You Shall Rest

Having heard from many of my parishioners who grew up Catholic that they were "never told" that we are required to abstain from servile labor on a Holy Day of Obligation (exactly like we are required to do on Sunday), I realized that I needed to say something about it. It actually surprised me, because I had heard so many people acknowledge the need to observe Holy Days, I assumed that they understood all that the Church required. Then over time I heard more and more people (who were not in jobs that qualify as "works of mercy") telling me things like, "I'll make it to Mass on the Holy Day, but it will be close because I get off work right before".

So, both in casual conversation and in homilies or announcements I have been pointing it out; hoping that it would get through and catch on. Apparently, last week when I told everyone that Ascension Day was Thursday and that they were required to "abstain from servile work and attend Mass" it hit home a bit harder with some of our folks. Many asked questions. Some asked for me to write something on this blog (thanks for the encouragement). And many more people were clearly asking for dispensations who had not done so before (and even admitted it). It may be a struggle for some to get used to this (old) rule, but we cannot deny that the Church has the authority to explain to us what the proper manner is to obey God's commandments (especially the Third Commandment).

Yes, the abstinence from work on Sundays and Holy Days, is actual Catholic dogma; I am not making this up. The Catechism of Trent, in its explanation of the Third Commandment, points out that servile labor is strictly forbidden, and also forbids "whatever may interfere with the worship of God". According to the Catechism this applies to the "Lord's Day" (Sunday) as much as to "Other Fesitvals Observed by the Church" (what we now call "Holy Days of Obligation"). When it speaks about "other works which can hinder worship", it is clearly warning us that we may be tempted to justify some of those works. I will write more about the specifics of this in another post, but for now, it should be clear that the Church is not like the Pharisees (or some of the "rad trads") who want to get so detailed that we are ending up counting how many drops of sweat a person has. The point of the "other works" prohibition is to help us to focus on worship, not to find a 5,000 point list of what is allowed and not allowed (again, the Pharisees already did that and Jesus said they were going to Hell for it).

The (modern) Catechism of the Catholic Church is not very specific when it speaks about how to obey the Third Commandment, but it gives enough to get the point. It says, "The first precept [is] 'You shall attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation and rest from servile labor.'" This should not really be that surprising though, because this Catechism was not written as a comprehensive explanation but as a supplement to the Trent Catechism. Thus, when it is vague or noticeably brief, then we go to Trent for the full explanation.

Canon Law is (sadly) a bit vague in what it says, but this is likely because it is applying to a vast array of cultures and is worded so it fits with each of those (proof that the Church is not only writing to us in America!). It says that we are, "to abstain from such work or business that would inhibit the worship to be given to God, the joy proper to the Lord's Day, or the due relaxation of mind and body". The way that the Catechisms interpret this is clear, but just in case it was missed by anyone: The entire "Lord's Day" is to be set aside and sanctified by avoiding work that keeps us from worship (whether paid for it or not), by cultivating a peaceful joy throughout the Day, and by making sure that we spend the Day in "relaxation of mind and body". There is really no way that a person going to work can accomplish all three of these throughout the entire Day (whether Sunday or a Holy Day).

Now, of course there is the fact that works of mercy are always excused from this requirement. Those in the medical field, police and other types of peace officers (including active military), and others that are maintaining the essential needs of society (i.e. those who keep the electricity on) are exempted because they are doing something good for the well being of society. The actual list of jobs would be quite long, but it should be fairly clear to everyone what is not on the list of works of mercy: Walmart, the gym, legal offices, schools, etc. Yes, we should also include those "non-employment" works of mercy. Taking care of someone who is sick, and other works done directly for the good of others are excused.

The question still remains: what work would count as sinful to do on a Sunday or Holy Day of obligation? I will work to define more specifically the "servile works" that must be abstained from in the next post...