Can I Go See A Movie on Sunday?

[truetofaith]

No, it is not right to do this on Sunday. Paying to see a movie is engaging in commerce and you are working by driving to the movies.

The only way I can see going to the movies on Sunday is having someone else drive and pay for the movie/pop corn and as such. Then you are not working or engaging in commerce.

It’s only allowed if the movie is X rated !

 

[maryjk]

I walk to and from mass on Sunday from home. At times, I go on Saturday, so I do not have to leave home on Sunday.

Yes, I brush my teeth, and wash my face. This is permitted on Sunday. And no this does not going against Catholic teachings.

Not being scrupulous here, however certain actives are not permitted on Sunday. However, there are ways around it, and I have provided them for this particular circumstance.

This is about the person who posted, not me. So moving on.

Actually there isn’t anything wrong with driving on a Sunday. Nor is there a problem with leaving home on a Sunday. Most people attend Mass on Sunday, so they have to leave home.

And there is much more permitted on Sunday, than washing your face and brushing your teeth.

The thread has become about you because of your extreme ideas about what is allow on Sundays. Please quote the Catechism showing that driving should be avoided, if at all possible. Or that purchasing a movie ticket is a sin.

You won’t be able to, because these ideas are not there. And if you want to limit yourself to those, that is fine. But please don’t insinuate that the Church requires us to follow your idiosyncrasies.

 

[Mary_Estelle]

Go to the movie. This is different from working or servitude on Sunday. It is a day of rest and reflection, but not a day for being scrupulosity. Sunday is a feast day, not a day of penance…or so I was taught. Find joy in the day.

 

[truetofaith]

Actually there isn’t anything wrong with driving on a Sunday. Nor is there a problem with leaving home on a Sunday. Most people attend Mass on Sunday, so they have to leave home.

And there is much more permitted on Sunday, than washing your face and brushing your teeth.

The thread has become about you because of your extreme ideas about what is allow on Sundays. Please quote the Catechism showing that driving should be avoided, if at all possible. Or that purchasing a movie ticket is a sin.

You won’t be able to, because these ideas are not there. And if you want to limit yourself to those, that is fine. But please don’t insinuate that the Church requires us to follow your idiosyncrasies.

The OP must be getting Catholics confused with the Amish!

 

[Mazen_El_Ghoz]

I don’t know about that but you must be joking.

 

[phil19034]

I think I have to ask my mother to take me to a therapist. I am uncomfortable meeting with my own priest at my church.

If you feel uncomfortable about meeting with you parish priests (you shouldn’t but it’s ok that you do), ask to attend confession and get spiritual direction from another parish.

 

[Inquiringperson]

I would be seeing a therapist because of my scrupulosity, not just because of this situation. I do not want my whole family to know that I am seeing a therapist. My mother is the only person (besides God the Father, Jesus, Blessed Mother, Angels, Saints, others in Heaven) that knows about my scrupulosity and my struggles. I came to this website hoping to get help, and I do appreciate all the responses that I get. But then I say “Oh I am better now” and then I say I do not need a therapist. But, maybe I should just go and try to get this under control.

You could try going to your school psychologist, maybe?

Anyway, here’s the relevant part from the Catechism.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c1a3.htm

BTW, I haven’t heard much great things about Minions. Go watch Inside Out instead.

Anyway, FWIW, here’s Michelle Arnold’s answer.forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=31980

 

[SuperLuigi]

I think I have to ask my mother to take me to a therapist. I am uncomfortable meeting with my own priest at my church.

You need to see someone who can be a spiritual director to you in order to combat scrupulosity.

I suggest talking to another priest to start off with.

And yes, you are allowed to see movies on Sunday. As someone already said, just be sure to attend Mass.

 

[TheAdvocate]

No, it is not right to do this on Sunday. Paying to see a movie is engaging in commerce and you are working by driving to the movies.

The only way I can see going to the movies on Sunday is having someone else drive and pay for the movie/pop corn and as such. Then you are not working or engaging in commerce.

I remember one time my (now ex)friend and I were on a road trip, and I wanted to call Sprint customer service to ask them a question while in the car. He chided me and told me not to call because it supports doing business on Sunday. I then asked him if he even went to Mass that morning. All I got back was silence. Hypocrite!!

 

[pianistclare]

This is ridiculous and most certainly not Catholic teaching.

Christbearer, please make an appointment to talk to your priest before scrupulosity takes over your life.

Exactly.
Leisure activities are not work.

 

[utah_rose]

This is ridiculous and most certainly not Catholic teaching.

Christbearer, please make an appointment to talk to your priest before scrupulosity takes over your life.

I agree. I once asked our Deacon whether it was a sin to do housework if needed on Sunday. He laughed and said only if I was Jewish. All the same try not to go shopping or hard housework on Sunday. Remember, Sunday was made for man, not man for Sunday. And movie theaters will exist anyway even if you don’t go. Plenty of people like teenagers need these jobs, and it’s not like they’re selling tvs or cars! Concessions is really light employment.

 

[gigi_mvn]

Actually there isn’t anything wrong with driving on a Sunday. Nor is there a problem with leaving home on a Sunday. Most people attend Mass on Sunday, so they have to leave home.

And there is much more permitted on Sunday, than washing your face and brushing your teeth.

The thread has become about you because of your extreme ideas about what is allow on Sundays. Please quote the Catechism showing that driving should be avoided, if at all possible. Or that purchasing a movie ticket is a sin.

You won’t be able to, because these ideas are not there. And if you want to limit yourself to those, that is fine. But please don’t insinuate that the Church requires us to follow your idiosyncrasies.

How about you please quote from the Catechism where it states driving is acceptable? Can’t. That’s because, for the most part, the Catechism is not that explicit on what and what not to do on Sunday. It establishes a framework where good judgment is expected to be exercised.

The nature of driving is a stressful labor b/c the driver will have to be on the defense and somewhat hyper vigilant, thus rendering it an activity that “impedes… the proper relaxation of mind and body”

Forking over cash also induces anxiety and worry/stress thus imposing on “…the proper relaxation of mind and body.”

“2193 “On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound . . . to abstain from those labors and business concerns which impede the worship to be rendered to God, the joy which is proper to the Lord’s Day, or the proper relaxation of mind and body” (CIC, can. 1247).”

Finally, driving to the movies, especially to watch Minions in no way falls into this:

“2194 The institution of Sunday helps all “to be allowed sufficient rest and leisure to cultivate their amilial, cultural, social, and religious lives” (GS 67 § 3).”

It does not read…. to cultivate their amilial, cultural, social, or religious lives. It must encompass all four, not one or the other.

vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c1a3.htm

 

[gigi_mvn]

The OP must be getting Catholics confused with the Amish!

No, please see above.

 

[gigi_mvn]

Exactly.
Leisure activities are not work.

Driving to the movies, especially to watch Minions in no way falls into this:

“2194 The institution of Sunday helps all “to be allowed sufficient rest and leisure to cultivate their amilial, cultural, social, and religious lives” (GS 67 § 3).”

It does not read…. to cultivate amilial, cultural, social, or religious lives. It must encompass all four, not one or the other.

vatican.va/archive/ccc_cs…m/p3s2c1a3.htm

 

[Joannm]

Driving to the movies, especially to watch Minions in no way falls into this:

“2194 The institution of Sunday helps all “to be allowed sufficient rest and leisure to cultivate their amilial, cultural, social, and religious lives” (GS 67 § 3).”

It does not read…. to cultivate amilial, cultural, social, or religious lives. It must encompass all four, not one or the other.

vatican.va/archive/ccc_cs…m/p3s2c1a3.htm

Can I ask what you do on Sunday?

 

[pianistclare]

Driving to the movies, especially to watch Minions in no way falls into this:

“2194 The institution of Sunday helps all “to be allowed sufficient rest and leisure to cultivate their amilial, cultural, social, and religious lives” (GS 67 § 3).”

It does not read…. to cultivate amilial, cultural, social, or religious lives. It must encompass all four, not one or the other.

vatican.va/archive/ccc_cs…m/p3s2c1a3.htm

Legalism.
I’ll grant that Minions is a poor choice of movies.
But movies, enjoying time with family and friends does fit the bill.
They don’t all have to be fulfilled ALL AT ONCE.
Providing that Mass attendance and worship takes prime of place…it’s fine.

 

[Sarcelle]

Go to church, lunch and then enjoy this time with your family. I saw a movie on a Sunday this year…it was my birthday and I had wanted to see one. I saw the movie FROZEN on a Sunday…with my very devout Catholic brother, sister in law and three of their children.

Are we supposed to just sit on our hands and stare at a blank wall on Sunday?

Btw, I once had a job where I had to work Sunday and I hated that…but it was not retail, so no commerce took place.

No, you can pray the rosary, over and over again. That and novenas.

I won’t be surprised if someone actually does propose that in all seriousness.

 

[johnnyc176]

How about you please quote from the Catechism where it states driving is acceptable? Can’t. That’s because, for the most part, the Catechism is not that explicit on what and what not to do on Sunday. It establishes a framework where good judgment is expected to be exercised.

The nature of driving is a stressful labor b/c the driver will have to be on the defense and somewhat hyper vigilant, thus rendering it an activity that “impedes… the proper relaxation of mind and body”

Forking over cash also induces anxiety and worry/stress thus imposing on “…the proper relaxation of mind and body.”

“2193 “On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound . . . to abstain from those labors and business concerns which impede the worship to be rendered to God, the joy which is proper to the Lord’s Day, or the proper relaxation of mind and body” (CIC, can. 1247).”

Finally, driving to the movies, especially to watch Minions in no way falls into this:

“2194 The institution of Sunday helps all “to be allowed sufficient rest and leisure to cultivate their amilial, cultural, social, and religious lives” (GS 67 § 3).”

It does not read…. to cultivate their amilial, cultural, social, or religious lives. It must encompass all four, not one or the other.

vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c1a3.htm

Interesting. Might be a good idea to look at how we approach the Lord’s Day. I think you added a great deal to the discussion. Thanks.

 

[Sarcelle]

I walk to and from mass on Sunday from home. At times, I go on Saturday, so I do not have to leave home on Sunday.

Yes, I brush my teeth, and wash my face. This is permitted on Sunday. And no this does not going against Catholic teachings.

Not being scrupulous here, however certain actives are not permitted on Sunday. However, there are ways around it, and I have provided them for this particular circumstance.

This is about the person who posted, not me. So moving on.

Is there official teaching on not seeing movies? Yes there is a passage in the Catechism about the Lord’s day and I’ve seen several wildly varying interpretations on this, mostly from laymen, who for some reason seem to think their interpretation carries the weight of official Church doctrine.

For anyone who needs guidance on how to properly observe the Lord’s day, please consult with their priest or ask someone in the apologetics section of this forum.

 

[johnnyc176]

No, you can pray the rosary, over and over again. That and novenas.

I won’t be surprised if someone actually does propose that in all seriousness.

I would hope not since many religious do just that. They may even include you in their prayers.

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.