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104. Judicial Directives of the Old Law

1. Man has the moral obligation of loving God and neighbor. Theceremonial precepts of the Old Law regulated man's moralobligationto God. The judicial precepts or directivesregulated man's moral obligation towards his neighbor. Thusboth ceremonies and judicial precepts were rooted in the morallaw.

2. The judicial directives were to regulate the conduct ofthe people according to justice and equity. Yet even thesedirectives had a prophetic aspect inasmuch as they were to preparethe way for the coming of the sun of justice and the daylight ofhis divinely equitable dealings with mankind.

3. The judicial precepts had the character of the Old Lawitself as "our pedagogue in Christ," that is, a teacherleading men to Christ. When the teacher has led men to Christ, heretires; his work is finished. Hence the judicial precepts of theOld Law were no longer in force after Christ came and founded hisChurch. All that remains of the Old Law is what it had of theeternal law and the natural law.

4. Judicial precepts of the Old Law were of four classes:precepts for rulers; precepts for citizens with respect to othercitizens; precepts for the treatment of strangers and foreigners;precepts for home life.

"A tree that is cultivated and guarded through the care of its owner produces its fruit at the expected time. "
St John of the Cross, OCD - Doctor of the Church

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"Lord, take from me everything that hinders me from going to You. give me all that will lead me to You. Take me from myself and give me to Yourself."
St Nicholas Flue

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"Many words do not satisfy the soul; but a good life eases the mind and a clean conscience inspires great trust in God."
Thomas á Kempis

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