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What are the Ten Commandments? Why are they important? How are they relevant to my life?

“I, the Lord, am your God. . . . You shall not have other Gods besides me.” (Ex 20:2-3) —CCC, nos. 2083-2141

“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God In vain.” (Ex 20:7) —CCC, nos. 2142-2167

Remember to keep holy the Lord’s day. —CCC, nOS. 2168-2195

Honor your father and your mother. —CCC, nOS. 2196-2257

You shall not kill. —CCC, nOS. 2258-2330

You shall not commit adultery. —CCC, nOS. 2331-2400

You shall not steal. —CCC, nOS. 2401-2463

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. —CCC, nOS. 2464-2513

You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. —CCC, nOS. 2514-2533

You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods. —CCC, nOS. 2534-2557

God helps us in many different ways to live a moral life. He gives us grace, which awakens in us the desire to say no to temptation and sin and to choose only that which is good. He gives us the Theological and Cardinal Virtues and the grace to practice human virtues so that we can grow stronger in them. God gives us help and grace through the Church and through our reception of the Sacraments. He also teaches us how we should live. One way he does this is by giving us laws to guide our actions. The Ten Commandments are laws that God has revealed to us. Heeding the guidance God gives us in the Commandments will help us know how to serve God and how we should live with each other. It also helps us to be open to the grace of the Holy Spirit and what God can accomplish in us and through us by that grace.

You can read more from the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, order your own copy, or read questions about it at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website.

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