Shopping on Sundays....

[Athanasius]

Anyways, do they go shopping because of the money you give them, or would they go anyways even if you didn’t give them money?

They would go anyway, but they wouldn’t buy as much…

Anyway, thank-you for your reply. That is very helpful! Though I am confused a little: what does this quote from the Catechism refer to then?

Every Christian should avoid making unnecessary demands on others that would hinder them from observing the Lord’s Day

It would appear shopping unnecessarily would fall under that category, since it requires others to work…but then again, so would going to a restaraunt, which the Catechism does state is allowed. So that is confusing me.

Also, there is another thing still bothering me… apparently the bishop of Phoenix has said we shouldn’t shop on Sundays…

Phoenix Bishop says “No Sunday Shopping”

Is what the bishop stated simply a very strong recommendation not to shop? Or is he implying that it was obligatory not to? (It was this news story that started bringing up all these questions concerning Sunday shopping for me). If I can understand what he was meaning, then I think I’ll be all right.

Certainly, on a personal level I plan on following his advice. But as I can’t control what my parents do, I was just wishing to make sure that I can still give my parents money even if they don’t need it (it would just be helpful), and they would spend it on Sundays unnecessarily.

From what you quoted from the Catechism, it would seem that it would be all right for me to give my parents the money. After all, if you can go to a resteraunt on Sunday, as the Catechism states, then certainly grocery shopping or getting gas would seem to be acceptable (but then I’m confused as to what that quote from the Catechism I quoted above is referring to). But then I’m confused as to the bishop’s meaning…unless it was simply a strong recommendation, in order to stress the importance of Sunday , but not an absolute obligation.

If that is the case, then my questions will be cleared up, and it would appear that I could give my parents the money, even though they would spend it on Sunday unnecessarily (especially since I can’t control when they spend it)…

 

[Forest-Pine]

You might find this thread of interest as well: What do you give up on Sundays?

 

[Madia]

It would appear shopping unnecessarily would fall under that category, since it requires others to work…but then again, so would going to a restaraunt, which the Catechism does state is allowed. So that is confusing me.

I’ve thought about Sunday shopping today so maybe my insights will help you.

From #2184 and #2186 of the Catechism:

The institution of the Lord’s Day helps everyone enjoy adequate rest and leisure to cultivate their familial, cultural, social, and religious lives.

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.

scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c1a3.htm

It seems that work on Sunday should help foster the family. For example, eating out at a restaraunt would allow the family to spend some time together and relax. The person working could be doing a work of mercy since they are helping families spend time together and relax. Ideally, that person working would be someone in need of extra money so the work being done on Sunday would benefit both the families eating and the employees working. By working the employees are helping foster families and by eating out (and hopefully leaving a charitable tip) the families would be helping out the employees who are in need of some extra money for legitimate expenses.

The difference with shopping could be that it divides the family rather than unites. For example, a family could go to the mall and everyone goes their seperate ways until meeting somewhere at a designated time. Also, it could put the focus on commercialism rather than family and God.

So it seems like people working Sunday in traditional activities (such as sporting events, restaraunts,etc.) that foster families and social neccesities (gas stations, hotels, police and firemen, grocery store, etc.) would be okay as long as there is sufficient leisure time for those employees.

Now, as for your original question it might be nice for all of you to spend some time together on Sunday. However, it also might be an act of charity on your part to let your parents spend some time alone during the day. That way they get some personal time together and you get to spend time with your nieces. Later in the day you can possibly get together for a family dinner. While your parents would probably be better off spending their time together not shopping, there’s probably not much you can do about it.

 

[Athanasius]

Thank-you for your answer!

So, I guess it is OK to give my parents the money then, right?

 

[Julian_Peters]

This discussion has strayed from its original topic of whether shopping on Sunday is immoral. Please return to the original topic under discussion and feel free to start another thread to discuss other topics.

 

[cheeto1]

I do not believe in shopping on Sundays…or working.

Jesus gave some examples that taught us how not to
“go crazy” with this idea. His main examples were that
we have to feed ourselves and healing people is a 7 day
a week job, so hospitals will have to stay open. The police
and fire are also necessary 7 days a week. The way I do it is to ask myself, “Is this really necessary right now today?” Yes, we have to feed ourselves, but just because we have money in our pocket doesn’t give us the right to force others to work on Sunday.
Do you really have to go to that restaurant, or can you
feed yourself? Do you really need to buy that item right
now today? Must you stay at a hotel on Sunday?
Once on a Sunday when I bought oil for my car because
it was really necessary right now today, I thought how it
would be if the gas station was closed on Sunday and I
couldn’t get the oil I needed for the car. If they were always
closed on Sunday and everyone knew, then it wouldn’t at
all be embarrassing to ask a neighbor for a quart of oil for
the car. More neighbors might help each other in this way
since everyone would know that everything’s closed.

An interesting thing happens when you begin
to observe Sundays as a day of rest, because you
must think and plan for Sunday before it comes. You must
finish your work ahead of time, and buy everything you need.
Because of this mindful preparation, you are forced to think
of God and actively honoring Him.

You must decide for yourself exactly how you will honor the
Lord on His day, there is much disagreement on this. I am
one who chooses not to work or buy things. Visiting, having company, and going for a drive or to a park are good Sunday things to do, along with spiritual reading and prayer. Playing games or puzzles is another good one.

You have brought up a few things I never thought of like T.V. and radio. Is it true that if no one watched or listened on Sunday then those people would have the day off? I don’t really think so. What about the telephone or the internet? I’ll think and pray about all these things. What about the laypeople working to bring us mass on Sunday? The priest used to do all those readings and communion distribution and now people are separated from their families during mass when they could otherwise be together. I wondered if I should donate to the donuts at church since they might be bought on Sunday but found out they were bought on Saturday so I thought it would be O.K.

Whatever we do, let us do it for the Lord.