Part II, The Commandments: The Fifth Commandment of God

1. What sins does the Fifth Commandment forbid?

The Fifth Comuiaiidnient forbids all sins by which we may injure our neighbor or ourselves, whether as to the life of the body or of the soul.

2. When do we injure our neighbor as to the life of his body?

1. When we kill, strike, or wound him in an unjust manner; and 2. When, by vexation or harsh treatment, we embitter and shorten his life.

3. What sin does he commit who deliberately kills his neighbor in an unjust manner?

He commits the heinous sin of murder that cries to Heaven for vengeance; for 1. He wantonly invades the rights of God; 2. He undermines the safety of human society; and 3. He plunges his neighbor into the greatest temporal, and often into eternal, ruin.

The deliberate destruction of infant life before birth, even in its earliest stages, as is sometimes done by surgeons, physicians, nurses, and others is nothing less than wilful murder.

'Whosoever shall shed man's blood, his blood shall be shed; for man was made to the image of God' (Gen. ix. 6). How murder is punished, even in this life, by tormenting remorse, and often by an ignominious death, we learn from the examples of Cain (Gen. iv. 16), of Ahab and Jezabel (3 Kings xxi. xxii., and 4 Kings ix.).

4. Is it ever lawful to destroy human life?

Yes, it is lawful, 1. For the supreme authority to do so in the execution of criminals (Eom. xiii. 4) ; and 2. For others, in defence of their country, or, when necessary, in protecting life from unjust attack.

5. Is it also lawful to send a man a challenge, or to accept his, to a duel in defence of our honor?

No ; for such a duel in any case, even if it be not for

life and death, is a great crime, which is in direct opposition to all order established by Grod and man; therefore all those who are accessory to it, even all voluntary witnesses, incur excommunication.

6. Does the Fifth Commandment forbid only the actual crime of taking away the life of our neighbor?

It also forbids everything that leads and induces to the crime; as anger, hatred, envy, quarrelling, abusive words, and imprecations.

' Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer' (1 John iii. 15). 'But I say to you, that whosoever is angry with his brother, shall be in danger of the judgment' (Matt. v. 22).

7. When do we injure ourselves as to the life of our body?

1. When we take away our life ; and 2. When we impair our health, or shorten our life, by intemperance in eating and drinking, by violent anger, by immoderate grief, etc.

8. What sin does he commit who deliberately makes away with himself?

He commits three horrible crimes : 1. A crime against the Divine Majesty, who alone has power over life and death ; 2, A crime against his own soul, which he mercilessly plunges into eternal hell-fire; and 3. A crime against human society, and especially against his relations, on whom he brings inexpressible grief and disgrace.

9. How does the Church, therefore, punish suicide, or self-murder?

She refuses Christian burial to the self-murderer, for his own punishment, as well as to deter others from doing the same.

10. Are we never allowed to expose our life or our health to danger?

Never without necessity ; but, when a higher duty Tp« 9uires it we may (Matt. x. 28).

11. May we desire our own death?

No, we may not when the desire proceeds from dejection or despair; but we may when we ardently desire to offend God no more, and to be united with Him in Heaven.

'I desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ' (Phili. i. 23).

12. When do we injure our neighbor as to the Ufe of his soul?

When we scandalize him ; that is, when we deliberately seduce him to sin, or voluntarily influence him, and give him occasion, to commit it.

13. Who render themselves guilty of this sin?

In general, all those who in any way incite, advise, or help others to do evil, command them to do it, or approve of it; and in particular those, 1. Who use impious or filthy language, or dress themselves immodestly; 2. Who spread abroad bad books and pictures ; 3. Who open their houses to thieves, drunkards, gamblers, or other wicked men, for their unlawful meetings; and 4. Those superiors who give bad example, or who do not hinder evil, as they are in duty bound to do.

14. What should in particular deter us from giving scandal?

1. The thought that he who gives scandal is a minister of Satan, destroying those souls which Jesus Christ has ransomed with His blood, by seducing them to sin.

'He [the devil] was a murderer from the beginning' (John viii. 44). ' Destroy not him, for whom Christ died' (Eom. xiv. 15).

2. The dreadful consequences of seduction, since those who have themselves been seduced generally seduce others, and thus the sin is continually propagated.

The whole human race corrupted through the descendants of Cain (Gen. vi.). Jeroboam's sin and punishment (3 Kings xii-xiv.).

3. The awful sentence of Jesus Christ.

' He that shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of scandals; woe to that man by whom the scandal cometh' (Matt, xviii. 6, 7). Example of Eleazar, who chose to die rather than scandalize young men (2 Mac. vi.) ; and of St. Paul (1 Cor. viii. 13).

15. What must we do when we have injured our leighbor as to his body or soul?

We must not only repent and confess the sin, but we must also, as far as it is in our power, repair the evil We have done.

16. What are we ' commanded ' by the Fifth Commandment?

We are commanded, 1. To live in peace and union with our neighbor; 2. To promote, according to our condition, his spiritual as well as his corporal welfare ; and 3. To take also reasonable care of our own life and health.

Application. Never presume to curse, to abuse, or to strike any one ; but, as it is becoming to a child of God, be peaceable, kind, and meek. Shun a seducer, as the devil; for he is about to kill your soul, let his words or promises be ever so charming and pleasing. Beware of murdering your neighbor's soul by any scandalous act or word.