Mowing on Sunday dilemna

[Madaglan]

I’ve been having this periodic problem about mowing. You see, I usually work normal working hours during the week, but I also mow lawns for my neighbors on the side, since they can’t do themselves.

Anyhow, one of my neighbors asked me to mow the lawn because her lawn mower is currently broken. However, because of the wet weather, the only day I could mow was during a bright and sunny Sunday. I wanted to forstall and wait a few days, since I would rather not do work on Sunday, because it is a day of rest, but when I told my mom and dad my aversion to working on Sunday, my mom got angry and almost yelled at me saying, “well, when else are you going to mow. You work all this week!”

So, even though my conscience was still against the idea, the pressure from my parents and the fact that my neighbor was expecting her lawn to be done, led me to actually cutting the lawn on Sunday. I thought that maybe I shouldn’t charge money since it’s Sunday, but then I thought that my neighbor would 1) Insist on paying me, or 2) Would tell my mom how nice I was not to charge any $; and my mom, who is very money conscious, would have been infuriated. So, I got paid around $20. I feel guilty about this money, and I’m thinking that I’ll give it all away to charity.

If I do this, have I still sinned by mowing the lawn on Sunday? What should I do when my parents, neighbors and the weather force me to do yard work on Sunday–especially when that Sunday is Easter, at least according to the Julian calendar?

 

[ames61]

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. * *The charity of truth seeks holy leisure- the necessity of charity accepts just work.124 * CCC P 2185

You were being charitable to your neighbor, and obedient and respectful to your mother. As long as it does not become a habit, you do everything you can to keep the extra income on weekdays, or Saturday, you rested as best you could for the rest of the day and you were able to fulfill your Sunday obligation to attend mass, then you are probably okay. But if your conscience bothers you, discuss it with your priest at your next confession.

 

[Fortiterinre]

I try to mow on Saturday or a weekday late afternoon to avoid Sunday. Even aside from the theological reasons, I hate when I am on my porch on a Sunday afternoon and have to listen to mowers and weewhackers for hours on end.

 

[springbreeze]

Madaglan:

I’ve been having this periodic problem about mowing. You see, I usually work normal working hours during the week, but I also mow lawns for my neighbors on the side, since they can’t do themselves.

Anyhow, one of my neighbors asked me to mow the lawn because her lawn mower is currently broken. However, because of the wet weather, the only day I could mow was during a bright and sunny Sunday. I wanted to forstall and wait a few days, since I would rather not do work on Sunday, because it is a day of rest, but when I told my mom and dad my aversion to working on Sunday, my mom got angry and almost yelled at me saying, “well, when else are you going to mow. You work all this week!”

So, even though my conscience was still against the idea, the pressure from my parents and the fact that my neighbor was expecting her lawn to be done, led me to actually cutting the lawn on Sunday. I thought that maybe I shouldn’t charge money since it’s Sunday, but then I thought that my neighbor would 1) Insist on paying me, or 2) Would tell my mom how nice I was not to charge any $; and my mom, who is very money conscious, would have been infuriated. So, I got paid around $20. I feel guilty about this money, and I’m thinking that I’ll give it all away to charity.

If I do this, have I still sinned by mowing the lawn on Sunday? What should I do when my parents, neighbors and the weather force me to do yard work on Sunday–especially when that Sunday is Easter, at least according to the Julian calendar?

Dear friend

You were performing an act of mercy in helping a neighbour out and because they were grateful for your kindness they gave you a reward in money to express their thanks to you, if they had not wanted to pay you they would not have paid you. You have done nothing wrong.

Buy your mother something with the money to show her you love her.

The law exists for man not man for the law.

God Bless you and much love and peace to you

Teresa

 

[Tietjen]

Madaglan:

If I do this, have I still sinned by mowing the lawn on Sunday? What should I do when my parents, neighbors and the weather force me to do yard work on Sunday–especially when that Sunday is Easter, at least according to the Julian calendar?

You should avoid it whenever possible, but from your description, I don’t think that what happened could be labeled a sin; at least not a mortal sin. If you feel differently, then go to confession; but as I see it, it was not something that you did freely. Your mom was pressuring you to do it and one of the elements for mortal sin is that you freely decide to commit the sin.

 

[Pentecost2005]

Fortiterinre:

I try to mow on Saturday or a weekday late afternoon to avoid Sunday. Even aside from the theological reasons, I hate when I am on my porch on a Sunday afternoon and have to listen to mowers and weewhackers for hours on end.

I’ve heard that there is a corner in Purgatory set aside specifically for those who, in their earthly life, committed brazen acts of lawn care at inappropriate times.

 

[springbreeze]

Fortiterinre:

I try to mow on Saturday or a weekday late afternoon to avoid Sunday. Even aside from the theological reasons, I hate when I am on my porch on a Sunday afternoon and have to listen to mowers and weewhackers for hours on end.

Don’t you thank God for the sweet smell of the freshly cut grass and meditate on the wonder of His creation, how pleasing to the eye the green lawn is and how he instilled in us a desire to care for our surroundings? How to some people it is their hobby to garden, it’s not work at all to them and they are blessed with green fingers and thank God for their talents? Don’t you marvel at how God has left us to steward this earth and given us the intelligence to work out how to care for plants and animals and how to encourage their well-being and growth? Don’t you marvel at the gift of intelligence the person must have had who invented the lawn-mower and thank God for that? Don’t you thank God for the gift of your hearing, that you can hear that lawnmower and your neighbour whistling as they go about their hobby.

Just a thought.

God Bless you and much love and peace to you

Teresa

 

[pnewton]

Pentecost2005:

I’ve heard that there is a corner in Purgatory set aside specifically for those who, in their earthly life, committed brazen acts of lawn care at inappropriate times.

In this level of purgatory, do you have to blow leaves into a headwind for years at a time?

 

[Pentecost2005]

pnewton:

In this level of purgatory, do you have to blow leaves into a headwind for years at a time?

Yais. With lots of dust, too.