Is it a sin to work on Sunday?

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RollTide1987

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The commandment says to remember the Sabbath and to keep it holy. If we were to attend mass and maybe do a little work out in the yard after the fact, are we in a state of venial/mortal sin?
 
From what I understand, it is indeed a sin to work on Sunday but only if the work is unnecessary.
 
Here’s what priests have told me. If working out is refreshing to you and helps you enjoy the day, do it. If it’s just hard work, don’t do it. Also, some people have special needs for medical conditions, etc. and can be accommodated accordingly. A little workout is probably not mortal sin. But I’d talk to your priest about such things.
 
What about hospital workers? They may have to work on Sunday, mostly because there will still be patients that need care. Then, if it’s your habit of going out to eat on Sunday, now would be a good time to stop that so that those workers don’t have to work.

Oh, and some say that the Sabbath is still Saturday. So, whose Sabbath do we keep? :confused:
 
I think working at a hospital goes down as “necessary” work. It’s only a sin if it’s “unnecessary” if I am reading the above responses correctly.
 
Note: the Sabbath is on Saturday and has been superseded, Christians celebrate the Lord’s Day. Work on Sunday is a sin*, although yard work could be leisure, rather than work, if one enjoys doing it.

*The Catechism makes exceptions for restaurants, sports, and social necessities.
 
Christy_Beth said:
Oh, and some say that the Sabbath is still Saturday. So, whose Sabbath do we keep? :confused:
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From the U.S. Catholic Catechism for Adults:

The Third Commandment calls us to keep holy the Sabbath day. For Christians, the observance of the Sabbath is transferred to Sunday, the day Jesus rose from the dead. God, through the Church, obliges us to make Sunday holy by participation in the Eucharist and by our being prayerfully reflective as far as possible. (page 364)
 
RollTide1987 said:
I think working at a hospital goes down as “necessary” work. It’s only a sin if it’s “unnecessary” if I am reading the above responses correctly.
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From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

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. 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. (#2185)

Here’s how it was expressed in the Baltimore Catechism:

#238: By the Third Commandment of God all unnecessary servile work on Sunday is forbidden.

#239: Servile work is that which requires labor of body rather than mind.

#240: Servile work is allowed on Sunday when the honor of God, our own need, or that of our neighbor requires it.

The New St. Joseph edition adds the following commentary (i.e., this is not actually part of the Baltimore Catechism but is an elaboration by Fr. Bennet Kelley, C.P.):

For example: Policemen, nurses, bus drivers, etc. may work on Sundays. Necessary work at home: cooking, dishes, etc. is all right.

Examples of work that should not be done on Sunday without necessity are: scrubbing floors, painting the house, keeping stores, factory work, etc. Those who co-operate in such work are also guilty of sin, such as Sunday shoppers, employers making men work on Sundays without necessity, etc.
  • The New St. Joseph Baltimore Catechism, No. 2 (Catholic Book Publishing Company: New York, 1969), 119.
 
My wife is at her job today, and I am working as well. My wife works in the hospital, and I work on an ambulance. I just got back from a call where we called for a helicopter and flew the patient out.
Mat 12:1 At that time Jesus went through the corn on the sabbath: and his disciples being hungry, began to pluck the ears, and to eat.
Mat 12:2 And the Pharisees seeing them, said to him: Behold thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days.
Mat 12:3 But he said to them: Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and they that were with him:
Mat 12:4 How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the loaves of proposition, which it was not lawful for him to eat, nor for them that were with him, but for the priests only?
Mat 12:5 Or have ye not read in the law, that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple break the sabbath, and are without blame?
Mat 12:6 But I tell you that there is here a greater than the temple.
Mat 12:7 And if you knew what this meaneth: I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: you would never have condemned the innocent.
Mat 12:8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath.
Mat 12:9 And when he had passed from thence, he came into their synagogues.
Mat 12:10 And behold there was a man who had a withered hand, and they asked him, saying: Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.
Mat 12:11 But he said to them: What man shall there be among you, that hath one sheep: and if the same fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not take hold on it and lift it up?
Mat 12:12 How much better is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do a good deed on the sabbath days.
Mat 12:13 Then he saith to the man: Stretch forth thy hand; and he stretched it forth, and it was restored to health even as the other.
Mat 12:14 And the Pharisees going out made a consultation against him, how they might destroy him.
Mat 12:15 But Jesus knowing it, retired from thence: and many followed him, and he healed them all.
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I can’t tell you the last time we missed a Saturday vigil…
 
EricFilmer said:
From the U.S. Catholic Catechism for Adults:

The Third Commandment calls us to keep holy the Sabbath day. For Christians, the observance of the Sabbath is transferred to Sunday, the day Jesus rose from the dead. God, through the Church, obliges us to make Sunday holy by participation in the Eucharist and by our being prayerfully reflective as far as possible. (page 364)
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I had one woman tell me that the reason Christ rose on Sunday was because he “rested” on the Sabbath, and it’s still suppose to be on that day, because the bible never said that it chnaged. I told her that in Revelations, it said that these visions wre on “the Lord’s day.” And she said that it meant the sabbath, which, to her, is Saturday. We rarely talk, mainly because we always argue about the same stuff.
 
I believe the Torra had strict rules on the Sabbath; which was Saturday. It says that you commit a sin if: you cook, clean, make light, & if your servents worked on your behalf. This is why the pharases freaked out that Jesus did stuff on the Sabbath (ie heal sick, gather corn from field)

Obviously, Jesus added common sense into scripture … but i believe our culture had streched this a bit too much. I’m proud of companies that are closed on Sunday (Chick-a-fil & Hobby Lobby). These companies have inspired me and i TRY not do unnessisary shopping on Sunday ( as my actions tells bussinesses they need to be open for my demands - causing others to ignore this commandment). Additionally, my husband is a work-a-holic so I promised him if he worked on Sunday I would turn one of his personal items pink:p. I know I can still do better at resting & thanking God, but these are MY baby steps to recapture honoring this commandment.
 
Thanks for putting that into perspective for me. I gues I got a little worked up over this issue. :o
 
I have a job that requires Sunday work (IT Support) and we must always be staffed with a few people at all times to field customer contacts & troubleshoot their issues. At least, I can get to an 8am Sunday Mass nearby work and be at the office for the start of my 9:30am shift. In this day and age even if the shift is not the most favorable, it is work and pays my bills.
 
RollTide1987 said:
The commandment says to remember the Sabbath and to keep it holy. If we were to attend mass and maybe do a little work out in the yard after the fact, are we in a state of venial/mortal sin?
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“The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27)
 
Even though the Sabbath was on Saturday, I believe that the intent of Judeo-Christian teaching is that you are to observe a day of rest - in our case Sunday.

However, if it is a sin to work on Sunday, then it is equally a sin to go out for dinner at a restaurant, go shopping or basically engage in any activity where you expect others to be at work serving you while you are at rest. 😉
 
God in His Commandments has enjoined the observation of the Sabbath as holy. The Sabbath is meant for rest, prayer and family togetherness.Physical and mental rest is necessary for human beings and that may be the reason why God commanded so. When it comes to work, we have to take into account many factors. That is why Jesus told us that it is lawful to do good deeds on Sabbath days( Math 12:12) If it is not at all necessary for you to earn for your family living and if you work on sundays to amass wealth, can it be justified ? So we are free to decide in each case whether it is permissible. Can we say that hospitals, medical shops etc should not function on Sabbath days, are we not going against Jesus who said that it is lawful to do good deeds ? Our decision should be based on necessity and God’s commandments.
The sabbath can be utilised for more prayers, family togetherness and even visits to the sick or families.
 
I think yard work could be considered a leisurely thing, especially if you enjoy it.

As far as paid work goes, it should be avoided unless necessary. For example, if your boss gives you little choice, that’s one thing, but if you volunteer to take an extra shift when you really don’t have to, that could be a sin.
 
RollTide1987 said:
The commandment says to remember the Sabbath and to keep it holy. If we were to attend mass and maybe do a little work out in the yard after the fact, are we in a state of venial/mortal sin?
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By definition, a venial sin is one that one knows is wrong but does anyway. Extending this definition to make it mortal, what is added is a weighty or important matter, like murder, for example. If one either does not know the action is a sin or does not willingly do it anyway, by definition, there can be no sin in either category.
 
jfriesen said:
Even though the Sabbath was on Saturday, I believe that the intent of Judeo-Christian teaching is that you are to observe a day of rest - in our case Sunday.

However, if it is a sin to work on Sunday, then it is equally a sin to go out for dinner at a restaurant, go shopping or basically engage in any activity where you expect others to be at work serving you while you are at rest. 😉
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And that Sunday would be from sun down Saturday evening to sundown Sunday evening.
 
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