Saturday Vigil? - please clarify

[paramedicgirl]

I have always been taught that Sunday is the Lord’s day, and to keep it holy we must attend Mass and refrain from servile work, etc. But I have read on these threads that the obligation actually begins on Saturday night. I need clarification on this. Are we to begin observation of the Lord’s day on Saturday evening and keep it until Sunday night? What is correct according to Catholic teaching?

 

[Verbum]

Hi Paramedic__,

Sunday remains the Lord’s day. That’s Sunday from midnight to midnight. Liturgically, the Church has given us permission to fulfil our obligation to attend mass starting with Saturday afternoon. This is consistent with the celebration of several feasts throughout the year, where the Vespers of the day are replaced by “First Vespers” of the next day.For example, the celebration of the Feast of Corpus Chrisit begins on the day before the actual feast.

Verbum

 

[paramedicgirl]

Verbum:

Hi Paramedic__,

Sunday remains the Lord’s day. That’s Sunday from midnight to midnight. Liturgically, the Church has given us permission to fulfil our obligation to attend mass starting with Saturday afternoon. This is consistent with the celebration of several feasts throughout the year, where the Vespers of the day are replaced by “First Vespers” of the next day.For example, the celebration of the Feast of Corpus Chrisit begins on the day before the actual feast.

Verbum

Thank you for your reply, Verbum. I always refrain from working on Sunday, due to it being the Lord’s day. But now I’m thinking that the obligation to refrain from work starts on Saturday night and goes until Sunday night. Is this correct?

 

[Flounder]

I think the important thing is to honor the Lord’s day PG. If you define it as midnight to midnight, waking to sleeping, or sunset to sunset I think you’re okay. The Church’s use of Vigils is not directive in this.

You’re doing the right thing; I would continue as you have…now if we start redefining when Sunday starts every week for our own convenience that would be bad.

 

[paramedicgirl]

Flounder:

I think the important thing is to honor the Lord’s day PG. If you define it as midnight to midnight, waking to sleeping, or sunset to sunset I think you’re okay. The Church’s use of Vigils is not directive in this.

You’re doing the right thing; I would continue as you have…now if we start redefining when Sunday starts every week for our own convenience that would be bad.

What does PG mean?
My dilemma is not whether it’s ok to go to Mass on Saturday or Sunday. It is whether or not I should continue in my habit of working Saturday night (6PM to 6AM). I have complete control over my availablitity for work, and wonder if working Saturday nights goes against our Sunday obligation to keep the day holy.

 

[BillyT92679]

The poster is just abbreviating your name.

 

[Verbum]

Hi Paramedic__,

The obligation to abstain from servile work only applies to the actual Sunday.

Verbum

 

[Feanaro_s_Wife]

Verbum:

Hi Paramedic__,

The obligation to abstain from servile work only applies to the actual Sunday.

Verbum

I think what she wants to know is if she should keep working this shift as it technically goes into sunday at 6am. So she is working on sunday if you define it as midnight to midnight.

Paramedic Girl, if you work until 6am, do you find you have sufficient time and energy to devote to our Lord? Or do you spend most of Sunday asleep because of your work schedule?

Malia

 

[Dr.Bombay]

If you have to work Sunday because of your job, then I don’t see anything wrong with it. Being a paramedic is a pretty awesome responsibility. No one’s likely to die if I take a day off, but doctors, paramedics, firefighters, police officers, etc…these people are pretty much needed 24/7/365.

If it’s really bothering you, take it to your parish priest. He should be able to give you guidance. :tiphat:

 

[paramedicgirl]

Verbum:

Hi Paramedic__,

The obligation to abstain from servile work only applies to the actual Sunday.

Verbum

Thanks so much, this is exactly what I needed to know. Where did you get that information?

 

[paramedicgirl]

Feanaro's Wife:

I think what she wants to know is if she should keep working this shift as it technically goes into sunday at 6am. So she is working on sunday if you define it as midnight to midnight.

Paramedic Girl, if you work until 6am, do you find you have sufficient time and energy to devote to our Lord? Or do you spend most of Sunday asleep because of your work schedule?

Malia

Thanks for your reply. I spend most of my time in between calls reading the bible or some good Catholic books, and I think I’m the only one who has ever prayed a rosary during a shift! I tend to get a little scrupulous at times, and worry about violating the work issue on Sunday. I’m leaning towards dropping the Saturday night shifts.

 

[CatholicCid]

Dr. Bombay:

If you have to work Sunday because of your job, then I don’t see anything wrong with it. Being a paramedic is a pretty awesome responsibility. No one’s likely to die if I take a day off, but doctors, paramedics, firefighters, police officers, etc…these people are pretty much needed 24/7/365.

If it’s really bothering you, take it to your parish priest. He should be able to give you guidance. :tiphat:

What he said basically…
Remember Matthew 12

1At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. 2When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, *"Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath." * 
3He answered, *"Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. 5Or haven't you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple desecrate the day and yet are innocent? 6I tell you that one[a] greater than the temple is here. 7If you had known what these words mean, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,'** you would not have condemned the innocent. 8For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."***

9Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, 10and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, they asked him, *"Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"*

11He said to them, *"If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? 12How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."*

13Then he said to the man, *"Stretch out your hand." * So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. 14But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.

(Emphasis added on speech)

Kinda seems to me, if you have no other option but to work (your boss won’t let you take off and you’ve tried to ect…) then it would be alright.
Or, as Dr. Bombay said, your doing good on the Sabbath… Others depend on you if you work then…

 

[thistle]

CCC 2180 states “On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass. The precept of participating in the Mass is satisfied by assistance at a Mass which is celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the holy day or on the evening of the preceding day”.