- Reverend Joseph Jenkins of Holy Family Church in Mitchellville, Md., lists the precepts of the church as keeping "the day of the Lord's Resurrection holy by worship at Mass on Sundays and on Holy Days of Obligation; to receive holy communion and the sacrament of reconciliation regularly; to study Catholic teaching; to observe the marriage laws of the church; to give religious training by word and example to one's children; to strengthen and support the church; To do penance, including abstaining from meat and fasting from food on the appointed days." Observing these precepts is part of what defines a person as a disciple in the Catholic Church.
- True Catholic discipleship requires placing allegiance to Jesus Christ above all other relationships or obligations. This love of Christ, according to Catholics United for the Faith, must prove to be stronger than even the bond of parent and child and other family relationships. Disciples are not to neglect familial or communal relationships. They are to ensure that their relationship with Jesus Christ and desire for his will supersede all others.
- Catholic disciples must engage in a continual and progressive pursuit to understand the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church. New Advent defines a disciple as one who "is learning any art or science from one distinguished by his accomplishments." This definition is applied to those who are pursing a similar deep and comprehensive understanding of God and his will.
- Reverend Jenkins also comments on the necessity of active engagements in acts of service toward others. These works are manifest in the corporal sense through acts of mercy toward the hungry, thirsty, naked, imprisoned, homeless, sick or dead. Spiritual acts of mercy include warning sinners, instructing the ignorant, counseling the doubtful, comforting others, bearing wrongs patiently, forgiving and prayer for the dead. These acts of mercy demonstrate and prove that the one taking the action indeed possesses the heart of a disciple.
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