A Question About Doing Manual Work on Sundays

[BobP123]

I love gardening… but others detest pulling weeds and would definitely categorize gardening as “servile”.

However, if gardening is your occupation, then that would be servile work, wouldn’t it? Same as grass cutting.

But then servile work would also involve being a nanny or a butler, I would think. And there Sunday services would be required.

 

[BobP123]

Don’t distress your parents by making them “order” you to do anything. That’s not the way to holiness.

Interesting and good point. I like that. Better to do it voluntarily without being asked or ordered or forced to.

 

[Brendan]

Well, if nobody got sick or everyone walked to Church or no one ate anything on Sunday or priests didn’t have to say Mass,.

The proscription is against uneccesssary servile labor. Saying (or attending) Mass isn’t servile labor.

And, in the case of garbage, the term unecessary comes into play here. If your parents tell you to, it’s necessary

 

[Newbie2]

However, if gardening is your occupation, then that would be servile work, wouldn’t it? Same as grass cutting.

But then servile work would also involve being a nanny or a butler, I would think. And there Sunday services would be required.

Good point. I used to work on Sundays as part of my veterinary occupation…and hated having to do so. It was very difficult to convince my clients that I needed that hour or so on Sunday mornings to go to (church at that time, as I was Lutheran).

Long since I changed locations and will not work as part of my occupation on Sundays, except for answering client’s rare questions over the phone. As well, it’s a time that we try our best as a family to do family stuff.

I’ve heard that taken on one extreme, it means that one should not engage in any commerce (buying anything). Some may be able to do this, but my guess is that most families simply don’t have the time to organize an entire day for doing nothing. Besides, if one’s kid is involved in sports, etc., it usually involves Sundays…including CYO events.

Anyway, I’ve rambled on too much…take out the garbage!

 

[Richard_Kastner]

Isn’t the Sabbath day Saturday?

 

[Newbie2]

Saturday at sundown to Sunday sundown, no?

It’s not Saturday during the day.

 

[Richard_Kastner]

Saturday at sundown to Sunday sundown, no?

It’s not Saturday during the day.

What?

 

[Newbie2]

Sabbath starts at Sundown on Saturday. That’s why we have Easter Vigil on Saturday in the evening.

Did I miss something?

 

[Sr_Sally]

Is doing manual work on a Sunday, such as taking out garbage, a sin, even if ones parent orders one to do so?

If your parents order you to do so, it would definately be a sin to refuse.

In general, it is best to organize your life so that you don’t have to do manual labor/your normal work on Sundays. That is not always possible as certain jobs have to be done every day–everyhing from running the power plant to cleaning up baby poop. However, in the example you gave it seems like you should have no problem collecting up the household trash and taking it out Saturday night in order to leave your Sunday’s free of that task.

 

[hilde_the_dog]

I enjoy cutting the grass it gives me time to reflect on the readings and homilies, with nobody bothering me. Just the constant humm of the mower. I also like to work on my roses but don’t think that’s a sin

 

[Richard_Kastner]

According to the bible the Sabbath is the seventh day which is Saturday.

 

[Yerusalyim]

Sabbath starts at Sundown on Saturday. That’s why we have Easter Vigil on Saturday in the evening.

Actually, Sabbath runs from Sundown on Friday until Sundown on Saturday, as Jews figured the days from sundown to sundown.
The Jews were commanded to observe the sabbath, nowhere is that stricture found for gentiles…even Christian gentiles…in the scriptures.

The LORD’s Day liturgically speaking runs from Sundown on Saturday until Sunup on Monday…making it the longest liturgical day.

We have Easter Vigil on Saturday because in the ancient Church the Easter Vigil lasted until Sun Rise on Easter Sunday…it was a way of keeping watch until the resurrection. Technically, in most diocese for a mass on Saturday to count as the Sunday Obligation it must be after 4PM and be the Sunday Mass as oppossed to a wedding or funeral or daily mass. (NOTE: In most diocese a wedding or funeral mass is prohibited after 3 PM on Saturdays).

 

[Richard_Kastner]

Actually, Sabbath runs from Sundown on Friday until Sundown on Saturday, as Jews figured the days from sundown to sundown.
The Jews were commanded to observe the sabbath, nowhere is that stricture found for gentiles…even Christian gentiles…in the scriptures.

The LORD’s Day liturgically speaking runs from Sundown on Saturday until Sunup on Monday…making it the longest liturgical day.

We have Easter Vigil on Saturday because in the ancient Church the Easter Vigil lasted until Sun Rise on Easter Sunday…it was a way of keeping watch until the resurrection. Technically, in most diocese for a mass on Saturday to count as the Sunday Obligation it must be after 4PM and be the Sunday Mass as oppossed to a wedding or funeral or daily mass. (NOTE: In most diocese a wedding or funeral mass is prohibited after 3 PM on Saturdays).

The Sabbath was given by God at creation Gen.2:1-3 to mankind. I don’t think there were any Jews then. Richard

 

[Newbie2]

Actually, Sabbath runs from Sundown on Friday until Sundown on Saturday, as Jews figured the days from sundown to sundown.
The Jews were commanded to observe the sabbath, nowhere is that stricture found for gentiles…even Christian gentiles…in the scriptures.

The LORD’s Day liturgically speaking runs from Sundown on Saturday until Sunup on Monday…making it the longest liturgical day.

We have Easter Vigil on Saturday because in the ancient Church the Easter Vigil lasted until Sun Rise on Easter Sunday…it was a way of keeping watch until the resurrection. Technically, in most diocese for a mass on Saturday to count as the Sunday Obligation it must be after 4PM and be the Sunday Mass as oppossed to a wedding or funeral or daily mass. (NOTE: In most diocese a wedding or funeral mass is prohibited after 3 PM on Saturdays).

I stand corrected, if this is the case.

 

[BobP123]

I’ve heard that taken on one extreme, it means that one should not engage in any commerce (buying anything).

That may be tough to do in this international e-commerce market. For example monday morning in Japan is still Sunday in Hawaii, but your career thrives on doing business with them.

 

[Richard_Kastner]

I stand corrected, if this is the case.

Genesis 2
1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

 

[LilyM]

Actually, Sabbath runs from Sundown on Friday until Sundown on Saturday, as Jews figured the days from sundown to sundown.
The Jews were commanded to observe the sabbath, nowhere is that stricture found for gentiles…even Christian gentiles…in the scriptures.

The LORD’s Day liturgically speaking runs from Sundown on Saturday until Sunup on Monday…making it the longest liturgical day.

We have Easter Vigil on Saturday because in the ancient Church the Easter Vigil lasted until Sun Rise on Easter Sunday…it was a way of keeping watch until the resurrection. Technically, in most diocese for a mass on Saturday to count as the Sunday Obligation it must be after 4PM and be the Sunday Mass as oppossed to a wedding or funeral or daily mass. (NOTE: In most diocese a wedding or funeral mass is prohibited after 3 PM on Saturdays).

No. The Lord’s Day liturgically speaking runs from sunset Saturday to MIDNIGHT Sunday.

There are 9pm, 10pm or even 10.30pm masses held in different parishes in my city and other cities so that people can meet their Sunday obligation prior to midnight - no one EVER has a 3am or 4am pre-dawn Mass on a Monday so that people can likewise meet their obligation.

 

[Yerusalyim]

Genesis 2
1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

But where in that passage does God then Command all mankind to OBSERVE a sabbath rest? The Command to refrain from work on the sabbath is found in the Mosaic Law…not the Noahidic Covenant…and the Mosaic Law was given to the Jews…not the gentiles. There are 613 quite specific commandments given in the Mosaic Law…these are for the Jews…the Covenant God made with Noah was for all mankind…Sabbath observance wasn’t mentioned. Nowhere in the scriptures will you find God condemning a non-Jew for not observing the Sabbath (the term Jew used broadly to apply to all Israel, not just the tribe of Judah).

No. The Lord’s Day liturgically speaking runs from sunset Saturday to MIDNIGHT Sunday.

I sit corrected…but the Lord’s day is the longest liturgical day.

 

[Richard_Kastner]

But where in that passage does God then Command all mankind to OBSERVE a sabbath rest? The Command to refrain from work on the sabbath is found in the Mosaic Law…not the Noahidic Covenant…and the Mosaic Law was given to the Jews…not the gentiles. There are 613 quite specific commandments given in the Mosaic Law…these are for the Jews…the Covenant God made with Noah was for all mankind…Sabbath observance wasn’t mentioned. Nowhere in the scriptures will you find God condemning a non-Jew for not observing the Sabbath (the term Jew used broadly to apply to all Israel, not just the tribe of Judah).

So you don’t think that we have to keep the 10 commandments?

 

[SeanTom]

CCC 2185 states: “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. Family needs or important social service can legitimately excuse from the obligation of Sunday rest. 2195: Every Christian should avoid making unnecessary demands on others that would hinder them from observing the Lord’s Day.”

This means to me that the Lord’s work, attending Mass, etc takes precedence. After that, all necessary work that could not be accomplished on other days, would be ok. I don’t believe taking out the garbage could be considered as “work” so to speak, unless you are talking about a lot of shoveling and cleaning up that would subject you to heavy labor.

In the area where I live, there are a lot of sailors whose ships come in on the weekend and leave again on Monday. There are projects that only they could do on weekends, including Sunday, which must be done, including the cutting of grass, shopping, making repairs, etc. Projects that for one reason or another the wife could not do during the week, possible for physical, techincal or other reasons.This calls for good judgement on the part of both the wife and the husband. .