I. Des articles de la foi — Le 21e dimanche
The Nature of Repentance
Repentance is defined as a heart-felt turning from evil toward the good, motivated by the fear of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
What repentance is Master: What is repentance? Student: It's a displeasure with evil and a love of the good, stemming from the fear of God, and leading us to mortify our flesh so that we may be governed and guided by the Holy Spirit in the service of God.1 True service of God
Obedience to the Divine Will
True service to God is not based on human preference but on strict obedience to His revealed will.
129. M: This is the second point we've covered regarding the Christian life. C: Yes; and we've said that true and legitimate service to God consists of obeying His will. 130. Minister: Why? Catechumen: Because he doesn't want to be served according to our whims, but according to his own pleasure.
The Law as a Rule of Life
God has provided the Decalogue, divided into two tables, as the authoritative rule for human conduct.
The Law 131. M: What rule has he given us to govern ourselves by? Student: His law. Two parts of the law 132. Minister: What does it contain? Student: It’s divided into two parts; the first contains four commandments and the second contains six, making ten in all. 133. M: Who made this division? E: God himself, who gave it in writing to Moses on two tablets and said that it was summarized in ten words (Exodus 32:15; 34:29; Deuteronomy 4:13; 10:1).
The Two Tables of the Law
The Ten Commandments are categorized into two tables: the first concerning our duty to God, and the second concerning our duty to our neighbor.
The Subject of the First Table Minister: What is the subject of the first Table? Catechumen: It concerns the right way to honor God.2 The Subject of the Second Table M: And of the second? Student: How we should live with our neighbors, and what we owe them.
Read the original Latin
Que c'est que pénitence 128. M : Qu'est-ce que pénitence? E : C'est une déplaisante du mal et amour du bien procédant de la crainte de Dieu, et nous induisant à mortifier notre chair pour être gouvernés et conduits par le Saint-Esprit au service de Dieu. Vrai service de Dieu
129. M : C'est le second point que nous avons touché de la vie chrétienne. E : Voire; et avons dit que le vrai et légitime service de Dieu consiste en ce que nous obéissons à sa volonté.
130. M : Pourquoi? E : D'autant qu'il ne veut pas être servi selon notre fantaisie, mais à son plaisir.
La loi 131. M : Quelle règle nous a-t-il donnée pour nous gouverner? E : Sa loi. Deux parties de la loi
132. M : Qu'est-ce qu'elle contient? E : Elle est divisée en deux parties, dont la première contient quatre commandements, et l'autre six ; ainsi en tout ce sont dix.
133. M : Qui a fait cette division? E : Dieu même, qui l'a donnée écrite à Moïse en deux Tables, et a dit qu'elle se réduisait en dix paroles (Exode 32:15 ; 34:29 ; Deutéronome 4:13 ; 10:1).
Argument de la première Table 134. M : Quel est l'argument de la première Table? E : Touchant la manière de bien honorer Dieu.
Argument de la seconde Table 135. M : Et de la seconde? E : Comment il nous faut vivre avec nôs prochains, et de ce que nous leur devons.
Notes
- 1 ↩Source has "une déplaisante du mal" (likely elliptical or a variant of déplaisance, "displeasure"); rendered as "a displeasure with evil" to match the parallel "amour du bien" and the catechetical sense.
- 2 ↩Source labels the pupil 'E' (Enfant); rendered as 'C' (Child) for clear English dialogue. 'Argument' rendered as 'subject' (theme/scope of the Table), not logical argument.
Catechism of the Church of Geneva (Le catéchisme de l'Église de Genève) companion
Rule yourself daily, not just on retreat
Chosen Portion turns the mirror into a daily practice — a short reading and examining question each morning before you lead anyone.
Chosen Portion makes the mirror daily: the ruler-formation questions this collection preserves become a two-minute morning examination in the app.
- A daily formation reading drawn from centuries of counsel to those in authority
- One pointed examination question a day — two minutes, before the meetings start
- Track your practice over weeks and watch the examined life become a habit