Rachel Evans
Sunday, also known as the Lord's Day, is the day Christians set apart for the public and solemn worship of God. The practice of gathering together on Sundays for the celebration of the Eucharistic Sacrifice can be traced back to the first and second centuries when the week of seven days was introduced into Rome from Egypt. The early Church did not move the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday. Instead, Sunday recalls the new creation inaugurated by the Resurrection of Christ. For Catholics, the celebration of the Holy Eucharist—Sacrifice, Memorial, and Meal—is at the heart of the Sunday observance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Day of celebration | Sunday, the Lord's Day, the first day of the week, the eighth day |
| Reason for celebration | Resurrection of Christ, the new creation |
| Worship | The Eucharist, the Holy Mass, the Holy Scriptures, the Holy Spirit, the Body and Blood of Christ |
| Other celebrations | Saints' birthdays, feast days, solemnities, memorials |
| History | Constantine's edict in the 4th century, early Church in the 2nd century |
| Sabbath | Saturday, the seventh day, the Old Sabbath |
| Catholic teaching | Observe rest on Sundays, attend Mass, rest mind and body |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The Eucharist and the Holy Mass
The Mass is the main form of worship in the Catholic Church, centred around the Eucharist. It is a reenactment of the Last Supper, during which Jesus Christ commanded his disciples, "Do this in remembrance of me" (Luke 22:19). Each Mass commemorates Jesus' sacrifice on the cross through the Holy Eucharist, making Christ's timeless sacrifice present for the congregation.
The consecrated bread and wine are believed to be transubstantiated, meaning their substance has been changed into the body and blood of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit and the words of Christ. This change occurs without altering the physical aspects of the bread and wine. The priest, acting in the person of Christ, leads the Mass and consecrates the Eucharist.
The Holy Mass is considered a holy day of obligation for Catholics, who are obliged to participate and abstain from unnecessary work. The Second Vatican Council emphasised the importance of Sunday as a unique liturgical category, declaring it "the primordial holy day of obligation".
The early Church celebrated the Eucharist and the Mass on Sundays, also known as the Lord's Day, as it was the day of Christ's Resurrection. This tradition is based on the belief that the Sabbath, representing the completion of the first creation, has been replaced by Sunday, which symbolises the new creation inaugurated by Christ's Resurrection.
Reconciling with Catholic Faith: A Guide to Penance
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Lord's Day
The celebration of the Lord's Day by Catholics can be traced back to early Christian writings, such as the Didache (A.D. 70) and the Letter of Barnabas (A.D. 74), which instructed Christians to gather and worship on the Lord's Day. By the second century, it had become common for Christians to celebrate the Eucharist in corporate worship on Sundays, as evidenced by the writings of Eusebius, a Church Father who became the bishop of Caesarea Maritima around A.D. 314. Constantine's edict further contributed to the widespread observance of Sunday among Christians.
The Beatitudes: A Catholic Guide to Happiness
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Sabbath
Catholics, however, worship on the Lord's Day, which is considered the first day of the week (Sunday) and the "eighth day". Sunday is the day when Christ rose from the dead, and when the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles (Pentecost). The early Church did not move the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday; instead, the Catechism of the Catholic Church states that "the Sabbath, which represented the completion of the first creation, has been replaced by Sunday, which recalls the new creation inaugurated by the Resurrection of Christ".
The Catholic Church celebrates the Eucharist, or Holy Communion, on Sundays, as a memorial of Jesus's death and resurrection. This tradition dates back to the early Church, with the first Christians gathering for worship on Sundays, as evidenced by early writings such as the Didache and the Letter of Barnabas. By the second century, it had become commonplace to celebrate the Eucharist in a corporate day of worship on Sundays.
The Second Vatican Council brought renewed emphasis to Sunday as a unique liturgical category, stating that "the Lord's day is the original feast day" and that it "must be observed in the universal Church as the primordial holy day of obligation". Each Sunday is a holy day of obligation, and only a limited number of feasts may take the place of the scheduled Sunday celebration.
Eastern Orthodox, Eastern Lutheran, and Eastern Catholic Churches distinguish between the Sabbath (Saturday) and the Lord's Day (Sunday), observing both as holy days.
Recognizing Catholic Identity: What to Look For
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Constantine's edict
Constantine's Sunday Law, also known as Constantine's edict, was issued in AD 321. It declared:
> "On the venerable day of the Sun let the magistrates and people residing in cities rest, and let all workshops be closed."
The edict applied only to the Roman Empire and not to Christian churches outside the Empire's jurisdiction. It is important to note that Constantine was not changing the Sabbath; he was making Sunday an official day of rest for the Empire. This decision was likely influenced by Christian practices at the time, which held Sunday as sacred due to it being the day of Christ's resurrection.
The Edict of Milan was a turning point for early Christianity, sometimes referred to as the Triumph of the Church or the Constantinian shift. Constantine, the first Christian emperor of Rome, played a crucial role in this shift. His decision to cease the persecution of Christians and grant them freedom of worship had a profound impact on the Church's growth and development.
In addition to the Edict of Milan, Constantine issued a series of other edicts that further solidified the position of Christianity within the Empire. By 323, paganism was outlawed, and the Church's power and influence continued to grow. The Second Vatican Council, as referenced in the liturgical year and calendar, also emphasized the importance of Sunday as a unique liturgical category, declaring it "the Lord's day" and a "primordial holy day of obligation".
How to Get Your Catholic Confirmation Certificate
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Catechism of the Catholic Church
According to the Catechism, the Catholic Church celebrates the day of Christ's Resurrection on Sunday, also known as the "Lord's Day" or the "eighth day" (CCC 2191). This belief has its roots in the early Church, as evidenced by early Christian writings such as the Didache, the Letter of Barnabas, and the Letter to the Magnesians, which date back to the 1st and 2nd centuries A.D. (See CCC 1166)
The Catechism makes it clear that the Church does not observe the Sabbath, which, according to Jewish law, is Saturday, the seventh day of the week (CCC 2190). Instead, Catholics worship on Sundays, commemorating the Resurrection of Christ and celebrating the Paschal Mystery (CCC 9, 1166). This tradition was established by the apostles, who appointed that on the first day of the week, there should be service, the reading of holy scriptures, and the sacrifice of the Mass (Didascalia 2 [A.D. 225]).
In the Catholic tradition, Sunday is a day of obligation, a day set apart for assembly and the celebration of the Holy Eucharist (CCC 1246 §1). The Eucharist, also known as the Lord's Supper or the Mass, is a sacred action that surpasses all others in the Church (CSL #7-14). It is during the Eucharistic Prayer of the Mass that the bread and wine are transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit (CCC 13). This central act of the Catholic faith is done in memory of Jesus Christ and for the glory of God (CCC 13).
The Catechism emphasizes the importance of observing Sundays as a day of rest and worship, encouraging Catholics to participate fully in the Eucharistic Liturgy and to take time for spiritual renewal (CCC 19). This commitment to Sunday observance has been a constant throughout the history of the Catholic Church, with various Church Fathers and early Christian writings attesting to its significance.
Silent Night: Catholic Roots of a Christmas Classic
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Catholics have been celebrating Sunday since the first and second centuries. This was when the week of seven days was introduced into Rome from Egypt.
Catholics celebrate Sunday as the Lord's Day, commemorating the Resurrection of Christ.
During the celebration of Sunday, Catholics attend Mass and rest. Mass involves the celebration of the Holy Eucharist: Sacrifice, Memorial, and Meal.
The Holy Eucharist is a prayer that follows the traditional form and structure of Jewish prayers. It involves the transformation of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.
