Does it start on Sunday at midnight, or on Saturday after sundown? On Saturday evening, do/can we still do normal work or not? What if we go to a Saturday evening mass?
Kathrin
Bl. Pope John Paul II in Dies Domini Wrote:
From a liturgical point of view, in fact, holy days begin with First Vespers. Consequently, the liturgy of what is sometimes called the “Vigil Mass” is in effect the “festive” Mass of Sunday, at which the celebrant is required to preach the homily and recite the Prayer of the Faithful.
Pope Benedict XVI wrote in Sacramentum Caritatis 73
"Sunday thus appears as the primordial holy day, when all believers, wherever they are found, can become heralds and guardians of the true meaning of time. It gives rise to the Christian meaning of life and a new way of experiencing time, relationships, work, life and death. On the Lord’s Day, then, it is fitting that Church groups should organize, around Sunday Mass, the activities of the Christian community: social gatherings, programmes for the faith formation of children, young people and adults, pilgrimages, charitable works, and different moments of prayer. For the sake of these important values – while recognizing that Saturday evening, beginning with First Vespers, is already a part of Sunday and a time when the Sunday obligation can be fulfilled – we need to remember that it is
Sunday itself that is meant to be kept holy, lest it end up as a day “empty of God.” "
He then goes on in the next section into the need for rest from work on the Day of the Lord (Sunday)…
The obligation found in Canon Law to rest…
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 affairs 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.
Thus falls on “Sunday”.
Such would be governed by this Canon:
Can. 202 §1. In law, a day is understood as a period consisting of 24 continuous hours and begins at midnight unless other provision is expressly made;…
there is no “provision” in Canon Law that says one begins to rest prior to the 24 hour day of Sunday…
So a day in terms of the “rest” would be from midnight to midnight of Sunday.
Though of course Canon Law does permit one to fulfill ones Sunday obligation etc on the evening of the day prior…
Can. 1248 §1. A person who assists at a Mass celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the feast day itself or in the evening of the preceding day satisfies the obligation of participating in the Mass.
One will not find the Church saying that one must therefore begin to “rest” and avoid work because liturgically one has gone to the vigil Mass of Sunday.
But let us live the Lords Day
Important to read the whole text here (and in the CCC):
vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_ben-xvi_exh_20070222_sacramentum-caritatis_en.html#The_eucharistic_form_of_the_christian_life (it will get to it…)
