others in loving worship of God. 2. we should care more for our soul than for the ease
3. Brothers and sisters. A Christian can also love of our body. If we lose our soul, we lose
God by beginning to openly share his thoughts, everything.
experiences, gifts, and needs with other 3. It is against true love of self to strive only after
Christians. The first Christians quickly gathered earthly possessions and honors and neglect
together into a loving spiritual family: “now the eternal salvation.
company of those who believed were of one heart
and soul, and no one said any of the things which Does love of self include love of the body?
he possessed was his own but they had everything Love of self includes love of the body, for our
in common.” (Acts 4:32) In the same way, body is a gift of God, that we should treat as such. We
Christians today express their love of God by should have the greatest respect and reverence of our
relating to each other with trust, affection, and body. We do not love our body when we indulge it in
commitment. vanity, or too much comfort or by gratifying its every
4. Scripture. In prayer a Christian both speaks passion.
decisions reveals his values and priorities. Those
Christians who have surrendered their lives Does true love of self also includes care for one's
totally to God will ask “What does God want me reputation and temporal goods?
to do? How can I most please the Lord?” Loving True love of self also ordinarily includes care for
God includes making decisions according to his one’s reputation and temporal goods. A good reputation
will. is a precious possession. Temporal goods are used as a
5. Money. Another way to love God is using one's means for obtaining spiritual riches.
financial resources to serve his Kingdom. Loving
God involves surrendering into his hands - Love of our neighbor
including money and possessions. Do is specific We must love our neighbor because:
ways that a Christian can use his money to serve 1. God commands it.
God's Kingdom are the practices of tithing and 2. Our neighbor is a child of God.
almsgiving. Tithing is the traditional Christian 3. Our neighbor is our brother.
practice of contributing one-tenth of one's
personal income to the church. Almsgiving is the How should we love our neighbor?
practice of giving money to the poor and needy. We should love our neighbor as ourselves, for
A Christian should also take responsibility for the God's sake.
financial needs of his brothers and sisters in To love our neighbor as ourselves means to have
Christ. Wise and generous handling of money is for him the same kind, although not the same degree of
a concrete way of expressing a loving love that we have for ourselves.
commitment to God. It is not enough, in order to practice love of
6. Use of time. Since men often guard their time neighbor, to feel kind and affectionate towards him; our
more jealously than their money, surrendering love must be practical, aimed at doing our neighbor good
one's time and energy to God is another way to spiritually as well as materially.
love him. Christians should not spend all their To love our neighbor for God's sake means to
free time on personal leisures and recreations. love him as the child of God, that is, because he is loved
They should invest some of their time in Christian by God and created for the eternal possession of God. This
services - whether in the body of Christ, the supernatural love is charity.
family, or directly to non-Christians. True love God makes us love even disagreeable
7. Decisions. A person's method of making people, without reference to their love for us. It makes us
decisions reveals his values and priorities. Those love the poor, the unfortunate, the suffering, the repulsive,
Christians who have surrendered their lives and even our enemies, just because God loves them, and
totally to God will ask “What does God want me wishes us to love them.
to do? How can he most please the Lord?” Loving
Love our enemies
We must love our enemies because:
1. Christ commands it.
2. Christ has given us the supreme example.
3. We ask God to forgive us.

We show love for our enemies in many ways:

1. We should not take revenge on them.
2. We should return good for evil.
3. If anyone offends us and comes to ask our pardon,
we must receive him kindly and not be proud and
unforgiving. If we offend anyone, we should beg
his pardon at once.
4. When we are seriously injured, as in our property,
owner, reputation, we are not forbidden to claim
our just rights before lawful authority. Often
justice requires us to do this, in order to prevent
greater abuses.
5. Love of enemies is a duty of nations, as well as of
individuals, cruelty in war is sinful.
6. These are some practical ways of loving our
enemies:
a. To pray for them.
b. To respect their rights.
c. To avoid an charitable thoughts and
words about them.
d. To show good manners towards them.
e. To do them a good in return whenever
possible.

How should we love our friends?

We should love our friends loyally, and in the
sight of God. True friendship is always based on the love
of God.

What must we do to love God, our neighbor, and

ourselves?
To love God, our neighbor, and ourselves, we
must keep the commandments of God and of the church,
and perform the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.

The seven corporal works of mercy:

1. To feed the hungry.
2. To give drink to the thirsty.
3. To clothe the naked.
4. To visit the imprisoned.
5. To shelter the homeless.
6. To visit the sick.
7. To bury the dead.

The seven chief spiritual works of mercy:

1. To admonish the Sinner.
2. To instruct the ignorant.
3. To counsel the doubtful.
4. To comfort the sorrowful.
5. To bear wrong patiently.
6. To forgive all injuries.
7. To pray for the living and the dead.
The Ten Commandments of God How do we worship God?
1. I, the Lord, am your God, you shall not have other We worship God by acts of the virtues of faith,
gods besides me. hope, charity, and religion.
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God 1. Faith is the virtue by which we firmly believe all
in vain. the truths God has revealed even without
3. Remember to keep the Sabbath day holy. understanding them, but relying solely on the
4. Honor your father and your mother. testimony of God's word.
5. You shall not kill. We worship God by faith when we
6. You shall not commit adultery. believe what God has revealed on the authority of
7. You shall not steal. his word.
8. You shall not bear false witness against your 2. Hope is the virtue by which we firmly dress that
neighbor. God, who is all-powerful and faithful to his
9. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife. promises, will in his mercy give us eternal
10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. happiness and the means to obtain it.
We worship God by hope when, relying
The First Commandment on his goodness and promises, we confidently
“I, the Lord, am your God, you shall not have other gods expect to obtain eternal life and the means
besides me.” necessary to attain it.
3. Charity is the virtue by which we love God
The first commandment commands that: above all things for his own sake, and our
1. We offer to God alone the supreme worship that neighbor as ourselves, for the love of God.
is due to him. Worship (adoration) is the owner We worship God by charity when we
paid to another because of his superior love him above all things for his own sake and do
excellence. This is rendered to God exclusively, his will.
because he alone is the creator and sovereign 4. Religion is a virtue that inclines us to
Lord of heaven and earth. If we worship and acknowledge God's infinite perfection, our
adore our Lord Jesus Christ, it is because he is the complete dependence upon him, our utter
second person of the blessed Trinity, through God subjection to his will; and to render him due
even as the father and the Holy Spirit. worship with all our faculties and sets of body,
2. We must avoid all forms of idolatry. Idolatry is intellect, and will - adoring him and praying to
the worship of idols (false gods). All forms of him.
idolatry are grievously sinful, for it is an open We worship God by the virtue of religion
rebellion against the true God. when we honor and adore him as the supreme
being. We worship God through this virtue by:
Kinds of worship a. Acknowledging God's infinite
1. Exterior worship. This is one when we perfection.
accompany our interior worship by external acts, b. Acknowledging our utter subjection
such as vocal prayers and other movements of the to his will.
body like genuflection. c. Acknowledging our complete
2. Interior worship. This is done when we adore dependence upon him.
God by inward acts of the heart and mind, such as d. Rendering him due worship with all
the acts of faith, love and hope without visible our faculties.
manifestations. e. Adoring him.
3. Individual or personal worship. This is one f. Praying to him.
when we do it alone and in private, like our
morning prayers, private devotions and the like. Sins Against the First Commandment
4. Public worship. This is one when a number of A. Sin against faith:
people participate in the worship just like in We sin against faith by denying or
attending the sacrifice of the holy mass and prayer willfully doubting any doctrine of the church.
rallies. 1. Infidelity is the unbelief of one to whom the
truths of faith have been sufficiently
Exterior and interior worships are due to God, proposed, but who nevertheless deliberately
because our bodies and our souls belong to him. refuses to accept them.
Very often, exterior worship serves to arose and 2. Apostasy is complete rejection of the
increase interior worship. Christian faith.
On the other hand, without interior worship, exterior 3. Heresy is the refusal of baptized persons to
worship is useless. “Hypocrites, well did Isaias prophecy accept one or more of the truths revealed by
of you, saying: ‘These people honor me with their lips, God and taught by the Catholic Church.
but their hearts are far from me.’” (Matt. 15:7-8) 4. Indifferentism is the error of these who held
From the earliest times, God has given commands, that one religion is as good as another and that
about public worship to be rendered to him. Public all religions are equally true and pleasing to
worship edifies and give good example to the participants, God, or that one is free accept or reject any of
and they are encouraged to a greater love of God. any religions.
In public worship, we show ourselves as a united 5. Joining organizations or societies which are
body manifesting by visible signs our adoration of God, opposed to the church.
like the offering of the sacrifice of the holy mass. B. Sins against hope:
We sin against hope by despair and
presumption.
 1. Presumption by defect Is when a person 2. Cursing is the calling down of some evil on a
trusts that he can be saved by God's help person, place, or thing. If the name of God is used,
without his own efforts. Presumption by the sin is worse.
excess is when a person hopes to be saved by 3. Blasphemy is insulting language which
his own efforts alone without God's help. expresses contempt for God, either directly or
2. Despair is when one deliberately refuses to through his Saints and holy things. Blasphemy is
trust that God will give him the necessary a sin of the devil. Deliberate blasphemy is one of
help to save his soul. the gravest sins.
C. Sins against charity:
1. Hatred is when one desires evil or harm to Oaths and vows
be fall on others, as well as when one rejoices An oath is the calling on God to witness to the
at the misfortune of others. truth of what we say. Taking an oath is called swearing.
2. Sloth is when one is lazy to do anything that In swearing, we call either upon God or upon something
is good. sacred.
3. Envy is when a person is bitter about An oath maybe simple or solemn. A simple oath
another’s fortune. is one between man and man in ordinary intercourse. A
4. Scandal is given when we injure our solemn oath is one taken before ecclesiastical or civil
neighbor’s soul by causing or tempting him authority, in the presence of unofficial.
to sin. It provides occasion for others to
commit sin. A promise under oath ceases to bind under certain
D. Sin against religion: conditions:
1. Superstition is when one attributes to a 1. If it is relaxed by the person to whom the promise
creature a power that belongs to God alone. was given.
2. Sacrilege is when one mistreats sacred 2. If the object of the promise is substantially
persons, places or things. changed.
3. Idolatry is when one pays to a creature the 3. If the object becomes sinful or useless.
supreme worship due to God alone ice creator 4. If the reason of for the oath ceases to exist.
and preserver of all things. 5. If a condition, under which the oath was given
4. Simony is when one buys or sells sacred or ceases.
spiritual things or positions. 6. If the oath is annulled, dispensed, or commuted
by lawful authority.
The Veneration of Saints
The first commandment does not forbid us to To make a oath lawful, three things are necessary:
honor the Saints in heaven, provided we do not give them 1. We must have a good reason for taking an oath.
the owner that belongs to God alone. We do not worship 2. We must be convinced that what we say under
the Saints; we only honor them as the special friends and oath is true.
servants of God. We adore God alone. 3. We must not swear, that is, take an oath, to do
Ways by which we can honor the Saints what is wrong.
1. By imitating their holy lives.
2. By praying to them. A person who deliberately calls on God to bear
3. By showing respect to their relics and witness to a lie commits the very grievous sin of perjury.
images. Perjury is false swearing. One commits perjury
4. By celebrating their feast. when he confirmed by old what he knows is not true, or
5. By taking them as our Patrons and what he is doubtful about, or when he swears to a promise
models. which he does not intend to keep.
Regarding the nonfulfillment of an oath, the sin
The Second Commandment maybe venial or grave, according to the importance of the
“You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in matter concerned.
vain.” Vow is a deliberate promise made to God, by
which a person binds himself under pain of sin to do
What are we commanded by the second commandment? something that is especially pleasing to God. A vow is
By the second commandment we are commanded made to God alone, not to anyone else. The subject of the
always to speak with reverence of God, of the Saints, and vow must not be a mere trifle, but something good in
of holy things, and to be truthful in taking oaths, and itself, and better than its opposite. A vow is the most
faithful to them and to our vows. solemn promise we can ever make, an act of divine
We should never speak God's name without holy worship. A vow made under compulsion is invalid.
respect. The name of Jesus is the most powerful of all A Vow is most pleasing to God. The most
names. We should pay reverence to the name of Jesus by important vows are the religious vows:
bowing every time we speak it. 1. Vow of poverty
2. Vow of chastity
Sin against the second commandment 3. Vow of obedience
1. Profanity is the use of irreverent language. We
should not use sacred names in impatience, jest, The Third Commandment
mere surprise, or habit, with no idea of paying “Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.”
God honor. Vulgarity is the use of course
expressions like “devil”, “hell”, etc., through What are we commanded by the third commandment?
thoughtlessness or habit.
 By the third commandment we are commanded
to worship God in a special manner on Sunday, the Lord's
day.
1. God commanded the observance of a definite
day, in order that man may devote one day a week
to the special worship of his creator.
2. In the new law, Catholics keep holy the first day
of the week, Sunday. It is called “the Lord's day.”
The church commands us to keep Sunday as the
Lord's day, because on Sunday Christ rose from
the dead, and on Sunday the Holy Spirit
descended upon the apostles.

How does the church command as to worship God on

Sunday?
The church commands us to worship God on
Sunday by assisting at the holy sacrifice of the mass.
1. The obligation of mass is binding on all persons
who have attained the use of reason; That is,
including children seven years old. Those who
find it impossible, or very difficult, to hear mass,
are excused.
2. Not to hear Sunday Mass, or to miss a notable part
of Sunday Mass, is a mortal sin. To come a little
late and not make up for it in another month, is a
venial sin.
3. those who on every slight pretext excuse
themselves from their obligation of hearing
Sunday Mass will gradually slip into religious
carelessness and indifference.
4. Mass is not our only obligation on Sunday, for
God commands us to sanctify the whole day, and
not only a part of it. We should perform other
good works.

What is forbidden by the third commandment of God?

By the third commandment of God all
unnecessary servile work on Sunday forbidden.
Servile work is that which requires labor of body
rather than of mind.
Work In which the mind has the greater share or
which is done for recreation is not trivial and is not
forbidden.
Employers who force their employees to do
unnecessary servile work on Sunday are responsible for
the violation of the third commandment.
The obligation to avoid servile work on Sunday is
grave, and therefore its violation is a mortal sin if one
works for a notable time.
Servile work is allowed on Sunday when the
owner of God, our own need, or that of our neighbor
requires it.
Amusements are not forbidden on Sunday; only
those that interfere with the Sunday obligations are
forbidden.
The attend entertainments such as dances up to a
late hour on Saturday night, even when in themselves they
are not wrong, is a poor way of preparing for the Lord's
day.