On Individual Duties

COMPENDIUM

The Church teaches that among the most important duties of men are the duties of religion and the duty of working.

Work is obligatory on man by divine precept (Gen. 3:19), necessary for self-development, and a duty which every individual owes to the society of which he is a member. A definite and useful occupation is necessary for physical, moral and spiritual well-being. Work as a duty gives man self-respect, and gives dignity to labor, however humble. Self-imposed idleness is a crime, not only against the individual conscience, but against society.

The duty of religion means that man must satisfy the claims of God, that is, he must know, love, and serve God with his whole being. The duty to know God implies acknowledging His existence, His relation to creatures as their beginning and end, and revering God's revealed word. It further implies a duty to seek the true religion and the true Church wherein one can find God's word, God's law, and God's life. The duty to love God implies preferring Him to all else, and loving creatures for His sake. The duty to serve God implies observing His commands and counsels. To do this with one's whole being means with both body and soul, therefore, by external and internal worship and prayer. It is for this purpose that man was made, and without religion, man cannot attain his ultimate end, which is the happiness of heaven. Neglect of the duty of religion results in neglect of other duties, both of justice and charity, and leads to excesses which, apart from their harmful effect on the individual, are direct causes of social disorder and distress.

The Church teaches that many social evils can be mitigated or eliminated by the observation of the duty of self-control, especially in the use of strong drink, in betting and gambling, in the taking of recreation, and in the avoidance of impurity of every sort.

The Church condemns excessive drinking, insists on moderation, and approves of total abstinence. The moderate use of strong drink is lawful. Absolute prohibition is an undue interference with the individual right to liberty. Since excessive drinking may become a social evil, the State is justified in controlling its manufacture, sale, and consumption in so far as the common good requires it.

The Church teaches that betting and gambling are lawful in themselves, but are very liable to abuse, so much so that they may become serious social evils. They are lawful on certain conditions: (1) the money or equivalent which the person stakes must be his own and at his free disposal - thus money which is needed for maintaining himself or his family may not be staked; (2) the act must be free; (3) there must be no fraud or undue advantage on either side. They become immoral when too much time is spent on them, as well as when too much money, or money which cannot be afforded, is spent on them. They often occasion other sins, e.g. exciting avarice, inducing trickery, and leading to squandering and theft. To forbid them altogether, however, is to violate the individual right to liberty. Yet, because they do lead to abuse, and assume the proportion of a social evil, the State is justified in restricting opportunities for indulging in them.

The Church teaches that the purpose of leisure is not that men may give way to mere idleness, but to afford opportunities for cultivating their minds and bodies with pleasant social intercourse, games etc. Recreation must be used properly, in a manner which is in keeping with human dignity, and all over-indulgence in the pursuit of pleasure is condemned. Pleasure must not be made the sole aim nor the principal aim of life. The Church disapproves of extravagance, both in the amount of time and in the amount of money which are lavished on amusement.

The Church teaches that all deliberate indulgence in impure actions, words, or thoughts is serious sin, which, apart from the fact that it deprives the sinner of heaven, is a direct cause of other social evils. Divine Law condemns every form of impurity. (Cf. Eph. 5:3-5; Matt. 5:28) The State, therefore, must take action to prevent the manufacture, sale, or exhibition of anything and everything that is an incentive to vice. Though much may be effected by energetic action of the State, the most important remedy is that of the Church, which would have every individual realize his personal responsibility and the duty of self-control. She offers the sanctifying grace of the Sacraments, by which the will is strengthened in resisting temptation.

The all-important truth which every individual must keep in mind is that he must work to save his own soul; that this can only be done by the individual himself, by fulfilling the individual responsibilities and duties which God has placed upon him, for which he will be judged, and for which he will be rewarded or punished. There are, of course, other necessary helps. Grace is essential; but the individual will must cooperate. The Church will assist him; but no man will be saved merely because he is a member of it. Good parents and good companions may prove helpful; but no man will be saved merely because he has a good mother or friend. The individual must work out his own salvation.

CATECHISM

199. What are the most important duties of every individual?

The Church teaches that among the most important duties of men are the duties of religion and the duty of working.

200. What does the Church teach regarding the duty of working?

The Church teaches that work is obligatory on man by divine precept, that it is necessary for self-development, and that some form of work or service is a duty which every individual owes to the society of which he is a member.

201. What is meant by the duty of religion?

The duty of religion means that man must satisfy the claims of God, that is, he must know, love, and serve God with his whole being.

202. What are the consequences of neglect of the duty of religion?

Neglect of the duty of religion results in neglect of other duties, both of justice and charity, and leads to excesses which, apart from their harmful effect on the individual, are direct causes of social disorder and distress.

203. What does the Church teach regarding the use of strong drink?

The Church condemns excessive drinking, insists on moderation, and approves of total abstinence.

204. What does the Church teach regarding betting and gambling?

The Church teaches that betting and gambling are lawful in themselves, but are very liable to abuse, so much so that they may become serious social evils.

205. What does the Church teach regarding the purpose of leisure and the use of recreation?

The Church teaches that the purpose of leisure is not that men may give way to mere idleness, but to afford opportunities for cultivating their minds and bodies with pleasant social intercourse, games etc.

206. What does the Church teach regarding the evil of impurity?

The Church teaches that all deliberate indulgence in impure actions, words, or thoughts is serious sin, which, apart from the fact that it deprives the sinner of heaven, is a direct cause of other social evils.

207. What is the all-important truth which every individual must keep in mind?

The all-important truth which every individual must keep in mind is that he must work to save his own soul.