To what extent must a Holy Day of Obligation be treated like a Sunday?

[HomeschoolDad]

What, precisely, are we expected to do (or not do) on Holy Days of Obligation, beyond assisting devoutly at Holy Mass?

I realize that, traditionally, HDOs are supposed to be treated exactly like Sundays — no servile work, no manual labor, no unnecessary business or commerce. (It’s a bit more nuanced than that, but you get the idea. We all know the basic rules concerning Sundays.) But unfortunately, we do not live in a Catholic society where everything shuts down. This is not Germany — where, believe you me, everything shuts down tighter than a wedge, as I learned once on Ascension Thursday (Himmelfahrt), and they are at best a quasi-Catholic society.

So what about here in the US and Canada? Most of us have to work on HDOs, unless it is a day everyone is off anyway, such as Christmas or the Solemnity of Mary (which just happens to be New Year’s Day — no, we do not go to Mass because it’s NYD, it’s just a coincidence). Does the Church have any requirements about requesting the day off, if that is possible for you? Are we to abstain from unnecessary work and commerce, just as we would on a Sunday? Or does the Church consider that we live in a society that does not regard HDOs, and only oblige us to go to Mass, nothing more?

Someone help me out (preferably a priest or layperson schooled in canon law) — I’ve got two big bookshelves I’d like to install tomorrow, but I won’t do it if I’m not supposed to. Thanks in advance!

 

[TheLittleLady]

no servile work, no manual labor, no unnecessary business or commerce.

These restrictions are far beyond what is taught by Holy Mother Church:

CCC

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.

 

[1ke]

Does the Church have any requirements about requesting the day off, if that is possible for you?

No. You aren’t required to take off work if it’s a normal work day.

Are we to abstain from unnecessary work and commerce, just as we would on a Sunday?

If you can.

Someone help me out (preferably a priest or layperson schooled in canon law) — I’ve got two big bookshelves I’d like to install tomorrow, but I won’t do it if I’m not supposed to. Thanks in advance!

Don’t be scrupulous. You aren’t going to find an answer in canon law to what you can and can’t do on holy days and Sundays.

Something like a family project of home improvement may be relaxing and fun for one person and a chore and undesirable task for another. If it hinders your worship of God or puts you in a bad frame of mind or bad mood— don’t do it. If you truly enjoy it and find it to be a creative, fun task— go for it and enjoy your holiday.

As for me and my house, we will be watching bowl games (that’s a paraphrase of Joshua… )

 

[HomeschoolDad]

Don’t be scrupulous. You aren’t going to find an answer in canon law to what you can and can’t do on holy days and Sundays.

Something like a family project of home improvement may be relaxing and fun for one person and a chore and undesirable task for another. If it hinders your worship of God or puts you in a bad frame of mind or bad mood— don’t do it. If you truly enjoy it and find it to be a creative, fun task— go for it and enjoy your holiday.

I do not get scrupulous about this kind of thing. You might not know it from reading my posts, but I actually believe in a God Who understands the human condition (after all, He shared in it!) and is not looking to whip the tar out of us if we “get it wrong” about things such as this. His commandments and teachings about things that are “black and white”, that’s another story, but whether assembling bookshelves is “fun work” or “work work” does, as you point out, depend upon the person.

Seeing as I have been putting off the task forever, and do not particularly relish it, I think I’ll either try to do it tonight, or postpone it until the long weekend. Bring on the bowl games!

These restrictions are far beyond what is taught by Holy Mother Church:

CCC

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.

Interesting perspective. Personally, I always found studying (as in high school or college) to be tedious and laborious, yet according to the strict letter of the law, it is “liberal work” and not “servile work”. I was always a reluctant student who would have preferred to be out doing other things. So for me, that would definitely suck the life out of the Lord’s Day. OPMMV*

• “other people’s mileage may vary”

 

[OurLadyofSorrows]

I will add these should be treated as feast days, joyful sharing days. Share that chocolate cake, eat a luxury food, in good company, for example, as many religious do on feast days.

 

[HomeschoolDad]

I will add these should be treated as feast days, joyful sharing days. Share that chocolate cake, eat a luxury food, in good company, for example, as many religious do on feast days.

I have some New York strip steaks I got on sale, and I am going to bake them in a cast iron skillet in the oven. They turn out exquisitely tender and flavorful, and I have property and other limitations that make grilling out somewhat difficult. I have my doubts about lighter fluid not being healthy anyway.

 

[TomH1]

What, precisely, are we expected to do (or not do) on Holy Days of Obligation, beyond assisting devoutly at Holy Mass?

The same as Sunday, which is a holy day of obligation. The correct name for what you call HDOs is solemnity of precept.

That means the main thing is to fulfil your obligation to go to Mass.

Going to work does not contravene observance of the day. Many forms of work are necessary on these days, e.g. doctors, nurses, paramedics, police, firefighters, et al. Many are not but in the West we live in a commercialised world and have the day of rest that was once Sunday is no longer respected. So, if your employer requires you to work on a Sunday or HDO you must work.

As for putting up shelves I would find any excuse and can assure that it is strictly forbidden to put them up on any day the Sun rises.

I don’t know where you went in Germany but I would certainly not class it as a quasi-Catholic society. It is mostly more of a Lutheran-Christian society. I could guess you went to Bavaria which is quite Catholic and the state from which Pope Benedict hails.

 

[Diaconia]

Most important is to get to Mass. Other than that, remember to enjoy a Sabbath-type rest. Spend time with family, enjoy special foods, etc.

If the book shelves will bring you enjoyment and satisfaction, go ahead. If they will illicit cursing and lamentation, save that for another day.

Happy feast day,
Deacon Christopher

 

[HomeschoolDad]

I don’t know where you went in Germany but I would certainly not class it as a quasi-Catholic society. It is mostly more of a Lutheran-Christian society. I could guess you went to Bavaria which is quite Catholic and the state from which Pope Benedict hails.

I was in Aachen (Nordrhein-Westfalen) which is heavily Catholic, the medieval city of Charlemagne, his relics are entombed at the cathedral (Aachener Dom). Both Catholics and Lutherans observe Ascension Thursday (Himmelfahrt). The only businesses that were open, were touristy gift shops, some restaurants, and the mini-mart at the train station — that was where I had to get my groceries. Hoteliers get mildly irked at the idea of a guest bringing their own food, they make up the relatively cheap room rates by having the expectation that guests will dine in the hotel restaurant. When I travel in Europe and get settled into my hotel room, I then head to the nearest grocery store and get things such as sandwich fixings (bread, meat, and cheese), yogurt, beer, and mineral water. Saves me a ton of money and allows me to travel very cheaply. They’re not expecting Americans to know enough of the local language to navigate the neighborhood Lidl or Netto store and read the labels. It’s also a kind of “protective coloration” to buy a newspaper in the local language, pretend you’re reading it, and wear dark colors. Let’s just say Americans tend to stand out in a crowd otherwise. I think Rick Steves would back me up on this.

Enough digression. What can I say, I love to travel!

If the book shelves will bring you enjoyment and satisfaction, go ahead. If they will illicit cursing and lamentation, save that for another day.

They very well could. Sauder bookshelves are a pain to put together. I’m waiting until tomorrow and the long weekend.

So, if your employer requires you to work on a Sunday or HDO you must work.

Deo gratias, I am retired and I have no employer. I am a pensioner and a poor man’s venture capitalist. Growth funds are my bread and butter.

 

[HomeschoolDad]

As it turned out, I did not assemble the bookshelves at all on the Solemnity of Mary. Much of my afternoon was spent trying to capture my neighbor’s rescue dog that got loose and wandered all over the neighborhood and the adjacent streets and hillside. He has never been fully domesticated and still thinks he is a feral dog. He ran behind the subdivision into the woods and as of nightfall he had not returned. My neighbor has put out his favorite food and blanket in hopes that he will tire of his adventure and come back home. Prayers from CAF readers for his safe return will be appreciated — he is chipped and has license tags on his collar.

Needless to say, my considerable efforts (dog was faster and smarter than I was) were necessary servile work.