Is working on Sunday a sin?

[KathleenElsie]

If the work that you do is not a necessary job (nurse, Dr, fireman, police or armed forces) is it a sin to work on Sunday?
Then to go one further: Using the services of others on Sunday when you could do your shopping on other days leading others to sin?

 

[LilyM]

There are people who have to work Sundays to keep themselves in the necessities of life.

If there’s no other work available during the week … and you gotta keep the electricity paid and food on the table … then it’s fine to at least temporarily work on Sundays whilst looking for more suitable jobs, and to continue until you find 'em!

Not if you’re just saving up for a third car or a super-duper widescreen tv or something.

As for making other people work … well, I try not to eat out or shop for unnecessary items on a Sunday. There may be the odd case where I have to buy some ingredient I’ve forgotten for the Sunday lunch, and of course I don’t own a car so I rely a lot on public transport even on Sundays.

Overall I wouldn’t be too harsh on people who do shop or eat out on Sundays - for many it literally is their only chance and every other day is taken up with work.

 

[KathleenElsie]

Does it break a commandment? Are we not to keep the Sabbath Holy? What about worship at Mass? Has this changed since VII? Has the definition of “necessary” work changed to mean the enjoyment of society?

Please understand I just want to get people to think before making the LORDS day a day of COMMERCE.

 

[LilyM]

Does it break a commandment? Are we not to keep the Sabbath Holy? What about worship at Mass? Has this changed since VII? Has the definition of “necessary” work changed to mean the enjoyment of society?

Please understand I just want to get people to think before making the LORDS day a day of COMMERCE.

Commerce in and of itself on a Sunday isn’t automatically wrong - we take up collections of money not just in the Churches themselves, but during Mass itself for heaven’s sakes!

And before you start on the story with Jesus and the moneychangers - their job was a necessary one. Worship at the Temple required the payment of a ‘Temple Tax’, which was paid in a unique currency used no-where else.
So without moneychangers working in the Temple, worship couldn’t go on as scripture prescribed it must.

The problem Jesus had was not with their job, but that they were cheating people while doing it. Hence he didn’t say the Temple had become a ‘den of commerce’, he said a ‘den of thieves’. Legitimate commerce is a different thing.

Yes we’re to keep the Sabbath Holy. Of course nothing - ever - removes the obligation to attend Mass apart from illness or necessary work. And the Catechism and other teaching of the church forbids us from unnecessary servile (manual or paid) work on a Sunday.

How we keep the Sabbath holy otherwise is up to each individual. Certainly there are essential services need to be kept running, there are people need to work on Sundays to survive, and some people have no other day upon which they can do their shopping. Remember the Sabbath was made largely for man, not man for the Sabbath.

 

[KathleenElsie]

So then it seems to me that Sunday is just another day like any other day as long as you go to Mass. Is this society or Catholic teachings?

 

[LilyM]

So then it seems to me that Sunday is just another day like any other day as long as you go to Mass. Is this society or Catholic teachings?

Did I not mention no unnecessary servile (paid or manual) work? That’s what the catechism says. You can read it for yourself. That’s a biggie for most people right there, many couldn’t sit still if you tried to sit ON 'em to keep 'em still.

And you say ‘as long as you go to Mass’ as if it’s an afterthought. Spending time worshipping God in Mass is certainly a great gift of time and presence that we give to God. It doesn’t preclude the doing of other things on the same day y’know!

What do you think we should do on Sundays, sit at home on our couches, stare at blank walls and twiddle our thumbs for 12 hours or so and then go to bed? That’d make it quiet, non-commercial, sure, but any holier? If you spent a bit of filthy lucre to, say, see The Passion of Christ, or a religious art exhibition or a beautiful garden that lifted your mind up to God, that would be much more in keeping with the spirit of the Sabbath.

It’s day to worship God, and to rest and relax, as He did. Often we rest and relax by doing things, which may but don’t have to involve commerce. But then anything you do unless you stay at home and do nothing is going to involve making someone else work - gasstation clerks, people you visit, rubbish collectors.

The point I’m trying to make is that if Sunday is the only time someone can work, or shop, then they’re entitled. God doesn’t want us to starve or have the electricity cut off because we’re scrupulous about Sunday.

 

[KathleenElsie]

Did I not mention no unnecessary servile (paid or manual) work? That’s what the catechism says. You can read it for yourself. That’s a biggie for most people right there, many couldn’t sit still if you tried to sit ON 'em to keep 'em still.

And you say ‘as long as you go to Mass’ as if it’s an afterthought. Many of the people I talk to make it seem like a necessary chore and not a desired activity. Spending time worshipping God in Mass is certainly a great gift of time and presence that we give to God. Not only a gift but a requirement. It doesn’t preclude the doing of other things on the same day y’know! Family time if it is your only day off then time spent with those you don’t see all week. Play with your children and grandchildren. Turn off the "tube’ and get to know you family again.

What do you think we should do on Sundays, sit at home on our couches, stare at blank walls and twiddle our thumbs for 12 hours or so and then go to bed? Nope rest and relaxation is not sitting on the couch and twiddeling your thumbs. Play ball with the kids, taking a walk with your spouse and talking to each other would be nice. A family meal with all home. That’d make it quiet, non-commercial, sure, but any holier? If you spent a bit of filthy lucre to, say, see The Passion of Christ, or a religious art exhibition or a beautiful garden that lifted your mind up to God, that would be much more in keeping with the spirit of the Sabbath. I never said anything about “filty lucre” or the moneychangers. All I said was that commerice could be done durring ithe week and did not “need” to be done Sunday.

It’s day to worship God, and to rest and relax, as He did. Often we rest and relax by doing things, which may but don’t have to involve commerce. But then anything you do unless you stay at home and do nothing is going to involve making someone else work - gasstation clerks, people you visit, rubbish collectors. Can’t yoy get gas the other six days? Or have the rubbish collected then? As for people you visit as long as they welcome you it is not servile.

The point I’m trying to make is that if Sunday is the only time someone can work, or shop, then they’re entitled. God doesn’t want us to starve or have the electricity cut off because we’re scrupulous about Sunday.

I just no believe that the other six days are normally enough to do what is necessary and people need that day of rest and worship.

 

[LilyM]

I just no believe that the other six days are normally enough to do what is necessary and people need that day of rest and worship.

Servile labour is manual labour - invited or not. You go to someone’s house you’re creating cooking for them or yourself, and dishes for them or yourself. Manual (servile) labour for them - or you.

And no, I’m not saying that it’s ORDINARILY not enough. There are, however, large numbers of people who work ten hours a day six days a week. Even more sometimes. Shocking isn’t it. Plenty of mortgages and jobs do demand those sort of hours. Even more if you factor long commutes in, which plenty of people have to do too.

How do you suggest they do their shopping if there’s no late-night shops open hmmm?

For that matter do you not do all the parky play-ball-with-kidsy stuff during the week as well? How is that HOLY or different from every other day? It’s normal, no?

 

[KathleenElsie]

Servile labor is manual labor - invited or not. You go to someone’s house you’re creating cooking for them or yourself, and dishes for them or yourself. Manual (servile) labor for them - or you.

And no, I’m not saying that it’s ORDINARILY not enough. There are, however, large numbers of people who work ten hours a day six days a week. Even more sometimes. Shocking isn’t it. Plenty of mortgages and jobs do demand those sort of hours. Even more if you factor long commutes in, which plenty of people have to do too.

How do you suggest they do their shopping if there’s no late-night shops open Hmmm?

For that matter do you not do all the Park play-ball-with-kids stuff during the week as well? How is that HOLY or different from every other day? It’s normal, no?

Never said no late nights. Let the shops be open 24 hours 7 days if they want. My question is is it something a Christian Catholic should encourage.

 

[LilyM]

Never said no late nights. Let the shops be open 24 hours 7 days if they want. My question is is it something a Christian Catholic should encourage.

Encourage? Not if it’s avoidable. Accept as a regrettable necessity if it ISN’T avoidable - absolutely.

 

[lak611]

Never said no late nights. Let the shops be open 24 hours 7 days if they want. My question is is it something a Christian Catholic should encourage.

The reason that the shops used to be closed on Sundays has nothing to do with Catholics. The “blue laws” were part of Protestant culture that originated with the Puritans. Nowadays, about the only shops that close on Sundays are those in Amish communities.

 

[KathleenElsie]

The reason that the shops used to be closed on Sundays has nothing to do with Catholics. The “blue laws” were part of Protestant culture that originated with the Puritans. Nowadays, about the only shops that close on Sundays are those in Amish communities.

I never said it was a Catholic tradition. I just simply asked if it was a sin for Catholics to work and shop on Sundays if it was not necessary. Does this lead others into sin? Simple question hard answer.

 

[Liberanosamalo]

I know there are some stores in my town where they close on Sunday to allow the workers time to spend with their families. I respect that. But in our multicultural society, there are many people who are Jewish or Muslim or any number of other religions who do not consider Sunday a day of rest. And so they don’t mind working those days. So where is the problem of going to a restaurant and enjoying a nice dinner? Or going to a store? With teenagers and visitation schedules and school schedules, Sunday is often the only day I can do things with my children that is recreational and not school-driven or work driven.

 

[KathleenElsie]

I know there are some stores in my town where they close on Sunday to allow the workers time to spend with their families. I respect that. But in our multicultural society, there are many people who are Jewish or Muslim or any number of other religions who do not consider Sunday a day of rest. And so they don’t mind working those days. So where is the problem of going to a restaurant and enjoying a nice dinner? Or going to a store? With teenagers and visitation schedules and school schedules, Sunday is often the only day I can do things with my children that is recreational and not school-driven or work driven.

Agreed. But the Jew, Muslim, non-religious and other religions are not Catholic. So multiculturalism allows those that want to to work? Nope the work rule is across the board for all.

 

[LilyM]

Agreed. But the Jew, Muslim, non-religious and other religions are not Catholic. So multiculturalism allows those that want to to work? Nope the work rule is across the board for all.

Question - do YOU expect Jews and Muslims to work on Fridays (the Muslim holy day) and Saturdays (the Jewish Sabbath) to cater to you because you mustn’t do anything on a Sunday?

Or did you just never think about the fact that they do. And they do all the time, and they do because they have to. Many God-fearing Christians and godless atheists simply won’t employ them or use their stores if they’re so ‘inconvenient’ as to not want to work on a Friday or Saturday.

Open your eyes a little. Workers who work on Sunday and businesses that open on Sunday most always do so because it’s necessary for them, not because of fun or greed or what have you.

Often it’s a matter of making sure there’s even a business to come back to on Monday, since competitors who open on Sunday will take the business from you if you don’t.

As for using them - well, in most cases you’re helping those businesses and workers to survive and earn a living by supporting them, did you think of it that way? You’d give me food to put on my table if you saw me starving in the street, but heaven forbid I was working to earn money for that food, you wouldn’t have a bar of it if it was on a Sunday? Puh-leeze.

And since when is a trip to the movies or a family meal at a restaurant anything other than appropriate and fitting relaxation and family time and a perfect way to spend the Sabbath?

 

[s4angel]

I work in a prison, unfortunatly prisons do not close on sunday…
My work week begins on saturday. My sundays or tuesdays in my case I try to go slower and I give more breaks to my workers would I rather have the day off? YES I miss church so bad I can tast it. but I support four children and bills have to be paid. But thank you everyone I realised after reading the posts that I can still make it holy in other ways.

 

[KathleenElsie]

I work in a prison, unfortunatly prisons do not close on sunday…
My work week begins on saturday. My sundays or tuesdays in my case I try to go slower and I give more breaks to my workers would I rather have the day off? YES I miss church so bad I can tast it. but I support four children and bills have to be paid. But thank you everyone I realised after reading the posts that I can still make it holy in other ways.

Yours is a work of necessity. So for you the sin factor nill. To make it (Sunday) holy in other ways is wonderful. God Bless you for the services you provide society.

 

[Liberanosamalo]

I echo that. Thank you. The military gets thanked for protecting society. But our prison workers do a very valuable job of protecting us too. And I know it is often very depressing, thankless, and difficult work. But we are in your debt.

Can’t imagine what it is like going in to deal with the worst people society has to offer, and still try to keep your own humanity. God bless you.

 

[s4angel]

Yes working in a prison can be depressing you see so much…
but I am lucky that I am doing what I was ment to do. These are not the worst people on earth they are gods children too. My job is to protect you but also to protect them it is a duality that at times takes a lot of prayer. The difference is when they are bad they are realy bad and when they are good they shine all the brighter for having gone through what most of them have. There is no middle ground in prison. Keep them in your prayers as well. remeber it wasn’t for the saints that jesus came for but the sinners.
Thank you.

 

[KathleenElsie]

The Catechism of Trent

THE THIRD COMMANDMENT: “Remember that thou keep holy the sabbath day. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy works; but on the seventh day is the sabbath of the lord thy god; thou shalt do no work on it, neither thou nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy man�servant, nor thy maid�servant, nor thy beast, nor the stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the lord made heaven and earth, and the sea, and all things that are in them, and rested on the seventh day; wherefore the lord blessed the seventh day and sanctified it.”
cin.org/users/james/ebooks/master/trent/tcomm03.htm

This Commandment of the Law rightly and in due order prescribes the external worship which we owe to God; for it is, as it were, a consequence of the preceding Commandment. For if we sincerely and devoutly worship God, guided by the faith and hope we have in Him, we cannot but honour Him with external worship and thanksgiving. Now since we cannot easily discharge these duties while occupied in worldly affairs, a certain fixed time has been set aside so that it may be conveniently performed

.