Sorry for my sudden return, but…I felt I just had to post this…
We will all continue to see and hear of many more beckonings like the following in the near future until the day is finally called forth to us all to reclaim Sunday (the false Sabbath) by all nations and in the end, inevitably be inforced into law and then jail or death for those who will undoubtedly oppose a national Sunday law.
In a Feb. 9 letter to pastors and parish life facilitators, Bishop Baker encouraged Catholics to begin the diocesan celebration of 2007 as the Year of the Family by reclaiming the Sabbath for God and family.
“Because we have become distracted, overworked and overcommitted to outside activities, Sunday has become just another workday,” he wrote. "I challenge each of you to restore Sunday as a gift from the Father for the family to appreciate one another.
“We have lost the peace that God created for our day of rest, and we all should actively seek ways to invite God into the center of our families,” he added.
He quoted from Pope John Paul II’s 1998 apostolic letter, “Dies Domini” (“The Day of the Lord”): “Sunday is the day which recalls in grateful adoration the world’s first day and looks forward in active hope to ‘the last day,’ when Christ will come in glory and all things will be made new.”
Bishop Baker also made several suggestions to make this a reality:
- Pray a parish rosary once a month followed by a covered-dish dinner with fun activities for youths and children.
- Plan a pilgrimage to a favorite religious site, such as the Shrine of Our Lady of South Carolina-Our Lady of Joyful Hope in Kingstree or to Mepkin Abbey in Monck’s Corner.
- Allow a member of the family to share 15 minutes of Scripture reading.
- Refrain from any labor, shopping and any private activity that conflicts with prayer or family involvement on a Sunday.
- Try to organize activities with other parents and adults to enrich faith and friendships on Sundays while children or youths are involved in faith formation.
Bishop Baker closed his letter by proclaiming each Sunday in the statewide diocese’s Year of the Family a day of prayer for the family.
It’s not that far off, and it’s not that hard to it see quickly flailing our our way.
catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=23095