Holy days of obligation - "No servile work" rule

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MartyLeo

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Dear all,

I have heard that there is a rule for holy days of obligation that servile work is forbidden. I am not sure whether this still applies today or not.
Nobody knows about it nowadays.

Could someone enlighten me on this??

Thank you in advance.
M
 
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I would stick with the original commandment, which is to keep holy the Lord’s Day, which is the Sabbath for Jews and Sunday for Christians. There is no need to add to that.
 
Yes, the obligation to refrain from unecessary servile labour remains.
 
It is possible that I was wrong. The Catechism has this (from 2042):
The first precept (“You shall attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation and rest from servile labor”) requires the faithful to sanctify the day commemorating the Resurrection of the Lord as well as the principal liturgical feasts honoring the mysteries of the Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the saints; in the first place, by participating in the Eucharistic celebration, in which the Christian community is gathered, and by resting from those works and activities which could impede such a sanctification of these days.
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Also note:
Servile work is unnecessary/nonessential work. There are labors that must be attended to outside this category. Obligatory schedules at your place of employment, cooking or cleaning at home, etc. if there’s no other method/opportunity to deal with these.
 
Key here is ‘unnecessary.’ Your job, for example, is necessary.
 
Also note: despite constant repititions here, the term “servile work” does not appear in current Code of Canon Law. I have no idea why people continue to embrace a term which, based on multiple questions here, seems so confusing.
 
Reading these answers, I am confused as to what is inessential servile work that we shouldn’t do.

If you have work in whatever field or reason that you must do then you do it. If you just want to relax that’s not work and that’s fine. So what is restricted here? Doing work ahead of time that is necessary to be done that day?
 
I saw a priest explain it once that the general idea is that we’re not made to be working 24/7 (like a slave) so you should have a day of rest where you’re not doing the same things you normally do (i.e. job). This doesn’t mean that you’re not able to do some household things like mow the lawn as we are not bound by the Old Testament practices of having all work done before sundown day before Sabbath. Of course, it is nice if you can try to spend the day more with relaxing activities, spending time with family and of course praying.

Some have to work on Sundays (for example, priests) and so they can take their day of rest on another day.

Edit - Found it, was from Father Mike -
 
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I am not aware of any such rule. It would be hard for many people who have physical labor jobs that they go to on the holy day to abide by such a rule.
 
It means don’t go to the office on Sunday if that’s not your normal work day. Don’t volunteer for an overtime or extra shift on Holy Days if your family isn’t desperately dependent upon the income for survival. Don’t choose a chore like patching the roof that you’ll just as easily be able to do tomorrow just because you’re avoiding family during the day of rest and celebration. The definition of unnecessary is different for different people, but it should be common sense.
 
RandomAlias said:
and by resting from those works and activities which could impede such a sanctification of these days.
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This to me sounds like they just want you to “rest” from anything that would prevent you from meeting your obligation to attend Mass and prayerfully observe the day.

Seems a bit archaic to me to be honest
 
This, as all the rules of the church, is intended to help us be the free, happy people that the Lord intended us to be, as rest and enjoyment is necessary to a healthy and good life. This commandment helps to show that we are not slaves of our employers or duties. It also is needed to gain wisdom:
The wisdom of a scribe in the time of vacance: and he that is less in action shall receive wisdom. - Ecclesiasticus 38:25
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We’re not meant to be needlessly enslaved to our paid jobs. We’re also not meant to be needlessly enslaved to things like household chores - if the laundry, vacuuming or whatnot can wait until Monday then leave it.
 
There has been so much deterioration of honoring the Lord’s Day in recent decades.

Our country used to be MUCH MORE religious than it is now. Most places of business were not open on Sundays.

People gathered together with family and friends to share meals and fellowship.

Church was the highlight of the weekend, not something to be dreaded or avoided.

I pray that spirit of reverence might be awakened among us once again.
 
I remember as a child that Sundays were much different that they are now. The majority of shops were closed. You would find a newsagent open but only for a few hours to sell Sundays papers. We went to church and spent time with family. On sunny days that would often mean an afternoon spent out doors.

People would do those chores they had to do at weekend on Saturdays. This left Sunday free. My mother still finds the thought of shopping on Sunday abhorrent. This is because she sees Sunday as a day of rest despite being retired 20+ years and sees shopping as a form of work.

People used to work on Sundays if it was necessary such as doctors, nurses and firemen.
 
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