Ave Maria series
How do Christians make Sunday “the Lord’s Day”?
A Catholic Christian attends Holy Mass on Sunday or on the vigil of Sunday. On that day he refrains from all work that would prevent him from worshipping God or disturb the festive, joyful, restful, and restorative character of the day. [2177-2186, 2192-2193]
My oldest son Don C. with his family at a picnic at Buck Lake Park, Rhinelander several years ago. The grandson (at right) is now an Eagle Scout and he will be confirmed this spring 2019. He has asked me to be his confirmation sponsor! I am giving him the 5-DVD set of Father Leo Clifford’s “Reflections” (see Fr. Leo daily at 2:15 pm on EWTN). Better yet, tune in EWTV at 2 pm and pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet before Fr. Leo. Rose and I will be tuned in, also. That is Rose in the photo in the pink blouse. Our daughter-in-law Hope is in the center of the photo.…..365
Since Sunday is an Easter celebration that occurs each week, Christians from the earliest times have gathered together on that day to celebrate and thank their Redeemer and to reunite themselves with him and with others who are redeemed. So it is a central duty of every conscientious Catholic Christian to “keep holy” Sunday and the other holy days of the Church. One is exempted from it only by urgent family duties and important responsibilities in society. Because participation in the Sunday Eucharist is fundamental for a Christian life, the Church explicitly declares that it is a serious sin to stay away from Sunday Mass without good reason. 219, 345
“Without Sunday we cannot live,” answered the Christian martyrs of Abitene, before they were executed in 304 by Emperor Diocietian because they had opposed his ban on the celebration of Sunday.
“People used to say: Give your soul a Sunday! Now they say: Give your Sunday a soul!” Peter Rosegger (1843-1918, Austrian writer)
[2177-2186, 2192-2193]
The Sunday Eucharist
2177 The Sunday celebration of the Lord's Day and his Eucharist is at the heart of the Church's life. "Sunday is the day on which the paschal mystery is celebrated in light of the apostolic tradition and is to be observed as the foremost holy day of obligation in the universal Church."(Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 1246 § 1.)110 —Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition
"Also to be observed are the day of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Epiphany, the Ascension of Christ, the feast of the Body and Blood of Christi, the feast of Mary the Mother of God, her Immaculate Conception, her Assumption, the feast of Saint Joseph, the feast of the Apostles Saints Peter and Paul, and the feast of All Saints."(Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 1246 § 2:"The conference of bishops can abolish certain holy days of obligation or transfer them to a Sunday with prior approval of the Apostolic See.")111--CCC
2178 This practice of the Christian assembly dates from the beginnings of the apostolic age.(Compare Acts of the Apostles 2:42-46; 1 Corinthians 11:17.)112 The Letter to the Hebrews reminds the faithful "not to neglect to meet together, as is the habit of some, but to encourage one another."(Hebrews 10:25.)113--CCC
Tradition preserves the memory of an ever-timely exhortation: Come to Church early, approach the Lord, and confess your sins, repent in prayer. . . . Be present at the sacred and divine liturgy, conclude its prayer and do not leave before the dismissal. . . . We have often said: "This day is given to you for prayer and rest. This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it."(Sermo de die dominica 2 et 6:Patrologia Graeca 86/1,416C and 421C.)114--CCC
2179 "A parish is a definite community of the Christian faithful established on a stable basis within a particular church; the pastoral care of the parish is entrusted to a pastor as its own shepherd under the authority of the diocesan bishop."(Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 515 § 1.)115 It is the place where all the faithful can be gathered together for the Sunday celebration of the Eucharist. The parish initiates the Christian people into the ordinary expression of the liturgical life: it gathers them together in this celebration; it teaches Christ's saving doctrine; it practices the charity of the Lord in good works and brotherly love:--CCC
You cannot pray at home as at church, where there is a great multitude, where exclamations are cried out to God as from one great heart, and where there is something more: the union of minds, the accord of souls, the bond of charity, the prayers of the priests.(St. John Chrysostom, De incomprehensibili 3,6:Patrologia Graeca 48,725.)116--CCC
2180 The precept of the Church specifies the law of the Lord more precisely: "On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass."(Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 1247.)117 "The precept of participating in the Mass is satisfied by assistance at a Mass which is celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the holy day or on the evening of the preceding day."(Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 1248 § 1.)118--CCC
2181 The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice. For this reason the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation, unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants) or dispensed by their own pastor.(Compare Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 1245.)119 Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin.--CCC
2182 Participation in the communal celebration of the Sunday Eucharist is a testimony of belonging and of being faithful to Christ and to his Church. The faithful give witness by this to their communion in faith and charity. Together they testify to God's holiness and their hope of salvation. They strengthen one another under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.--CCC
2183 "If because of lack of a sacred minister or for other grave cause participation in the celebration of the Eucharist is impossible, it is specially recommended that the faithful take part in the Liturgy of the Word if it is celebrated in the parish church or in another sacred place according to the prescriptions of the diocesan bishop, or engage in prayer for an appropriate amount of time personally or in a family or, as occasion offers, in groups of families."(Compare Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 1245.)120--CCC
2184 Just as God "rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done,"(Genesis 2:2.)121 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.(Compare Gaudium et Spes 67 § 3.)122--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.(Compare Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 120. )123 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
The charity of truth seeks holy leisure- the necessity of charity accepts just work.(St. Augustine, De civ. Dei 19,19:Patrologia Latina 41,647.)124--CCC
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.--CCC
IN BRIEF
2192 "Sunday . . . is to be observed as the foremost holy day of obligation in the universal Church" (Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 1246 § 1). "On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass" (Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 1247).--CCC
2193 "On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound . . . to abstain from those labors and business concerns which impede the worship to be rendered to God, the joy which is proper to the Lord's Day, or the proper relaxation of mind and body" (Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 1247).--CCC
People family picnic
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