Working on Sunday

[Advocatus_Fidei]

Currently, I have to work on Sunday (I work administration for the US Census Bureau). One of the differences between now and yesteryear (Pre-Industrial Revolution) is that historically people owned their own business (i.e. the family farm, the cobbler, the merchant, etc.) and so they could choose when they worked. Today, most people work for someone else and if the boss says be in on Sunday and you refuse, you may lose your job–not a good thing especially in this day and age.

That’s why the Church says you can if it is NECESSARY work, she is so merciful don’t you think?

And we should not take advantage of the Churches mercy by then doing work that is unnecessary.

 

[Tietjen]

I went to confession today, and mentioned it to my priest. I have at this stage given up the job. It was really a stop-gap until something better comes along. However the priest said it was okay if it was to help make ends meet.

God Bless all!

God bless you as well. I wish the best for you and your family.
Advocatus Fidei:

Sunday is the Sabbath to Catholics and I am simply repeating the constant teaching of the Catholic Church I am sorry you seem to have such a problem with that and feel the need to insult me over it, I advise you to discuss this matter with your spiritual advisor.

If you feel that I have insulted you, I apologize; however, just as you feel “it is sickening” to hear incorrect advice given by Catholics to other Catholics, I too feel the same way. It is for that reason that I will not tell a man he sins if he must work on a Sunday in order to help support his family. Neither does the Church. I refer to the OPs priest as a source for Church opinion on the subject. Dispute it if you wish, but your opinion on the subject doesn’t hold water.

 

[Shin]

Here’s a splendid sermon that teaches what is a sin to do, and not to do on Sundays – very precise as to how to observe the Lord’s day in His peace, thinking on Him, instead of tending to labors and distractions.

It’s a great pleasure not to work on Sunday and spend the day focused on the Lord in what we do, whether it is spiritual reading, family prayer, sitting outside and observing nature and meditating on God’s hand and heart in Creation…

A proper Sunday is spent peacefully, letting the world’s cares rest for a day and not listening to the nagging demon that says, ‘you must do this today’. Let him go, let the Lord stay!

 

[nsper7]

I think one has to be careful reading what Saints in the Pre-Industrial Era say about working on Sunday since in that era, most people, at some level, worked for themselves quite often (i.e. farming, owning a cottage industry/small business) and thus it was really the person’s choice to work on Sunday or not. In the modern era, where most people work for others, if you refuse to work on Sunday, you may lose your job. My understanding is that the Church does not require a person to lose their job in such a manner. I know my Spiritual Director has said it’s okay that I work on Sunday–currently, it’s for admin in the US Census.