I think i'm getting srupulous about this

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angell1

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about what can and can’t be done on sundays

I’m trying to find a balance by reading the catechism and john paul II’s writings, but it all seems so vague

I don’t really understand if shopping is a sin or why? or eating at restaurants. I know it causes other people to work though.

but then so do many other things. virtually everything leisurely causes someone to work… tv. radio, sports, going to any kind of public place like the pool, movies, the zoo.

I’m getting all different kinds of answers, from priests included, and don’t know what to do and am getting to a point where I’m just afraid to do anything at all

any advice?
 
Didn’t you say elsewhere that you have a spiritual director? Why not talk with him about this?

I had a similar discussion with my director. My question wasn’t so much about whether various activities on Sunday were sinful, but more about what was appropriate. (Not everything is a sin even if it might not be the best or most appropriate thing.)

We basically talked about what I want Sunday to be, how I can best use Sunday to grow closer to God, etc. From that discussion I came up with certain guidelines about what I will do on a Sunday and what I won’t in order to keep the day as something special. Perhaps such a discussion would be fruitful for you.

Honestly, I think if you ask a dozen people their opinions, you’ll get a dozen different answers!
 
As I see it, two rules apply. One is to Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy. Second is that the Sabbath was made for man, not man made for the Sabbath Day. So we avoid unnecessary servile work but otherwise do what pleases God, pleases us and pleases others. As I read the CCC, the only thing absolute is hearing Mass unless duly excused.
 
angell1 said:
about what can and can’t be done on sundays
I’m trying to find a balance by reading the catechism and john paul II’s writings, but it all seems so vague I don’t really understand if shopping is a sin or why? or eating at restaurants. I know it causes other people to work though. but then so do many other things. virtually everything leisurely causes someone to work… tv. radio, sports, going to any kind of public place like the pool, movies, the zoo. I’m getting all different kinds of answers, from priests included, and don’t know what to do and am getting to a point where I’m just afraid to do anything at all any advice?
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Here’s what we are to do on Sunday

Heb 10:
19 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way which he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. 26 For if we sin deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful prospect of judgment, and a fury of fire which will consume the adversaries. 28 A man who has violated the law of Moses dies without mercy at the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment do you think will be deserved by the man who has spurned the Son of God, and profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and outraged the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Note:
  • Blood of the covenant refers to Matthew 26:28 , Mark 14:24 , Jesus spoke those words when He instituted the Eucharist. Therefore as Hebrews is already teaching, to deliberately miss (mass) the Eucharist on Sunday, is not only already, a horrific sin, but the following befalls the soul who after receiving knowledge of the truth, then deliberately blows off mass
  • no longer remains a sacrifice for sin for THEM
  • but a fearful prospect of judgment, and a fury of fire which will consume these adversaries of God
  • because they spurn the Son of God, and profane the blood of the covenant by which they were sanctified, and they outrage the Spirit of grace
Yep, THAT describes a mortal sin, and describes what and why deliberately missing the Eucharist on Sunday, entails such consequences to that soul.
 
Don’t be legalistic about it. The intent is to rest in Christ (Heb 4:1). Come to Him with your burden and take His yoke, for His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matt 11:30). Don’t get so worried about it (Phil 4:6, Matt 6:31-33) lest you become more concerned about the rules than the love of Christ (Mark 3:3-6).

Some places in Israel today have become so legalistic about Sabbath rules that they have “Sabbath elevators” that stop on every floor because the concern is that pushing the button on the elevator is too much work. I know Seventh-Day Adventists here in the US who work themselves into a tizzy worrying about what they can and can’t do on their Sabbath.
 
Why are you so intent on following this particular Old Testament rule and ignoring all the rules in Leviticus?
 
pianistclare said:
ewtn.com/library/ANSWERS/SABBATH.HTM

Excellent article, particularly beginning at paragraph five, for your purposes.
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I get it to a certain extent. but where does one draw the line?

I personally don’t like shopping anyways so that’s not too big of an issue.

but what if elderly relatives want to go out to eat? or listen to the radio/watch tv together. it is causing someone else to work, isn’t it? or a friend celebrating a birthday or something. or sports practice/tournaments. sometimes they are no other times.
 
angell1 said:
… but then so do many other things. virtually everything leisurely causes someone to work… tv. radio, sports, going to any kind of public place like the pool, movies, the zoo.
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Catechism:
0242 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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You do not bear any responsibility whatsoever for “causing” others to work on Sunday, so first off, remove that from your thinking. Secondly, eating at a restaurant is not “servile labor” but a restful partaking of food with someone whom you enjoy.

The question is, what is servile labor? Labor defined in a thesaurus has a nice description, “gruntwork.” The word servile also describes work done by a slave, from which the church’s precept has freed them. Years ago, slave owners did not give their workers a break on Sunday, but used them as human machines with full production cycles each and every day. St. John Bosco was deeply pained when these unscrupulous men forced youths to work almost non-stop. He intervened mightily to give these boys rest.

Do you see the difference? Sometimes we need to “make hay while the sun shines” and have to do some chores on Sunday if that happens to be the only day to accomplish something due to extremities of weather. For instance, if your grass is already 6" tall and the weather forecast is for more heavy rain the next few days. But Sunday happens to have a sunshine break. I say, go ahead and mow, without any worry of desecrating Sunday. (or rake leaves, shovel show, plow the field, etc.)
Catholic Encyclopedia:
"In the past twenty years or so many exceptions have been placed on the meaning of servile work by moral theologians that it is just about impossible to lay down general rules. Thus, many men who spend the whole week behind a desk find real refreshment working in their garden, mowing the lawn, washing their car. Although these activities require physical labor,** they are not now considered to be ‘servile’** in the situation of contemporary technology in America.

“It seems to me that what all should try to do is to observe the spirit of Sunday–worship, rest, and joy. If some kind of work does not fit into that pattern and is truly unnecessary, then it should be avoided. If anyone has serious doubt about whether or not he or she is violating God’s law of the Sunday rest, then that person should seek the advice of a priest” (Fundamentals of Catholicism [San Francisco: Ignatius, 1982], I:174-175).
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angell1 said:
I get it to a certain extent. but where does one draw the line?

I personally don’t like shopping anyways so that’s not too big of an issue.

but what if elderly relatives want to go out to eat? or listen to the radio/watch tv together. it is causing someone else to work, isn’t it? or a friend celebrating a birthday or something. or sports practice/tournaments. sometimes they are no other times.
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One draws the line when thinking that EVERYTHING we do is a sin.
I would lose my home if I didn’t work at the parish on Sundays.
Do you really believe that God is angry with me?
I work a 12 hour shift at the parish every Sunday. It’s part of my job.
Granted, it’s the Lord’s work, but still…it’s my career. I have other days off. But part of my 40 hours is to be here when the people are here.
Do you believe that hospital workers and doctors who care for patients on Sundays are offending the Lord? Would it please the Lord to have you locked in a dark room? Come on. Surely you know the answer. Why do you persist in twisting this? Not having fellowship with elderly relatives? wow.
Time for common sense.
High time.
Sirach has given you a great answer. Listen to her.
 
Don’t forget the Spiritual and Corporal WORKS of Mercy. Sunday is a fine day to do them. Mow Grandma’s lawn. Wash Grandpa’s car.
 
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