Working on Sunday

[JamesG]

What does the Church teach about working on sunday?

I was always taught by my father that working on sunday is a sin. He said it was ok if you had a hobby or did a few things around the house, but working on your car or building the new deck in the backyard was a sin. In fact I can remember when the stores here were not allowed to be open on Sunday.

He also says that on sunday you shouldn’t do anything else untill you go to church first thing in the morning

He can’t be correct because, when I go to the late mass at 7:30 pm it is packed full of people every Sunday. In fact people have to stand along the walls.

Did the Church change its position on this at vatican II? Could that be why he still thinks that way?

To be honest, I think it was a good idea for my father to be strict about Sundays because it made us appreciate the fact that Sunday was a holy day.

 

[Joe_5859]

I recommend reading John Paul II’s Apostolic Letter Dies Domini (On Keeping the Lord’s Day Holy).

You might also look through what the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) has to say about Keeping the Lord’s Day holy: CCC 2168-2195.

There was no change in any rules that took place at Vatican II. I think most of the change you are observing comes from the changes in our culture in the past 50 years. It is good and necessary to keep the Lord’s Day holy, and it is something we do not do enough of, I think.

But this doesn’t mean that, if someone is a nurse, they can’t work on Sunday. People need medical attention on Sundays and nurses need jobs. I think it’s something we need to really reflect on given our own situation. We should absolutely refrain from all unnecessary work, but that doesn’t mean that nurses, waitresses, and Walmart cashiers are all sinning because they work on Sunday. It doesn’t mean I can’t shovel the snow off my driveway so my family can safely drive to and from Mass on Sunday.

Edit: Just an additional comment. Things like you described such as your father saying that no one is supposed to do anything until after Mass is more of a type of popular piety than some sort of obligation. I don’t think there was any mandate from the Church in this regard, although it was the popular perception.

This is something we always need to ask ourselves: is this something the Church has really asked us to do, or is it just some person’s perception about what we’re supposed to do? If it was something the Church has asked us to do, is it something the Church still requires of us, or has it changed? For example, it used to be that you had to fast all day before receiving the Eucharist. Now, it’s just one hour. Anyone is still welcome to fast all day if they wish, but it is not required.

 

[DavidFilmer]

What does the Church teach about working on sunday?

Here is what the Catechism says:

2184 Just as God “rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done,” human life has a rhythm of work and rest. The institution of the Lord’s Day helps everyone enjoy adequate rest and leisure to cultivate their familial, cultural, social, and religious lives.

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.

2186 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.

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.

He also says that on Sunday you shouldn’t do anything else until you go to church first thing in the morning.

Prior to Vatican II, the Faithful were required to fast from midnight the night before attending Mass. So going to a late Sunday Mass would not appeal to most folks. But I’ve never heard that the Faithful were proscribed from other activity before Mass.

To be honest, I think it was a good idea for my father to be strict about Sundays because it made us appreciate the fact that Sunday was a holy day.

I think you’re right. I think the Faithful are far too negligent of Sunday rest (I know I am).

 

[Evan]

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.

In our society, so many of us (myself included), do little physical labor during the week. Using my body to do physical labor is so different from “work” that I rejoice when I am able to fell a tree, move it to the house, chop it up, and stack the wood. These are the recreations I once did as a child, now I can only do them on weekends. Although they are physical labor, they are completely different than my workday (computer modeling).

In my youth we might go skiing, climbing hills, picniking, all very labor intensive, but DIFFERENT from ‘work’. So relaxing to mind and body. I try to stay off the computer on Sundays… it’s a day of rest!!