Precepts of the Church
The five minimum obligations the Catechism sets out for every Catholic — Sunday Mass, yearly Confession, Easter Communion, fasting and abstinence, and supporting the Church — a floor, not a ceiling.
The precepts are the Church's way of saying “at the very least.” The Catechism lists five: attend Mass on Sundays and holy days and rest from servile work; confess your sins at least once a year; receive the Eucharist at least during the Easter season; observe the days of fasting and abstinence; and help to provide for the needs of the Church. They are meant to guarantee the indispensable minimum of prayer, moral effort and growth in love of God and neighbour, and to point beyond themselves.
Sources checked 29 September 2026