Michael Brooks
The Catholic Church traditionally observes Sunday as a day of rest and worship, encouraging followers to refrain from work and activities that may hinder their devotion to God. This practice originates from the third commandment, which states, Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day. While it is not considered sinful to work on Sundays, especially in essential services, Catholics are urged to prioritize rest, worship, and gratitude towards God whenever possible. The Church also emphasizes the importance of spending time with family and serving the sick, homebound, and elderly on this day.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason | The third commandment God gave to humanity on Mt. Sinai |
| "Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day. Six days you may labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord, your God. No work may be done then either by you, or your son or daughter,... In six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them; but the seventh day he rested." (Exodus 20:8-11) | |
| Work Forbidden | Marketing, fairs, buying and selling, public auctions, shopping in stores |
| Exceptions | Pharmacies, grocery shopping, buying cattle, lands, houses, etc. |
| Exceptions | Family needs, important social services, hospital workers, police officers, restaurant workers |
| Activities Encouraged | Spending time with family, serving the sick, homebound and elderly |
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What You'll Learn
The third commandment
> You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.
This commandment is about treating the name, person, and reputation of the Lord as holy. It means that God's name should be treated with respect, not only in speech but also in conduct. It is about reflecting God's nature in actions, speech, thoughts, and plans. It is not just about using God's name, but whenever one takes up God's name, it should be done with awareness of His holiness.
In summary, the Third Commandment is about respecting and revering God's name and worshipping Him in the way He asks, while also recognizing the importance of rest and gratitude on Sundays.
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Exceptions to working on Sundays
The Catholic Church traditionally forbids servile work on Sundays, which is typically understood as manual labour. However, the Church acknowledges that certain exceptions exist, permitting individuals to work on Sundays without violating religious obligations. These exceptions include:
Family Needs and Social Services
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that "family needs or important social services can legitimately excuse [individuals] from the obligation of Sunday rest". Examples include a mother doing laundry on Sundays because her children need clean clothes. Similarly, hospital or nursing home staff, restaurant workers, police officers, and other public services are exempted from the prohibition of work on Sundays as they aid people in resting from work and fulfilling their daily needs.
Charitable Purposes and Corporal Works of Mercy
Light manual labour for charitable purposes and the corporal works of mercy are generally allowed on Sundays. This includes charitable acts that serve the sick, homebound, and elderly.
Dispensations
Dispensations may be granted by a bishop or parish priest in certain circumstances. For example, in 1722, Bishop Giffard, the Vicar Apostolic of London, approved a dispensation for Catholics in Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, excusing them from obligations on holy days for just causes, such as harvesting crops.
Necessities and Local Customs
Certain activities considered necessities or justified by local customs are permitted on Sundays. For instance, grocery shopping is allowed as purchasing food is essential. Similarly, pharmacies are permitted to operate on Sundays due to the necessity of their services. Additionally, private persons are allowed to engage in the purchase or sale of cattle, lands, or houses.
Intellectual and Artistic Pursuits
While manual labour is generally discouraged on Sundays, intellectual and artistic pursuits are not considered "servile work" and are therefore acceptable.
It is important to note that while these exceptions exist, Catholics are still encouraged to prioritise rest, worship, and recreation on Sundays whenever possible.
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Buying and selling on Sundays
The Catholic Church traditionally observes Sunday as a day of rest and worship, and buying and selling on this day is generally discouraged. However, the Church recognises that there are some legitimate reasons that may excuse individuals from this obligation.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that "every Christian should avoid making unnecessary demands on others that would hinder them from observing the Lord's Day" (No. 2187). This means that while certain types of work are necessary on Sundays, such as essential services provided by hospitals, transportation workers, and restaurants, other forms of labour that can be avoided are generally discouraged.
When it comes to buying and selling on Sundays, the Church places the responsibility on individual Catholics to determine whether their activities impact the primary purpose of the day, which is rest, prayer, and worship. The Code of Canon Law states that "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 that hinder the worship to be rendered to God, the joy proper to the Lord's Day, or the suitable relaxation of mind and body" (CIC 1247).
The Catechism further provides guidance on this matter, stating that "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" (CCC 2185). This means that while it may be necessary to purchase essential goods or seek necessary services on a Sunday, individuals are encouraged to prioritise rest and worship and refrain from recreational shopping or non-essential purchases.
In the past, certain dispensations have been granted by bishops or parish priests. For example, in 1722, Bishop Giffard, the Vicar Apostolic of London, approved a dispensation for Catholics in Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, excusing them from obligations on holy days for just cause, such as harvesting crops during the season (between May 1 and September 30).
In summary, while the Catholic Church discourages buying and selling on Sundays, the ultimate responsibility lies with individual Catholics to determine whether their actions align with the primary purpose of the day, which is rest, prayer, and worship. Necessary purchases and essential services are permitted, but recreational shopping and non-essential purchases are generally discouraged.
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Servile work
The concept of "servile work" is an important aspect of the Catholic tradition, particularly in the context of observing the Sabbath day and refraining from certain activities on Sundays. Servile work, as defined by Bishop Athanasius Schneider, involves labour in which "the body has a larger share than the mind, and which are chiefly intended for the advantage of thebody". This includes field labour, mechanical and industrial operations, manual trades, judiciary work, commercial work, and excessive academic or mental work.
Historically, servile work was performed by serfs or slaves and included physical labour such as farm work, digging, ploughing, mechanical tasks, and sewing. In the present day, the understanding of servile work has evolved to include any strenuous activity that individuals in a given society typically avoid if they have the freedom to do so. This can encompass heavy manual labour or activities that require a significant amount of physical effort.
The Catholic Church prohibits servile work on Sundays to uphold the divine commandment to keep the Sabbath day holy. This prohibition aims to prevent activities that could hinder the spiritual renewal of the soul and body, such as needless work, unnecessary shopping, or housekeeping. However, it is important to note that the Church also recognises legitimate reasons for exempting individuals from this obligation. Family needs or important social services can excuse individuals from observing the Sabbath rest.
While Catholics are encouraged to refrain from servile work on Sundays, certain necessary occupations must continue to operate, such as transportation, hospitals, and restaurants. Individuals who work in these fields should strive to rest on Sundays if their employment obligations and economic circumstances permit. Additionally, light manual labour for charitable purposes may also be permissible on Sundays.
It is worth noting that the definition of servile work does not include intellectual or artistic pursuits. Catholics are encouraged to focus on rest, worship, and recreation on Sundays, ensuring that their activities do not distract them from offering praise and gratitude to God.
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Sunday as a day of rest
Sunday is a day of rest for Catholics, a day to worship and give thanks to God, and to spend time with family and the community. This practice is based on the third commandment given to humanity by God on Mt. Sinai: "Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day. Six days you may labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord, your God. No work may be done then either by you, or your son or daughter… In six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them; but the seventh day he rested." (Exodus 20:8-11).
The Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Code of Canon Law state that Catholics are obliged to participate in Mass on Sundays and refrain from activities that hinder worship and the appropriate relaxation of mind and body. This includes abstaining from servile work, legal acts, public trade, shopping, and other public buying and selling. However, there are exceptions to this rule, as the Church recognises that legitimate reasons, such as family needs or important social services, can excuse individuals from the obligation of Sunday rest. Examples of permitted work on Sundays include hospital staff, nursing home staff, restaurant workers, police officers, and other public services.
The term "servile work" in the Catholic tradition refers to manual labour or intellectual and artistic pursuits that require a significant amount of time and energy. It is important to note that some activities, such as watching televised sports, tinkering with cars, or household repairs, are not inherently wrong but can distract individuals from expressing gratitude and praise to God.
While the Church encourages Christians to serve the sick, homebound, and elderly on Sundays, they also advise against shopping on Sundays, as it requires others to work on the Lord's Day. Catholics are encouraged to plan ahead and purchase items on other days whenever possible, allowing more people to rest.
In summary, Sunday is a day of rest and worship for Catholics, a time to express gratitude to God and spend time with loved ones. While there are exceptions, Catholics are generally encouraged to refrain from work and activities that hinder worship and relaxation on Sundays, following the biblical commandment to keep the Sabbath day holy.
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Frequently asked questions
The Church obligates Catholics to rest on Sundays, refraining from work or activities that may hinder worship. However, there are exceptions, and certain jobs are necessary on Sundays, such as hospital, restaurant, and public service workers.
Works generally forbidden include marketing, fairs, buying and selling, public auctions, and shopping in most stores.
Grocery shopping is permitted, as it is considered a necessity. Other permitted activities include light manual labour for charitable purposes and works of mercy.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that "family needs or important social service can legitimately excuse from the obligation of Sunday rest." It encourages Catholics to ensure that legitimate excuses do not become habits that negatively impact religion, family life, and health.
Rest on Sundays allows Catholics to orient their lives back towards God, giving thanks and praise. It is also a time for relaxation and recreation, as well as socialising and spending time with family.
