Sunday Obligation and Rest

[JSSebastianoP]

I recently joined a group as a tour guid through a museum-like exhibit in NYC. I would be expected to give tours on every Saturday or Sunday afternoon. I had planned to go on Saturdays, but something recently came up on Saturday afternoons which complicate my schedule. My question is, as long as I fulfill my Sunday obligation to go to mass, am I still committing a sin by doing said tours?
It might technichally be possible to perform the tour on a weekday, but that would be difficult: I’m still a high school student and I live in the suburbs of NYC, so I have to commute. So, to do a tour on a school night is troublesome (especially since my parents don’t want me walking around the city at night). I had already committed to the program before I was offered a part time job Saturday afternoons and was urged to take that. Now I’m committed to that. So I don’t know what to do…

Please help!

Pax.

 

[Cristiano]

I recently joined a group as a tour guid through a museum-like exhibit in NYC. I would be expected to give tours on every Saturday or Sunday afternoon. I had planned to go on Saturdays, but something recently came up on Saturday afternoons which complicate my schedule. My question is, as long as I fulfill my Sunday obligation to go to mass, am I still committing a sin by doing said tours?
It might technichally be possible to perform the tour on a weekday, but that would be difficult: I’m still a high school student and I live in the suburbs of NYC, so I have to commute. So, to do a tour on a school night is troublesome (especially since my parents don’t want me walking around the city at night). I had already committed to the program before I was offered a part time job Saturday afternoons and was urged to take that. Now I’m committed to that. So I don’t know what to do…

Please help!

Pax.

Are you being a tour guide for the fun of it? If yes, then the answer is obvious. In addition to that I do not think that being a tour guide is a servile job.

 

[LilyM]

Three questions -

a) is this tourguiding paid work or voluntary? We are to refrain from servile (paid and/or manual or physical) labour.

b) if it’s paid, is the money essential (can’t pay bills or put food on the table without it?) - we are to refrain from unnecessary labour.

c) how many hours work is involved?

 

[LilyM]

Are you being a tour guide for the fun of it? If yes, then the answer is obvious. In addition to that I do not think that being a tour guide is a servile job.

So someone who unnecessarily spends 8 or 10 hours on a Sunday at their office doing their work as a lawyer or accountant or what have you, is fine and dandy? Of course not. What they are doing is equally contrary to the letter and spirit of observing the LORD’s day - which is meant to be spent in rest, prayer, time with family and friends.

We are to refrain from ANY unnecessary paid work, and ALSO unnecessary UNpaid work if it’s servile in nature.

 

[ack]

So someone who unnecessarily spends 8 or 10 hours on a Sunday at their office doing their work as a lawyer or accountant or what have you, is fine and dandy? Of course not. What they are doing is equally contrary to the letter and spirit of observing the LORD’s day - which is meant to be spent in rest, prayer, time with family and friends.

We are to refrain from ANY unnecessary paid work, and ALSO unnecessary UNpaid work if it’s servile in nature.

Where are you quoting this interpretation of the Third Commandment from?

Here’s what the Catechism says:

CCC 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.

This section of the Catechism doesn’t have the word “servile” anywhere in it, nor does it make a distinction between paid and unpaid work. In addition, it makes an exception for “traditional activities” such as sports and restaurants, and museums seem to fall into this category nicely. For this reason, I would say that there’s no problem with the OP working as a tour guide on that day, if it does not hinder his ability to attend Mass.

The Code of Canon Law only says this:

Can. 1247 On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are obliged to participate in the Mass.
Moreover, they are to abstain from those works and aVairs which hinder the worship to be rendered to God, the joy proper to the Lord’s day, or the suitable relaxation of mind and body.

What is the source of the interpretation of the Third Commandment that you are quoting from?

 

[JSSebastianoP]

Three questions -

a) is this tourguiding paid work or voluntary? We are to refrain from servile (paid and/or manual or physical) labour.

It’s “voluntary” officially. However, with that noted, it is something my headmaster expected me to do, and I will enjoy it but I’m not doing it solely “for the sake of it”…, to answer Christaino’s question. It’s also something my parents expect me to do - they’re not very religious… I try not to talk about religion too much in the house 'cause I don’t want to get into an argument with my mother…

c) how many hours work is involved?

It’s about one hour plus an hour and a half commuting.

I’m wondering if it’s okay to back out since I’ve already committed to it…

And what is “servile” labour

Thank you so very much for answering my questions.

 

[JesusILove]

I don’t think it’s against God’s law to do what you are doing on Sunday, as long as you attend Church. If it’s volunteer work, and being of service to the community, that is a good deed. Jesus said in Scripture that it is not ok to refrain from doing good on the Sabbath. Even he worked on the Sabbath by performing miracles. The hypocrites, the Pharisees, were very upset with that.

I hope this helps.

Yours in the hearts of Jesus and Mary.

 

[Booter]

I say go do your job and don’t worry about it, just make time to go to Mass.
It’s one hour for crying out loud!
I’m begining to think that some of these forums are scruples anonymous

 

[JSSebastianoP]

I don’t think it’s against God’s law to do what you are doing on Sunday, as long as you attend Church. If it’s volunteer work, and being of service to the community, that is a good deed. Jesus said in Scripture that it is not ok to refrain from doing good on the Sabbath. Even he worked on the Sabbath by performing miracles. The hypocrites, the Pharisees, were very upset with that.

I hope this helps.

Yours in the hearts of Jesus and Mary.

I love that passage! (We did it in Greek class).

But I’m not sure if this qualifies as “service to the community”.
You see, I’d be volunteering at The Japan Society. Basically, anyone who comes in to the exhibit during certain hours can get a free guided tour (provided he paid admission). So, I’m really helping a for-profit organization so I’m still not quite sure…

But of course I’ll always make sure to fulfill my obligation to the LORD.

Pax.

 

[Langdell]

I love that passage! (We did it in Greek class).

But I’m not sure if this qualifies as “service to the community”.
You see, I’d be volunteering at The Japan Society. Basically, anyone who comes in to the exhibit during certain hours can get a free guided tour (provided he paid admission). So, I’m really helping a for-profit organization so I’m still not quite sure…

But of course I’ll always make sure to fulfill my obligation to the LORD.

Pax.

According to the website, The Japan Society is a non-profit organization. IThe fact that it charges admission doesn’t mean it’s for-profit.) It sounds like you would be doing good work, helping to spread cultural understanding and making it possible for all people to learn more while attending the exhibit.

.

 

[JSSebastianoP]

According to the website, The Japan Society is a non-profit organization. IThe fact that it charges admission doesn’t mean it’s for-profit.) It sounds like you would be doing good work, helping to spread cultural understanding and making it possible for all people to learn more while attending the exhibit.

.

It IS???
Wow, so I guess it’s okay… Thanks for pointing that out… I never would have guessed. In fact, I guessed the opposite.

Pax.

 

[LilyM]

Where are you quoting this interpretation of the Third Commandment from?

Here’s what the Catechism says:

This section of the Catechism doesn’t have the word “servile” anywhere in it, nor does it make a distinction between paid and unpaid work. In addition, it makes an exception for “traditional activities” such as sports and restaurants, and museums seem to fall into this category nicely. For this reason, I would say that there’s no problem with the OP working as a tour guide on that day, if it does not hinder his ability to attend Mass.

The Code of Canon Law only says this:

What is the source of the interpretation of the Third Commandment that you are quoting from?

It’s there in the following paragraph of the Catechism:

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.

It is no part of ‘sufficient time for leisure’ and ‘time intended for rest and divine worship’ to spend eight hours doing unnecessary paid work!

Paid work cannot possibly fit in under any definition of leisure (as sport and other recreational activities are), rest (as sport and other recreational activities can be) nor divine worship!

Further, the obligation extends to seeing to it, where possible, that we avoid making unnecessary demands on OTHERS to work on Sundays - of course we then must do the same for ourselves.

 

[dashso40]

I think being a tour guide for a museum is a great learning experience and you are teaching other people…which is a service…I work on Sundays all the time…I’m a nurse…I say good for you…go for it…as long as you go to Mass…

 

[LilyM]

It’s “voluntary” officially. However, with that noted, it is something my headmaster expected me to do, and I will enjoy it but I’m not doing it solely “for the sake of it”…, to answer Christaino’s question. It’s also something my parents expect me to do - they’re not very religious… I try not to talk about religion too much in the house 'cause I don’t want to get into an argument with my mother…

It’s about one hour plus an hour and a half commuting.

I’m wondering if it’s okay to back out since I’ve already committed to it…

And what is “servile” labour

Thank you so very much for answering my questions.

Doing that amount of unpaid work on a Sunday is absolutely fine.

As for ‘servile’ labour - well, we seem to be arguing out the definition of that

I would say it includes both heavy (or heavy-ish) physical labour and paid work of any description - the other poster is trying to disagree and say that paid work that isn’t physical in nature is fine.

I don’t see the distinction. Thanks be to God, I am frequently able to attend daily Mass during the week as well as working. Now if I also worked - at any paid job - on Sundays as well what would be the difference between that and any other day when I attend Mass? In what sense would I then be ‘setting apart’ or sanctifying Sunday?

 

[dashso40]

Doing that amount of unpaid work on a Sunday is absolutely fine.

As for ‘servile’ labour - well, we seem to be arguing out the definition of that

I would say it includes both heavy (or heavy-ish) physical labour and paid work of any description - the other poster is trying to disagree and say that paid work that isn’t physical in nature is fine.

I don’t see the distinction. Thanks be to God, I am frequently able to attend daily Mass during the week as well as working. Now if I also worked - at any paid job - on Sundays as well what would be the difference between that and any other day when I attend Mass? In what sense would I then be ‘setting apart’ or sanctifying Sunday?

I’ve read right here on this site that work like nurse, doctor, police and firemen are serving mankind so it’s ok to work on Sunday…I actually have no choice…hospitals don’t close on Sundays……But I always go to Mass

 

[LilyM]

I’ve read right here on this site that work like nurse, doctor, police and firemen are serving mankind so it’s ok to work on Sunday…I actually have no choice…hospitals don’t close on Sundays……But I always go to Mass

Of course emergency services personnel are fine to work on Sundays - every reference is clearly about UNnecessary work, which is the only kind forbidden on Sundays.

Another point- yes, some people do work in restaurants, sporting venues and entertainment venues on Sundays. Not to mention some shops. But think about it - those kinds of jobs go to people who need the work anyway - students who can’t work during the week, mothers who look after children during the week, people whose other jobs don’t earn enough to pay the bills or who simply can’t find other work, and so on.

What IS contrary to the spirit of the Lord’s day is to work eight hours on that day simply to stave off boredom, or simply to pay off your third car or the wing you’re adding to your house for the cat to live in, or for similar unGodly reasons.

That, of course, excludes work that consists of the works of mercy which Our Lord enjoins on us - ie if you’re working in a soup kitchen or homeless shelter or what have you. So I’d say even some types of voluntary or unpaid work might well be inappropriate for Sundays if it’s a full work day. That last sentence is my own opinion, of course.

 

[dashso40]

Of course emergency services personnel are fine to work on Sundays - every reference is clearly about UNnecessary work, which is the only kind forbidden on Sundays.

Another point- yes, some people do work in restaurants, sporting venues and entertainment venues on Sundays. Not to mention some shops. But think about it - those kinds of jobs go to people who need the work anyway - students who can’t work during the week, mothers who look after children during the week, people whose other jobs don’t earn enough to pay the bills or who simply can’t find other work, and so on.

What IS contrary to the spirit of the Lord’s day is to work eight hours on that day simply to stave off boredom, or simply to pay off your third car or the wing you’re adding to your house for the cat to live in, or for similar unGodly reasons.

That, of course, excludes work that consists of the works of mercy which Our Lord enjoins on us - ie if you’re working in a soup kitchen or homeless shelter or what have you. So I’d say even some types of voluntary or unpaid work might well be inappropriate for Sundays if it’s a full work day. That last sentence is my own opinion, of course.

I see what you mean…good point