Can I Go See A Movie on Sunday?

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gigi_mvn said:
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”
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Speak for yourself please. I love to drive. Thanks.

-Tim-
 
This, from the Compendium to the Catechism should put all of your ideas to rest.
You may choose to do whatever you wish, but please do not tell others that they should do the same.
  1. How does one keep Sunday holy?
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2177-2185
2192-2193
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Christians keep Sunday and other days of obligation holy by participating in the Eucharist of the Lord and by refraining from those activities which impede the worship of God and disturb the joy proper to the day of the Lord or the necessary relaxation of mind and body. Activities are allowed on the Sabbath which are bound up with family needs or with important social service, provided that they do not lead to habits prejudicial to the holiness of Sunday, to family life and to health.
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This is what the Church expects from us- nothing more, nothing less.
OP, go to the movie and enjoy your time with your family!
gigi_mvn said:
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
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gigi_mvn said:
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.
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Actually, the Catechism is very clear, when stating what we shouldn’t do. If we weren’t allowed to drive, it would state that.

But of course it doesn’t state everything that is acceptable. No book in the world is large enough for that.

What seems to be very interesting is that you are against the original poster driving or spending money, but you seem fine with someone driving him to the movies. And you seem fine if he spends the money on Saturday, for the ticket on Sunday. 🤷

Why is it wrong for him to drive, but okay for someone else to drive? Why it is okay for someone else to work? (At the theater) And, for the big one, if all you do is wash your face and brush your teeth, why are you online posting on this forum, on a Sunday? (Last June)

You claim that it establishes a framework for good judgement. But if something is wrong, isn’t wrong for everyone? If you believe it is wrong to drive on Sunday, why would you encourage this young man’s friend to drive?

And what about posting here?
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”
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Forking over cash also induces anxiety and worry/stress thus imposing on “…the proper relaxation of mind and body.”
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I agree, if, for you, driving is so stressful, you shouldn’t drive on Sundays. Or during the week for that matter.

Same with spending money. If normal activities in life induce that much anxiety and stress, you should stay home. For most people, normal activities in life, like driving or spending a few dollars at the movies are not anxiety ridden or stressful.
 
gigi_mvn said:
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”
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You can’t be serious? How am I supposed to get to Mass on Sunday then? We don’t all live in a parish where the church is a few city blocks from home. I live in a rural area. My church is 10 km away on a busy rural highway.

I suppose I could bike. Cycling is fun. But not on the road that separates me from my parish church. It is dangerous and I avoid cycling on it. Moreover cycling is impractical in my area from November through April.

That said I usually drive the 35 minutes that separates me from the local Benedictine abbey for which I am an oblate, for Sunday Mass. It’s a beautiful drive in the mountains, to a beautifully reverent monastic Mass. Like TimothyH I love to drive, and what could be better than driving a beautiful mountain road to a beautiful Mass?

I can’t see that your POV is being very helpful to someone fighting scrupulosity, so I have to agree with the good deacon here. Plus, the Church does not teach that it isn’t OK to drive on Sunday.

You must be Catholicism with ultra-orthodox Judaism.
 
As long as they movie itself isn’t morally detrimental then you’re good to go. It’s a great way to spend time with friends and family, which is one of the points of having a day of rest. ^^

My wife and I are also planning on seeing the Minions movie. I haven’t heard great things, but then again, a lot of terrible movies get praise nowadays, so reviews don’t really mean much. We’re also planning on seeing the new Sherlock Holmes movie next weekend. Ian McKellen as and elderly Holmes, I can’t pass it up!
 
We have to remember that the word recreation means re-creation.

Everyone knows that all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

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**Little pigs, little pigs, let me in… **

-Tim-
 
Is one ‘suffering’ from scruples if they try and follow Jesus’ command to pray without ceasing? Or to be holy like the One who called us is holy? There is nothing wrong with gigi mvn’s advice. And who’s to say that a spiritual director would not advise the same. You may not agree with it but there’s no need to throw around accusations of being scrupulous.
 
The OP is a young person who can’t even drive yet! And based on much of what they have posted, they do have trouble deciding what is a sin and what is not a sin, so yes, scrupulosity is a real danger.

And what gigi mvn was posting is NOT CHURCH TEACHING!! It is fine if that is what he/she would like to do, but offering it as advice to a young, confused person is wrong.
johnnyc176 said:
Is one ‘suffering’ from scruples if they try and follow Jesus’ command to pray without ceasing? Or to be holy like the One who called us is holy? There is nothing wrong with gigi mvn’s advice. And who’s to say that a spiritual director would not advise the same. You may not agree with it but there’s no need to throw around accusations of being scrupulous.
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Oneofthewomen said:
And what gigi mvn was posting is NOT CHURCH TEACHING!! It is fine if that is what he/she would like to do, but offering it as advice to a young, confused person is wrong.
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What the heck does Church teaching have to do with it. The Church doesn’t specifically say to go to the movie either lol. It is giving guidelines so to speak. Any advice within those guidelines is valid.
 
johnnyc176 said:
What the heck does Church teaching have to do with it. The Church doesn’t specifically say to go to the movie either lol. It is giving guidelines so to speak. Any advice within those guidelines is valid.
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If Church teaching didn’t have anything to do with it, we would not be having this conversation. Think about it.
 
Christbearer03 said:
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.
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Hi, I struggle with scrupulosity also (and anxiety in general). I go for therapy and medication, which is helpful. But BY FAR, the best insights and guidance on scrupulosity that I have received have come from priests, whether in confession or during spiritual guidance. May God bless us all 🙂
 
gigi_mvn said:
Ok, now seeing a therapist because of this is extreme, and unnecessary and you asked a very good question and have legitimate concerns.

If you want to go to the movies and be with your family, that is nice, but take the necessary precautions. As long as you do not have to fork over any cash, then use those special tickets. Or, you can buy the tickets and whatever else a day or two before, then use them on Sunday. Thus, not engaging in commerce on Sunday. However, this is a gray area and would not recommend this practice regularly. But once in awhile, sure live on the wild side a little.
👍
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This is not Catholic teaching.

The notion that it is sinful to pay for something on a Sunday, and then the very strange notion that paying using vouchers or buying the tickets beforehand somehow changes the situation.

We are not forbidden from going to the movies and paying for this on a Sunday. If individuals wish to abstain from this as some form of personal fast, then that is fine and, like sensible fasting in general, a good thing, but this it is not a requirement of Catholics that they cannot go to the movies or pay for things on Sundays.
 
gigi_mvn said:
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.
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I’m sorry but I fail to see why its wrong to go to a movie on Sunday. I have done so with my family a number of times and I also work retail and that means I work on Sundays sometimes along with doing homework for college.
 
johnnyc176 said:
What the heck does Church teaching have to do with it. The Church doesn’t specifically say to go to the movie either lol. It is giving guidelines so to speak. Any advice within those guidelines is valid.
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However, Gigi seems to be speaking as if he/she has authority to declare something as forbidden by the Church. Only the Magisterium can do that.

In the end what we are presenting is merely opinion not official doctrine, which is why I urge the OP that if she is nervous about approaching her local parish priest, to ask the question in the apologetics section of this forum. Otherwise she would get a million different answers.
 
Sarcelle said:
However, Gigi seems to be speaking as if he/she has authority to declare something as forbidden by the Church. Only the Magisterium can do that.

In the end what we are presenting is merely opinion not official doctrine, which is why I urge the OP that if she is nervous about approaching her local parish priest, to ask the question in the apologetics section of this forum. Otherwise she would get a million different answers.
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Question: What does OP mean? I am sorry but do not know what this means.

By the way, I am a male. I do not want to sound rude, so I apologize if that is what I sound like.
 
ProdglArchitect said:
As long as they movie itself isn’t morally detrimental then you’re good to go. It’s a great way to spend time with friends and family, which is one of the points of having a day of rest. ^^

My wife and I are also planning on seeing the Minions movie. I haven’t heard great things, but then again, a lot of terrible movies get praise nowadays, so reviews don’t really mean much. We’re also planning on seeing the new Sherlock Holmes movie next weekend. Ian McKellen as and elderly Holmes, I can’t pass it up!
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Steven D. Greydanus gave Minions a C though.decentfilms.com/reviews/minions
He and CNS are the only reviewers I really trust.

Anyway, back to the thread.forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=31980
Michelle Arnold posted an answer to a question similar to this. But for those who don’t want to open the link, I’m going to quote her.
Michelle Arnold:
The Church does not condemn patronizing various businesses on Sunday, so one need not worry that he is “forcing” others to work on Sunday. While a person may choose to avoid purchasing unnecessary luxuries on Sunday out of a pious devotion to upholding the sanctity of the day for himself and others, he is not required to do so.
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Christbearer03 said:
Question: What does OP mean? I am sorry but do not know what this means.

By the way, I am a male. I do not want to sound rude, so I apologize if that is what I sound like.
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OP stands for original poster. In video games, it means overpowered though.
 
gigi_mvn said:
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
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I thought the OP was scrupulous but GIGI…you got him beat by a mile! 😉
 
I guess I’m going to hell…I usually go for a drive after Mass on Sunday & I never confessed it. Also, we usually go grocery shopping if we weren’t able to do it during the week…and I do odd jobs around the house which I didn’t have time for during the week.
I also sometimes play music for pay if it falls on a Sunday, but with all those things, I get to one of the Masses. :eek:
 
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