Sunday work

[Monica4316]

I’m wondering about work that is allowed or not allowed on Sunday. Is writing allowed? What if it’s writing for publication, but it’s on a spiritual topic and you don’t plan to keep the proceeds? Does the Church say anything on this?

thanks

 

[Oneofthewomen]

From the Catechism~

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

I really don’t think there is a list of what you can/cannot do, this is one of the places where the Church leaves us to follow our own judgement.

 

[Veronica97]

If you are writing about something spiritual for publication, it seems to me that would be considered evangelization, which is a GOOD thing. We are supposed to contemplate spiritual things on Sunday. I would make sure that whatever you’re writing, though, is in line with Church teaching.

 

[pnewton]

If it is a spiritual work, then I would note that priests, and others involved in liturgy, work on Sunday, sometimes quite hard. There is no work of mercy that should be disallowed on Sunday. If we stayed away from unnecessary toil, then that would honor the Sabbath, but how we define unnecesary toil is something the Church lets us do.

 

[POJIUJH]

If what you’re righting is kosher it could possibly come under an act of mercy. If it isn’t, make it that way

Providing it isn’t breaking the laws outlined by the Church: (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) you should be fine. I’m perhaps not the best one to judge these as I haven’t ever written. It is always good to mention though, not to drag anyone down but only to be realistic with human nature: the line we understand is always much closer than we think it is, so judge it sensibly yet seriously. You are wise enough and take it seriously enough to ask the question already, which is a testament of you. Judge accordingly.

Pax!

 

[Marocchino]

St. Alphonsus Liguori, the great moral theologian, provides some guidelines about Sunday work that any Catholic may safely follow. Try a Google search.

 

[Linusthe2nd]

I’m wondering about work that is allowed or not allowed on Sunday. Is writing allowed? What if it’s writing for publication, but it’s on a spiritual topic and you don’t plan to keep the proceeds? Does the Church say anything on this?

thanks

Someone below ( or above ) suggested reading St. Alfonsus, I think that would be a good idea.

A great topic though. We in the West have certainly strayed far from the ideal. When I was a kid you couldn’t find anything open on Sunday.

And I really question the Sunday Games - baseball, football, etc. We are talking about events which require tens of thousands of people to work, not just the players. I don’t see how even spending four hours of your Sunday viewing such events can be justified, it not only contributes to causing the people above to work, it seems the kind of thing which is uniquely designed to distract us from thinking about God.

Giving honor to God on Sunday cannot really be satisfied simply by spending one hour at Mass. The whole day should be designed to help us center our lives on God and examining our lives and redirecting it to him. How can we do this by spending so much time on sporting events or any other purely entertainment activity? And if we attend these events we can add at least two more hours away from God. Not good.

I think the rise of professional sports in the last 50 years has helped to lead to our spiritual decline.

This past year our Archdiocease has abolished high school and grade school sports on Sundays for this very reaso and I think that is a very good thing.

Yes, and what about those big Sunday dinners that Mom and Grandmom makes?
Perhaps we could just have snaks on Sunday, perhaps prepared on Saturday. Mom and Grandmom deserve Sundays off too.

Yes, we have a long way to go before we can say we are giving due honor to God by the way we spend Sundays.

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

Someone below ( or above ) suggested reading St. Alfonsus, I think that would be a good idea.

A great topic though. We in the West have certainly strayed far from the ideal. When I was a kid you couldn’t find anything open on Sunday.

And I really question the Sunday Games - baseball, football, etc. We are talking about events which require tens of thousands of people to work, not just the players. I don’t see how even spending four hours of your Sunday viewing such events can be justified, it not only contributes to causing the people above to work, it seems the kind of thing which is uniquely designed to distract us from thinking about God.

Giving honor to God on Sunday cannot really be satisfied simply by spending one hour at Mass. The whole day should be designed to help us center our lives on God and examining our lives and redirecting it to him. How can we do this by spending so much time on sporting events or any other purely entertainment activity? And if we attend these events we can add at least two more hours away from God. Not good.

I think the rise of professional sports in the last 50 years has helped to lead to our spiritual decline.

This past year our Archdiocease has abolished high school and grade school sports on Sundays for this very reaso and I think that is a very good thing.

Yes, and what about those big Sunday dinners that Mom and Grandmom makes?
Perhaps we could just have snaks on Sunday, perhaps prepared on Saturday. Mom and Grandmom deserve Sundays off too.

Yes, we have a long way to go before we can say we are giving due honor to God by the way we spend Sundays.

Your thought that perhaps even meal preparation on Sunday is inappropriate seems to move the Catholic understanding of “Sunday rest” close to the Orthodox and Ultra-Orthodox Jewish mindset that even turning a light on, or lighting a stove, on the Sabbath is a violation. I don’t think the Church is even close to teaching that preparing meals at home is against the Sunday rest precept.

 

[LightBound]

Your thought that perhaps even meal preparation on Sunday is inappropriate seems to move the Catholic understanding of “Sunday rest” close to the Orthodox and Ultra-Orthodox Jewish mindset that even turning a light on, or lighting a stove, on the Sabbath is a violation. I don’t think the Church is even close to teaching that preparing meals at home is against the Sunday rest precept.

Linus and I don’t usually agree, but I saw his comment as a nice way of saying that moms and Grandmas shouldn’t have to be working all day in the kitchen on a Sunday just to keep up with a “Sunday dinner” tradition. Instead, how about taking it easy on “housewife” duty (since a mom’s work is never done) and have easy to fix food, and spending the time after Mass with the family instead of waiting on them hand and foot , which is what usually happens if they are expected to fix the big Sunday dinners.

 

[pnewton]

Linus and I don’t usually agree, but I saw his comment as a nice way of saying that moms and Grandmas shouldn’t have to be working all day in the kitchen on a Sunday just to keep up with a “Sunday dinner” tradition. Instead, how about taking it easy on “housewife” duty (since a mom’s work is never done) and have easy to fix food, and spending the time after Mass with the family instead of waiting on them hand and foot.

Yet Sunday is also a day of feasting, a celebration. I ususally plan on meals that I can make, as cooking for me is fun and not labor. This weekend was a special celebration at our house. I grilled steak, shrimp and vegetables and let my wife take a break.

 

[LightBound]

Yet Sunday is also a day of feasting, a celebration. I ususally plan on meals that I can make, as cooking for me is fun and not labor. This weekend was a special celebration at our house. I grilled steak, shrimp and vegetables and let my wife take a break.

That’s a good thing! I was commenting more for those who believe it’s solely a woman’s job to provide all the meals. no matter what, and especially a big old fashioned dinner every Sunday after Mass and forget about her resting and enjoying the Lord’s Day. Those beliefs are prevalent on some quasi-Catholic forums, but occasionally make an appearance on CAF.

 

[wondrousgnat]

My father was a firefighter. Naturally working on Sunday was a necessity for him and the community.

For years I worked on many Sundays as well as five different Christmas days. It was either that or not have a job and I was not in a position to be choosey about my employment.

 

[pnewton]

My father was a firefighter. Naturally working on Sunday was a necessity for him and the community.

For years I worked on many Sundays as well as five different Christmas days. It was either that or not have a job and I was not in a position to be choosey about my employment.

I have worked many a Christmas, including last year, and every other Sunday. Some jobs demand this. The Catechism is quite clear that this is acceptable, and even an acceptable reason for missing Mass.