Shopping After Mass:What happened to reverence for the Sabbath?

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WhiteDove

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Oftentimes after church I’ll swing by the grocery store. I usually go to the Vigil Mass. I’ll always run into other people from church there. It was the same when I went to the Sunday Mass. Also, a lot of people will do other shopping after Mass, such as Costco or the Mall.

It seems as if Mass is just a small part of the day, and consumerism is a larger part. Basically, the whole meaning of the Sabbath as a day of rest dedicated to God, has been lost in our materialistic, fastpaced. 24/7 society.

What do you think? Shouldn’t we try harder to avoid shopping on the Sabbath?
 
as a rule, i hate shopping… but… my wife loves it… i personally see nothing wrong with doing something that gives you pleasure on Sunday… shopping can even be restful… so… no… i don’t think shopping is a taboo on Sunday… now, hard manual labor that’s not required… that’s a different horse of a different color… 👍
 
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WhiteDove:
Oftentimes after church I’ll swing by the grocery store. I usually go to the Vigil Mass. I’ll always run into other people from church there. It was the same when I went to the Sunday Mass. Also, a lot of people will do other shopping after Mass, such as Costco or the Mall.

It seems as if Mass is just a small part of the day, and consumerism is a larger part. Basically, the whole meaning of the Sabbath as a day of rest dedicated to God, has been lost in our materialistic, fastpaced. 24/7 society.

What do you think? Shouldn’t we try harder to avoid shopping on the Sabbath?
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Well first of all, the Sabbath is Saturday not Sunday, *The Lord’s Day, *Please refer to your Catechism, .2174

I used to think nothing of it, I used go to Mass on Sunday with the family and then go shopping, it was almost a set rule, Mass, Shopping, but after I started to live my life in the Faith, we as a family, try to not shop at all on Sunday’s. It is a day for family, worship, study and rest.

Good Post!

Joao
 
Shopping is relaxing to me, almost as a form of recreation. As far as sunday work, some people have to work on sunday as part of their job. I was always taught to refrain from UNnecessary work on sunday.
 
I have to say that I agree with davy39…shopping could definitely be considered “rest” as far as I’m concerned. Plus, I work around 50 hours a week during the summer (though not on Sundays), so Sundays are really the only day I have to get the miscellaneous stuff done.

Never in place of time with the Lord, though.
 
I try to avoid shopping on Sundays, not because shopping is “work” or bad on Sundays, but because my shopping on Sunday causes other people to have to work on Sunday.

I think that many, if not most, people who have to work on Sunday would prefer not to work, but have a weekend. I don’t think that they get a particular pleasure out of working.

I’m too young to remember when everything was closed on Sundays, but old enough to remember that most places used to be closed, or have short hours on Sundays. I think only gas stations and grocery stores where open. Wouldn’t it be nice to have this again in America? You would have to plan better, but people did that before. If businesses didn’t make money on Sunday, they would be closed on Sundays.

TANGENT → What about holidays? The 4th of July is coming up tomorrow. How many people will have to work because I need to buy something last minute?

BACK to Thread …

Or maybe it’s not a tanget, because this 4th of July IS a Sunday! Imagine that. How about everyone doing all their shopping today instead of tomorrow?
 
Hi again,

Some people are saying, well shopping is relaxing, it’s recreation. I’m not sure if that’s a good reason, because just because something is pleasurable doesn’t mean that we should indulge in it. I really question the whole concept of shopping as recreation anyways, no offense. That seems worldly and materialistic. Also, because of our shopping habits, we contribute the the general societal problem of people having to work on Sunday.

Yes, some people have to work on Sunday, mostly because of our consumeristic lifestyle and general lack of respect for God’s day. (I didn’t realize that Sunday wasn’t considered the Sabbath, BTW) Of course, in my job as a nurse, there is no way that a hospital can close on Sunday, it is truely unavoidable, but with a little planning and restraint, shopping could be done of another day.
 
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WhiteDove:
Hi again,

Some people are saying, well shopping is relaxing, it’s recreation. I’m not sure if that’s a good reason, because just because something is pleasurable doesn’t mean that we should indulge in it. I really question the whole concept of shopping as recreation anyways, no offense. That seems worldly and materialistic. Also, because of our shopping habits, we contribute the the general societal problem of people having to work on Sunday.

Yes, some people have to work on Sunday, mostly because of our consumeristic lifestyle and general lack of respect for God’s day. (I didn’t realize that Sunday wasn’t considered the Sabbath, BTW) Of course, in my job as a nurse, there is no way that a hospital can close on Sunday, it is truely unavoidable, but with a little planning and restraint, shopping could be done of another day.
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Gee, that’s news to me. I thought the church taught Sunday was the sabbath. Maybe I’ve been wrong all these years, but I doubt it.
 
Whether or not it is relaxing or ardor for you, by shopping on Sunday, you are contributing to employers requiring employees to sacrifice their sabbath.
That said, I once heard on a homily on this subject, which basically said that the obligation to remember the Sabbath means we take one day of the week to rest and honor God. One could do so on a Saturday or any other day, mindful of holy obligation. But this is not just an obligation, it is a privelege, a gift, from our Father who instituted it by His example.
 
Being homebound, I get out to Sunday mass very seldomly, and if I have the energy will do necessary shopping afterwards (as this is healthier than making another trip out as it requires less total activity and exertions.)

Some people do not have the luxury on being able to shop on other days of the week.

My preference is not to shop on Sunday, but often there is little choice.
 
Here’s something pertinent…

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

It’s rather vague, but I read into this that one should not make a habit out of something, such as shopping, that at times may be a neccessity.
 
to Catholic Geek… :amen:

I remember when everything was closed due to the ‘Blue Laws’ (Just wonder why they were Blue?)
Anyway, I make it a personal decision NOT to shop or WORK on Sunday. After I lost my job a year ago, I went around the corner to see whether a new store here needed my services. I was told that Sunday was the BUSIEST day. I told them "I don’t work Sundays.’ Of course, I didn’t get the job. There are times when one has to stand up for what he/she believes. As far as I am concerned, things are going well for me.

Everyone have a Happy Independence Day and a Sunday!

Go with God!
Edwin
P.S. Why donh’t you hear the term 'Independence Day" anymore?
 
For some people, Sunday is the only day they can get grocery shopping in as they may spend the rest of the week, Sat. included, working and volunteering for numerous jobs withing their parish. I know that if I didn’t volunteer my time in my parish I would have the time to shop on other days of the week.
 
I am thinking about starting a new religion around shopping always being sinful. If I can convert my wife, I’ll start it up!
 
I don’t know how many of you remember when there was nothing open on Sundays except necessary places like a gas station.

I was just thinking of how my parents generation debated this like we are debating abortion in our day. The Catholics of that day thought it was very wrong. I will never forget how, once the stores openend our lives changed a little. When we got jobs, then some of us had to work on Sunday.

Some states held out longer than others, and then we would think- “Do they really think they can stop progress?” I was just a kid but I remember the WW II generation really having many mixed emotions about it. Catholics as a rule were against it.

Now I wonder what my kids will say about these times. What will they remember that has drastically changed how we live?
 
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Fitz:
I don’t know how many of you remember when there was nothing open on Sundays except necessary places like a gas station.
QUOTE]

Here in Holland all stores are still closed on Sunday. And I really like it that way. I have no need at all to go shopping on Sunday. Every other Sunday I already have to work in the nursinghome (as a caregiver). So I really appreciate my time at home with my son after that or on free Sunday´s when I can go to mass.

Emmy
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I remember when letting stores be open on Sunday was on the ballot. It was worded that no one would be forced to work on a Sunday. My mother called our local paper to complain about how it was worded on the ballot. She told them that her husband works in retail and he’ll be forced to work on Sunday or be fired. The guy from the newspaper told her that my dad wasn’t being forced to work on Sunday because he had the option to quit his job.
 
I have really mixed emotions on this subject. I have just begun to follow my faith more closely. It is sometimes a little overwhelming to discover there is so much you didn’t know, didn’t do, or chose to ignore. My family enjoys attending mass together at 8am on Sunday and then adjourning to a local store to more or less hang out and window shop as well as buy a few necessities. I never considered that this may be sinful. We have had periods of consumerism (overspending) at the store. This happens less often since our family is growing in our faith. I know if I bring this up to them, I will encounter resistance. I do agree that it contributes to others having to work. I do remember a time when stores were closed and it was a slower paced, sometimes longed for time.

Princz23
mother of Rachel, Daniel, Isaac and John
 
More from the CCC

Paragraph 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. 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

Paragraph 2186 concludes with “…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.”

Paragraph 2187 - already partially quoted in this thread, goes on to say …“Traditional activites (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.”

I think that if we can possibly arrange our lives to include shopping in our non-Sunday portion of the week, and if possible move our volunteer work to Sunday, we might be in closer alignment with the teachings of the Church. I’ve had questions on this subject myself as I’ve tried to bring my life closer into alignment with God’s will.

I wish we’d had the CCC sooner. Great resource!

CARose
 
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