Part II. Chapter XVII. The Second and Third Commandments of God

215. What is the second commandment of God?
The second commandment of God is: Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
216. What is forbidden by the second commandment?
The second commandment forbids us to speak with irreverence of God or his saints, or of sacred persons and things.
217. What is commanded by the second commandment?
We are commanded by the second commandment to speak with reverence of God and of his saints, and of sacred persons and things, and to keep our lawful oaths and vows.
218. How should we use the name of God?
We should always use the name of God we had great respect and reverence.
219. What is a vow?
A vow is a binding promise made to God to do something that is especially pleasing to him.
220. What is an oath?
An oath is the calling of God to witness that what we say is true, or that we will do what we promise.
221. When the is an oath lawful?
For an oath to be lawful we must have sufficient reason for taking it, and we must say only what is true, or promise only what is lawful.
222. What are the chief sins against the second commandment?
The chief sins against the second commandment are blasphemy, perjury and cursing.
223. What is blasphemy?
It is blasphemy to express contempt of God, or of sacred persons or things in so far as they are dedicated to God.
224. What is perjury?
It is perjury to take a false oath, that is, to swear to be true what we know to be false.
225. Is perjury a great sin?
Perjury is a most grevious sin, because it is a great insult to God to call him as witness to a lie.
226. What is cursing?
It is cursing to call on God to inflict evil on any person or thing.
227. What is the third commandment of God?
The third commandment of God is: Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day.
228. What day is now the sabbath day?
The Church has appointed Sunday to be the sabbath or the Lord's day, because it was on Sunday that Our Lord rose from the dead, and the Holy Ghost descended on the apostles.
229. How are we to keep holy the Lord's day?
The Church commands us to keep holy the sabbath day by attending Mass and abstaining from servile work.
230. What is servile work?
Servile work is that which requires labour of body rather than of mind.
231. Is it ever lawful to engage in servile work on Sunday?
It is lawful to engage in servile work on Sunday, when an urgent need of ourselves or our neighbour, or the service of God requires it.
232. Are we recommended to perform other good works on Sunday?
We are recommended to sanctify the Lord's day by such good works as attending evening devotions, reading religious books and papers, and visiting the sick.
233. Is it lawful to take part in games and other amusements on Sunday?
It is lawful to take part in other games and amusements on Sundays, provided they do not interfere with assistance at Mass, and are not forbidden by God or his Church.