OK to cut grass on Sunday if paid?

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NicholasGH

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It’s been rainy, and we’ve been busy. Seems like quite often the only day I can mow is Sunday. I’m fifteen, and my parents pay me to do it. So, if the only day I can cut the grass is Sunday, then is it okay to do it and pocket the money? (I’d quite like the cash-I’m looking to buy a vintage fountain pen!). If it helps, I already donate money to the Church almost regularly (there are some days when I forget, or I don’t have the right change, or when I’m altar serving and I don’t get a chance to toss something in the basket) Thanks!

Peace of Christ be with you,
Nick
 
The Sabbath was made for man, not vica-versa. Offer up the job and money to Jesus when you cut the grass.
 
**According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Church exempts people in leisure, food and public service industries from the obligation to rest on Sundays. It also exempts household chores that help out the family, which is what mowing the lawn would fall under. The fact that you receive money does not change that what you’re doing is a house chore for your family. Parents often like to make a reward system for their kids to do chores that they’re supposed to do voluntarily for free only to motivate them into doing it. That’s fine, only thing is that I hope that when you get older you will be willing to do things out of love of neighbor and not just for what’s in it for you. Also, I hope you will give some money to charity and church.

May God bless you.
From the Catechism:

**A day of grace and rest from work
http://javascript<b></b>:openWindow('cr/2184.htm');

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
http://javascript<b></b>:openWindow('cr/2185.htm');

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 http://javascript<b></b>:openWindow('cr/2186.htm');

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.
http://javascript<b></b>:openWindow('cr/2187.htm');

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
 
One of my sons is hired to cut 5 lawns for neighbors, which during the summer, he spaced out over the week. Now that school has started, the only free day he has to mow is Sunday. Most school days he does not get home until 6 pm either because of his own cross country practice and/or waiting for his brothers’ activities to conclude, and then he has hours of homework. Most of his running events are held on Saturdays, and he is not getting home until 3-4 pm. There is no way he could get all 5 lawns mowed on any other day of the week now.
 
Roman Army-Of course I would mow the lawn if my parents stopped paying me. I enjoy the benefits they pay me though. Thanks a lot for all of your answers!
 
Having trouble with my computer mouse, so could not “Quote” a reply. I had learned that servile work (manual labor) or anything we do for money is a sin on Sunday. But someone has posted from Catechism that certain kinds of work ARE permitted (i.e at home). Please advise if this is old or new Catechism. I would very much appreciate this education.

I have so much work - lawn, housework, laundry - beyond the hours in the week. I KNOW / THINK it’s a sin to pay anyone to do this work. But is it a sin for me to do this work for myself without pay? It’s servile work. What if I have to pay - like at laundry, etc.? Where do we draw the line? Many thanks - in advance…very behind in my housework ! :o
 
Such work would be sinful if it was in pursuit of wealth or the avoidance of family obligations/family leisure time.

Sometimes, some of us have to work on Sundays. Methinks the Almighty understands the demands of our society, our families and our work.
 
ConservativeOne said:
Having trouble with my computer mouse, so could not “Quote” a reply. I had learned that servile work (manual labor) or anything we do for money is a sin on Sunday. But someone has posted from Catechism that certain kinds of work ARE permitted (i.e at home). Please advise if this is old or new Catechism. I would very much appreciate this education.

I have so much work - lawn, housework, laundry - beyond the hours in the week. I KNOW / THINK it’s a sin to pay anyone to do this work. But is it a sin for me to do this work for myself without pay? It’s servile work. What if I have to pay - like at laundry, etc.? Where do we draw the line? Many thanks - in advance…very behind in my housework ! :o
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The Catechism used is the most recent one approved by the late Servant of God Pope John Paul II. The basic rule is that any work undertaken on Sunday be limited and necessary and not be a distraction from the worship of God and resting while spending time with one’s family and/or friends. It should also not be undertaken with the sole intent on gaining excessive profit, avoid the worship of God, avoid time with family/friends, avoid rest (i.e. “Workaholism”), but ought to be done with the intent of providing a vital service to the resting community (this would include some leisure businesses like sports since it deals with social interaction and rest for the people resting on Sunday). Profit is fine if it is necessary to pay for one’s basic necessities (i.e. food, clothing, shelter, medical care, schooling, utility bills, transportation costs, basic operating expenses for businesses, etc.). Sometimes house work can be an occasion to spend time with one’s family and some people might see it as leisure. Also, if one cannot in all honesty do the work other times of the week, then it’s fine. It is important to remember and strive to fulfill the end goal or purpose of the law rather than merely following the letter of the law. If the work that is undertaken violates the end goal of the law, then it is wrong and sinful. I think what the Church is trying to say is that it is subject to one’s prudential judgement with the guidance of the Holy Spirit in prayer to contemplate whether or not one’s work is necessary for one’s basic necessities and necessary for the resting community as a whole. She also is saying that even if we must work, we ought to find some time for rest, worship of God, and social interaction with family and friends on Sunday. It is possible that some businesses might depend almost exclusively on Sunday just to stay in business, since that’s when people who are off from work use their products or services the most.
 
Newbie2 said:
Such work would be sinful if it was in pursuit of wealth or the avoidance of family obligations/family leisure time.

Sometimes, some of us have to work on Sundays. Methinks the Almighty understands the demands of our society, our families and our work.
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Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh,I feel the same too Methinks the Almighty understands the demands of our society, our families and our work.
 
Is it a “ox or *** in the well” situation? That is my measure. Is what I am doing a service to others–like doing my husband’s laundry? Are there any other solutions? In Oregon where I live, Sunday might be the first sunny day in the past 14 to 21 days. Before the grass gets so high that it covers the carport, it may be necessary to cut it. How about giving your pay to charity–or at least 10%🙂
 
I don’t think household chores, whether paid or not, count as the sort of work that needs to be avoided on Sundays - helping your family is something we’re supposed to do every day of the week, surely, and chores count in that regard.

If they were to interfere with your Sunday obligations in any way - if your parents insisted you skip Mass and instead do the chores, or if you spent hours and hours doing them on a Sunday AND it was completely unnecessary to do them on that particular day - that’d be different.
 
NicholasGH said:
It’s been rainy, and we’ve been busy. Seems like quite often the only day I can mow is Sunday. I’m fifteen, and my parents pay me to do it. So, if the only day I can cut the grass is Sunday, then is it okay to do it and pocket the money? (I’d quite like the cash-I’m looking to buy a vintage fountain pen!). If it helps, I already donate money to the Church almost regularly (there are some days when I forget, or I don’t have the right change, or when I’m altar serving and I don’t get a chance to toss something in the basket) Thanks!

Peace of Christ be with you,
Nick
Click to expand...
Hi,

There are two reasons why you shouldn’t be doing this on Sunday. 1 it is unnecessary work and its the Lord’s Day ( I don’t want to get between you and your parents though because I don’t know the story :o) The second reason is because it is loud and annoying to other people who are trying to use Sunday as a day of Prayer and other Spiritual activities. As my parish Priest said " Only if you have a silent lawn mower " Because some claim to say that they enjoy cutting the grass on that day.

The Catechism of The Catholic Church says: 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.
Code: 
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 vatican.va/archive/catechism/p3s2c1a3.htm
 
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