Is it a sin to voluntarily work on Sunday?

[dje101]

I want to pick up some shifts at work to make some extra money. One of the shifts that I want to pick up covers the whole day of Sunday. Would it be a sin to voluntarily take these shifts?

 

[thistle]

I want to pick up some shifts at work to make some extra money. One of the shifts that I want to pick up covers the whole day of Sunday. Would it be a sin to voluntarily take these shifts?

You can only miss Mass for a serious reason. Wanting to pick up extra money, in my opinion, does not qualify.
You may attend Mass on Saturday evening which also fulfills the Sunday obligation.

 

[1ke]

You can only miss Mass for a serious reason. Wanting to pick up extra money, in my opinion, does not qualify.
You may attend Mass on Saturday evening which also fulfills the Sunday obligation.

The OP did not say he would miss Mass at all.

His question was about working on Sunday.

OP: You should talk to your priest if you are concerned or tend to be scrupulous. Your priest can guide you.

 

[thistle]

The OP did not say he would miss Mass at all.

His question was about working on Sunday.

OP: You should talk to your priest if you are concerned or tend to be scrupulous. Your priest can guide you.

He said “One of the shifts that I want to pick up covers the whole day of Sunday.”
By implication I would say the OP thinks he will not be fulfilling his Sunday obligation. That’s why I suggested he go to Mass on Saturday evening.

 

[SaintPatrick333]

Ask a Priest for guidance and if need be, dispensation. And if possible try to get to that saturday Mass. Otherwise I personally would feel that that is not a valid reason. If you are supporting yourself or your family and absolutely need every penny you can scrounge to pay the bills and put food on the table, thats one thing. But just gathering extra funds I’m not as comfortable with. But as I said, simply my opinion. Ask your Priest. He will help you.

 

[Katholish]

We are supposed to keep Holy the Lord’s Day, which involves not only attending Mass, but refraining from unnecessary work on Sunday. If your work involved some kind of activity necessary for the good and safety of others (fire-fighter, nurse, etc.) then it would be fine, or if it was apostolic work, but doing extra work just to pick up extra money should be avoided on Sundays.

 

[DavidFilmer]

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.

CCC 2042​

 

[Gaber]

I want to pick up some shifts at work to make some extra money. One of the shifts that I want to pick up covers the whole day of Sunday. Would it be a sin to voluntarily take these shifts?

Where we live the obligation of Mass can be fulfilled on Saturday as well. In any case, what “day” is not holy? When are you not in Church?

 

[Randy_Carson]

I want to pick up some shifts at work to make some extra money. One of the shifts that I want to pick up covers the whole day of Sunday. Would it be a sin to voluntarily take these shifts?

Go to Saturday evening mass, and work with a clear conscience if it is necessary to support your family.

 

[Blue_Horizon]

I want to pick up some shifts at work to make some extra money. One of the shifts that I want to pick up covers the whole day of Sunday. Would it be a sin to voluntarily take these shifts?

Why do you need the extra money?
What is the sin you think you would be committing?
Why do you feel you need to ask this question?

Hard to help if you only describe external behaviour (and it isn’t clear whether that includes mass or not).

 

[R_C]

I want to pick up some shifts at work to make some extra money. One of the shifts that I want to pick up covers the whole day of Sunday. Would it be a sin to voluntarily take these shifts?

I suggest you talk to your confessor. It is a wonderful thing to practice the virtue of obedience.

If you are doing this for your family or for the good of souls, ultimately you are giving praise to God through Christ, in whom we are one body, who on the Sabbath said: “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working”

But the Sunday Mass is something wonderful, a mystery of love…the Latin name for the day was Dies Dominica or Dies Domini, “the day of the Lord”, and the Holy Spirit spoke about this day for centuries before the coming of Christ when He said through the prophet: “This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.”

The Sunday Mass is the fulfillment of the words of God when He said:
“For from the rising of the sun even to the going down, my name is great among the Gentiles, and in every place there is sacrifice, and there is offered to my name a clean oblation: for my name is great among the Gentiles, saith the Lord of hosts.”

Thus the Church, our mother, has commanded us by virtue of obedience to attend Holy Mass on Sunday and abstain from “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.” As you can see, the Church also wants the Dies Domini to be a day of joy and of relaxation, not only of worship and union in the Blessed Sacrament.

All of this I share so that you may rejoice in the beauty of the Sunday. But please, speak to your Parrish pastor and he will give you an answer and set you at peace.

Pax Christi tecum

 

[happy2be]

As Jesus himself said…the sabbath was made for man…not man for the sabbath. Obviously Sunday is different from the Jewish sabbath…but I think you get the point…there is nothing preventing us from doing good things for others on Sunday - except legalism!

May God bless you as you seek to love and serve

 

[dje101]

Why do you need the extra money?
What is the sin you think you would be committing?
Why do you feel you need to ask this question?

Hard to help if you only describe external behaviour (and it isn’t clear whether that includes mass or not).

I need extra money because I have bills that I need to pay off and I would like to get married to my girlfriend.

Though I would be able to go to the Vigil Mass on Saturdays, I’m concerned about sinning by working on the Lord’s day. The shift that I would like to pick up is not a small 4 or 6 hour shift, but a 24 hour shift that goes from 6am Sunday morning to 6am Monday morning. Not only would this shift greatly help my finances, but would also give me more experience in the field I’m working.

 

[Cascadian]

I believe it depends on how significant your loss would be if you didn’t work that day, but as others have said seek a priest.

 

[Credo_in_Deum]

If the reason for working is indispensable then no, but like others say you would want to talk to your priest. It is a commandment to keep holy the sabbath day; meaning we should not miss Mass and do our hardest to rest since God gave us this day to rest. Most people if they either have to work or cannot miss work will assign another day to be thier day of rest. Most people make light of keeping holy the sabbath day by thinking it only pertains to attending Mass when it actually also pertains to rest as well. It is suppose to be your day off to recollect yourself and rest with God. Those who work when they shouldn’t could give scandal to others. Certainly things like acts of charity or small amounts of work out of necessity are permitted but choosing to work when you really do not have to or need to, is not permitted.

vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c1a3.htm

A day of grace and rest from work

2184 Just as God "rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done,"121 human life has a rhythm of work and rest. The institution of the Lord’s Day helps everyone enjoy adequate rest and leisure to cultivate their familial, cultural, social, and religious lives.122

2185 On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are to refrain from engaging in work or activities that hinder the worship owed to God, the joy proper to the Lord’s Day, the performance of the works of mercy, and the appropriate relaxation of mind and body.123 Family needs or important social service can legitimately excuse from the obligation of Sunday rest. The faithful should see to it that legitimate excuses do not lead to habits prejudicial to religion, family life, and health.

The charity of truth seeks holy leisure- the necessity of charity accepts just work.124

2186 Those Christians who have leisure should be mindful of their brethren who have the same needs and the same rights, yet cannot rest from work because of poverty and misery. Sunday is traditionally consecrated by Christian piety to good works and humble service of the sick, the infirm, and the elderly. Christians will also sanctify Sunday by devoting time and care to their families and relatives, often difficult to do on other days of the week. Sunday is a time for reflection, silence, cultivation of the mind, and meditation which furthers the growth of the Christian interior life.

2187 Sanctifying Sundays and holy days requires a common effort. Every Christian should avoid making unnecessary demands on others that would hinder them from observing the Lord’s Day. Traditional activities (sport, restaurants, etc.), and social necessities (public services, etc.), require some people to work on Sundays, but everyone should still take care to set aside sufficient time for leisure. With temperance and charity the faithful will see to it that they avoid the excesses and violence sometimes associated with popular leisure activities. In spite of economic constraints, public authorities should ensure citizens a time intended for rest and divine worship. Employers have a similar obligation toward their employees.

2188 In respecting religious liberty and the common good of all, Christians should seek recognition of Sundays and the Church’s holy days as legal holidays. They have to give everyone a public example of prayer, respect, and joy and defend their traditions as a precious contribution to the spiritual life of society. If a country’s legislation or other reasons require work on Sunday, the day should nevertheless be lived as the day of our deliverance which lets us share in this “festal gathering,” this "assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven."125

[bibledrb]matthew 6:25-33[/bibledrb]

 

[Mintaka]

Paying off bills is a valid reason. We have to do justice to our creditors, and that means paying them off as quickly as possible.

If you’re going to Saturday Vigil Mass, I don’t see any problem with it. Obviously it’s not ideal… but talk to a priest about it.