Exams, Holy Day

[PeteZaHut]

I am about to go back to college this weekend to start the fall semester. I have been looking at my exam schedule and found out that I will have one exam on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and 2 exams the day after. I would be able to work out my studying so that I don’t have to do much on the actual feast day, but I would still have to take the exam. Am I okay if I make sure to attend mass and give as much of the day as possible to God, or should I try to get the exam moved?

 

[Mel_Stones]

As long as you are sure to attend the required Mass you don’t have to worry about taking an exam on that day. If you feel it would be better all around to just have that day clear, then reschedule the exam now since you know in advance.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

I think that technically only manual labor is forbidden on the Sabbath and Holy Days. Taking an exam is not manual labor [except for the use of the pencil ].

 

[PeteZaHut]

I always hear the manual labor thing but I think the Catechism says something like any work that hinders the proper joy and rest deserved for the Lord’s day.

 

[Booter]

Please study, don’t be scrupulous about it, not a big deal at all

 

[Mrs_Sally]

Good that you know this in advance! Now you will be extra motivated to stay on top of your work this semester, so that you don’t have to cram and study all day on the Feast.

As for the exam itself, I would wait until after classes start to consider whether you want to move it. Some professors automatically move their exams to the last day of class, or another time convenient to them.

While you are checking on things, make sure you know the regular Mass times and Adoration times for the chapel on campus, etc. so that you can make sure to fit that into your schedule as possible!

 

[m134e5]

I am about to go back to college this weekend to start the fall semester. I have been looking at my exam schedule and found out that I will have one exam on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and 2 exams the day after. I would be able to work out my studying so that I don’t have to do much on the actual feast day, but I would still have to take the exam. Am I okay if I make sure to attend mass and give as much of the day as possible to God, or should I try to get the exam moved?

Go to Mass, and study for the exam. I do not believe that all you do the day before an exam is study, eat, and sleep. If you need to, you may need to give up doing something else in order to go to Mass and study properly for your exams.

 

[PoliSciProf]

The posters here are correct. Study and take the test on 12/8. There is no problem here. Most Profs will let students be excused on their religious days. I teach at a secular private college and I unfortunately know of a faculty member who simply won’t alter his course schedule for such reasons which has been a problem with some pious Jewish students. Your college may have a policy or protocol for such situations. If you decide to ask for a reschedule of the exam, check out your college’s policy first.

 

[forever_always]

I am about to go back to college this weekend to start the fall semester. I have been looking at my exam schedule and found out that I will have one exam on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and 2 exams the day after. I would be able to work out my studying so that I don’t have to do much on the actual feast day, but I would still have to take the exam. Am I okay if I make sure to attend mass and give as much of the day as possible to God, or should I try to get the exam moved?

I think you’re fine… just as long as you make it to mass. Besides, I doubt most professors would let me get the exam date moved!

 

[Joe_Kelley]

. .Besides, I doubt most professors would let me get the exam date moved!

When I was in graduate school, fifty years ago, one of our younger instructors scheduled an exam the same day we had another. We moaned and asked him to change it because of the conflict. He responded, “When I was in grad school we never thought of asking a teacher to move an exam, Guess that is why we never did it; we never thought of it.” And he moved it to a couple of days later.