Fishing on Sunday

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returningcath

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Hi,

I am trying to understand whether or not it is appropriate to spend 4-5 hours fishing on a Sunday. This would obviously be after attending mass, driving 30-45 minutes but I would not be purchasing anything on Sunday. It is my favorite hobby and often Sunday is the only day I have to do it so I could see how it falls under “adequate rest and leisure” but it also usually leaves me pretty sweaty and tired as I do it in a kayak so I could also see how this could be viewed as not exactly a “day of rest”

I am not talking about spending every Sunday doing this but maybe once a month or so, if that makes a difference.

Also I have read what the catechism says about keeping the sabbath and am still unclear. I am looking for your opinions and supporting evidence. Thanks.
 
The Catechism speaks several times of “leisure” being one of the purposes of Sunday. It also mentions “sport” as a “traditional activity” for leisure. Fishing for you would be both leisure (as it’s a hobby, not your job) and a sport. The Catechism warns against “excesses and violence sometimes associated with popular leisure activities”, but fishing does not seem to have these, assuming you are not getting rip roaring drunk or high while you fish.

I’d say as long as you make sure to go to Mass and you are not neglecting your family to engage in your hobby (which is your judgment call, as even good family men and women take a little break from their loved ones at times), fishing is a fine activity for a Sunday.

Edited to add, even if you had to buy something like a meal or some bait or gasoline, etc. on the Sunday, that would be all right because the Catechism says traditional activities like sports and restaurants require some people to work on Sunday, so the businesses you’d be buying from would fall in that category.

vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_P7O.HTM
 
It’s perfectly fine and being out on the river fishing can be a good opportunity to continue sanctifying the day by thanking God that you can enjoy such a wonderful part of His creation.

The only potential issue would be if Sunday became just about fishing and you went to Church in the morning so as to get it out of the way, so you can go fishing. But, you’re not seemingly saying that.
 
I think you pursuing your hobby on Sunday under the conditions you expressed such as Mass attendance, getting bait at other times, etc. sounds great returningcath.

Please take me along. 1-800-Iwannagofishing (just kidding on these last parts:)).

God bless.

Cathoholic
 
Hey, it’s something you have in common with our LORD :):)!!!

ICXC NIKA
 
:clapping:
Hoosier_Daddy said:
Hard to do when they are all out fishing…/QUOTE

:clapping::bowdown2::doh2:

One thought. If you are a commercial fisherman, and the fish are only running on a Sunday and it is your living, even there I think you’d be on solid ground.
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Sunday - fulfillment of the sabbath from the Catechism:

2175 Sunday is expressly distinguished from the sabbath which it follows chronologically every week; for Christians its ceremonial observance replaces that of the sabbath. In Christ’s Passover, Sunday fulfills the spiritual truth of the Jewish sabbath and announces man’s eternal rest in God. For worship under the Law prepared for the mystery of Christ, and what was done there prefigured some aspects of Christ:107

You’re fine as long as you got to a Sunday liturgy; either a Vigil Mass or on Sunday. Fishing is not regarded as “servile work”. Have fun!
 
I think I’d be most concerned if there are people at home who need your help that you will be letting down.

For example, if you had little children and your wife didn’t want you spending so much time away from home (especially if she didn’t get to get away nearly as much), then I’d be leery about fishing. But that really has nothing to do with fishing–it’s just the time commitment.
returningcath said:
Hi,

I am trying to understand whether or not it is appropriate to spend 4-5 hours fishing on a Sunday. This would obviously be after attending mass, driving 30-45 minutes but I would not be purchasing anything on Sunday. It is my favorite hobby and often Sunday is the only day I have to do it so I could see how it falls under “adequate rest and leisure” but it also usually leaves me pretty sweaty and tired as I do it in a kayak so I could also see how this could be viewed as not exactly a “day of rest”

I am not talking about spending every Sunday doing this but maybe once a month or so, if that makes a difference.

Also I have read what the catechism says about keeping the sabbath and am still unclear. I am looking for your opinions and supporting evidence. Thanks.
Click to expand...
 
Even extreme sport is okay for leisure. It could be not okay for work, e.g. professional sport when you don’t absolutely need to practice on Sunday, then yeah.

I’m pretty convinced that sport or even some sort of physical work done for leisure wouldn’t fall even under old definitions of ‘servile labour’ simply because it’s hard to call it servile when you toil for no master, including yourself (as in your work for a living etc.).

Besides, even so, fishing is light activity. Also quite contemplative. For example you can pray while fishing (not that you have to), even the Rosary, contemplating the mysteries. Just an example. You aren’t Peter and Andrew fishing for business.

And just because you fry and eat your catch (unless you prefer it raw, that’s okay too, I won’t tell anyone :p) for dinner doesn’t mean it wasn’t recreation.

Next, I can’t find anything unseemly in fishing. Can’t see how it could be ‘inappropriate’ in terms of the dignity and sanctity of the holy day.
Hoosier_Daddy said:
Hard to do when they are all out fishing…
Click to expand...
👍😃
 
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