What do you do on Sundays other than going to Mass, of course? Do you do chores like laundry, light food shopping, or mall shopping? How sinful would it be to do those things? I am just trying to get an opinion (I do none of the above, but sometimes feel I would like to do laundry, etc.). What is your limit? maryann

-- maryann (maryann.parker@citigroup.com), February 24, 2003

Answers

From the Baltimore Catechism:

Q. 1242. What is the third Commandment? A. The third Commandment is: Remember thou keep holy the Sabbath day.

Q. 1243. What are we commanded by the third Commandment?

A. By the third Commandment we are commanded to keep holy the Lord's day and the holydays of obligation, on which we are to give our time to the service and worship of God.

Q. 1244. What are holydays of obligation?

A. Holydays of obligation are special feasts of the Church on which we are bound, under pain of mortal sin, to hear Mass and to keep from servile or bodily labors when it can be done without great loss or inconvenience. Whoever, on account of their circumstances, cannot give up work on holydays of obligation should make every effort to hear Mass and should also explain in confession the necessity of working on holydays.

Q. 1245. How are we to worship God on Sundays and holydays of obligation?

A. We are to worship God on Sundays and holydays of obligation by hearing Mass, by prayer, and by other good works.

Q. 1246. Name some of the good works recommended for Sunday.

A. Some of the good works recommended for Sunday are: The reading of religious books or papers, teaching Catechism, bringing relief to the poor or sick, visiting the Blessed Sacrament, attending Vespers, Rosary or other devotions in the Church; also attending the meetings of religious sodalities or societies. It is not necessary to spend the whole Sunday in such good works, but we should give some time to them, that for the love of God we may do a little more than what is strictly commanded.

Q. 1247. Is it forbidden, then, to seek any pleasure or enjoyment on Sunday?

A. It is not forbidden to seek lawful pleasure or enjoyment on Sunday, especially to those who are occupied during the week, for God did not intend the keeping of the Sunday to be a punishment, but a benefit to us. Therefore, after hearing Mass we may take such recreation as is necessary or useful for us; but we should avoid any vulgar, noisy or disgraceful amusements that turn the day of rest and prayer into a day of scandal and sin.

Q. 1248. Are the Sabbath day and the Sunday the same?

A. The Sabbath day and the Sunday are not the same. The Sabbath is the seventh day of the week, and is the day which was kept holy in the old law; the Sunday is the first day of the week, and is the day which is kept holy in the new law.

Q. 1249. What is meant by the Old and New Law?

A. The Old Law means the law or religion given to the Jews; the New Law means the law or religion given to Christians.

Q. 1250. Why does the Church command us to keep the Sunday holy instead of the Sabbath? A. The Church commands us to keep the Sunday holy instead of the Sabbath because on Sunday Christ rose from the dead, and on Sunday He sent the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles.

Q. 1251. Do we keep Sunday instead of Saturday holy for any other reason?

A. We keep Sunday instead of Saturday holy also to teach that the Old Law is not now binding upon us, but that we must keep the New Law, which takes its place.

Q. 1252. What is forbidden by the third Commandment?

A. The third Commandment forbids all unnecessary servile work and whatever else may hinder the due observance of the Lord's day.

Q. 1253. What are servile works?

A. Servile works are those which require labor rather of body than of mind.

Q. 1254. From what do servile works derive their name?

A. Servile works derive their name from the fact that such works were formerly done by slaves. Therefore, reading, writing, studying and, in general, all works that slaves did not perform are not considered servile works.

Q. 1255. Are servile works on Sunday ever lawful?

A. Servile works are lawful on Sundays when the honor of God, the good of our neighbor, or necessity requires them.

Q. 1256. Give some examples of when the honor of God, the good of our neighbor or necessity may require servile works on Sunday.

A. The honor of God, the good of our neighbor or necessity may require servile works on Sunday, in such cases as the preparation of a place for Holy Mass, the saving of property in storms or accidents, the cooking of meals and similar works.

-- jake (jake1@pngusa.net), February 24, 2003.

I will do laundry only if very very necessary. Will pick up milk at a convenience store. All other shopping is a no-no. If more Christians would truly keep the Lord's Day holy, these malls wouldn't be able to stay open. I look to the example of the Orthodox Jews who own a lot of electronics-type stores in New York City. They are closed on Saturday (their Sabbath) like it or not.

-- Christina (introibo2000@nospam.com), February 24, 2003.

There was a time in my former existence when I was running my business full tilt, and I completely blew off this commandment. I always had some "good" excuse, some exceptive principle, some phony reason why I had to do what I had to do to get the job done. All for the sake of a good thing... the family needed it, the job demanded it, the client ordered it.

Nonsense. I was stupid.

One day it dawned on me that this was one commandment that was a "do" instead of a "don't", and for God's sake, literally, the Creator was demanding that I do something relaxing, something wholesome, something intelligent, something leisurely that appealed to the true purpose of man. A day not to work by the sweat of my brow in punishment for sin, but to honor the Good God.

The Good God is giving you a day off.

I was an idiot. Don't be like I was.

-- Emerald (emerald1@cox.net), February 25, 2003.

"Do you do chores like laundry, light food shopping, or mall shopping? How sinful would it be to do those things?"

Maryann I think those sins rate pretty lowly on my "sinometer", buts thats probably not a good relative measure to go by. I might try it as an excuse with my flatemates, "sorry, no can do, its the Sabbath the cleaning will have to wait till tommorow, day of rest and all...*I recline back onto the couch with remote/espn/sky sport/sunday paper and a cold one*

excuse my amusement with your question but Im not very holy when it comes to things like this but I think that might change ;-).

-- Kiwi (csisherwood@hotmail.com), February 25, 2003.

Maryanne,

Thanks for this post. It is good to see others who are struggling to keep holy the Lord's Day. I had another post regarding taking a job in a Middle Eastern country who's work week is Saturday-Wednesday. I still haven't resolved this one, but this post makes me address another aspect of this commandment.

My wife and I do our best to avoid any unnecessary work and shopping, but we occasionaly get lax. For the last 4 or more Sundays in a row, my wife has asked me to stop at the grocery store on the way home from Church for the sake of convenience. But this post has convicted me to get back on the straight and narrow. I'll need to find a way to provide her with the assitance she seeks, but on another day of the week. (It's a lot easier when I do the shopping for her or at least I am with her when we do the shopping since we have 3 children whom she never leaves with anyone.)

Kiwi - I certainly can relate to your post! It's a lot easier to get away with saying "no" on Sundays to the mile long "to do" list of my wife!

I like the post quoting the Baltimore Catechism, but more recent teachings seem to modernize the sabbath rest to be more adapted to the modern man. The CCC states:

2185 On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are to refrain from engaging in work or activities that hinder the worship owed to God, the joy proper to the Lord's Day, the performance of the works of mercy, and the appropriate relaxation of mind and body.123 Family needs or important social service can legitimately excuse from the obligation of Sunday rest. The faithful should see to it that legitimate excuses do not lead to habits prejudicial to religion, family life, and health.

The charity of truth seeks holy leisure- the necessity of charity accepts just work.124 2186 Those Christians who have leisure should be mindful of their brethren who have the same needs and the same rights, yet cannot rest from work because of poverty and misery. Sunday is traditionally consecrated by Christian piety to good works and humble service of the sick, the infirm, and the elderly. Christians will also sanctify Sunday by devoting time and care to their families and relatives, often difficult to do on other days of the week. Sunday is a time for reflection, silence, cultivation of the mind, and meditation which furthers the growth of the Christian interior life.

2187 Sanctifying Sundays and holy days requires a common effort. Every Christian should avoid making unnecessary demands on others that would hinder them from observing the Lord's Day. Traditional activities (sport, restaurants, etc.), and social necessities (public services, etc.), require some people to work on Sundays, but everyone should still take care to set aside sufficient time for leisure. With temperance and charity the faithful will see to it that they avoid the excesses and violence sometimes associated with popular leisure activities. In spite of economic constraints, public authorities should ensure citizens a time intended for rest and divine worship. Employers have a similar obligation toward their employees.

God bless!

-- Hollis (catholic@martinsen.com), February 25, 2003.