Ceremonial Precepts of the Old Law

The ceremonial precepts of the Old Law were divinelydetermined ways of giving God proper external worship. Now, theduty of worshiping God, outwardly as well as interiorly, rests onman as a moral obligation. Hence, the ceremonial precepts weredeterminate applications of the moral law.

The fullness of revelation had not been made when the Old Law was promulgated. Hence, it was fitting that the ceremoniesprescribed in the Old Law should look forward to that fullness:they should have a figurative and prophetic meaning; they shouldprophetically refer to Christ and His Church and the way to heavenopened by the Christian dispensation. And so indeed they do.

The Old Law had many ceremonial precepts to instructand guide the people, and to counteract their tendency toidolatry.

The ceremonies of the Old Law may be classified underfour heads: sacrifices; sacred things (tabernacles, vessels,instruments of worship); purifying preparations for divine worship(sometimes called consecrations or sacraments); and observanceswith reference to special food, vestments, actions, etc.