Day Of Rest: Does It Always Have To Be On Sunday?

[Paladin D]

Can the "day of rest" be moved to Saturday, if I go to Mass on Saturdays? Or is it always on Sundays? Thanks in advance!

[VanHooty]

I'm skimming over the CCC, and Sunday is essentially the Lord's Day and the fullfillment of the sabbath because it was the day Christ. Paragraphs 2175 and 2176 (and that general section in the Catechism) seem to say that Sunday is Sunday and is, technically, the Lord's Day and can't really be transferred to Sunday.

However, I do recall attending a Saturday Vigil Mass fufills your obligation for Sunday. People should correct me if I'm wrong.

[conservativecatholic]

You are correct. Attending Saturday Night Vigil Mass fulfills your Sunday obligation, but only because the Jewish calendar states that the next day begins when the sun sets. Although Saturday's Mass counts toward your Sunday obligation, the day of Sunday is still recognized as the Day of Rest. When the sun sets on Saturday, according to Jewish and Catholic calendars, you are able to kick back, relax, and praise the Lord! May God Bless!

Edited July 18, 2004 by conservativecatholic

[Quietfire]

Im not sure if this helps, cause your question had to do with Saturday Mass.
[quote]How to observe the Lord's Day:
The same way Christians have observed it for two thousand years: Attend Mass and abstain from all unnecessary work. Fr. Kenneth Baker, S.J., explains, "Sunday should be dedicated to the Lord, at least in intention, if not by actual practice of other good works. Some activities that are in conformity with Sunday observance are reading the Bible or the life of some saint, praying the rosary, engaging in serious conversation on God and the things of the spirit, and so forth.

"Sunday should be a day of joy and relaxation. It is the time for a family meal, for healthy recreation, for sport, for taking a stroll, or for going for a drive. In these and similar activities we can both praise God for his goodness and refresh our bodies and minds after the week's work.

Since the time of Moses, abstinence of all unnecessary work has been an essential part of the Sunday observance. We have all heard that the Church forbids all 'servile' work on Sundays. Formerly, 'servile work' was defined as hard physical labor; thus, digging ditches, plowing, splitting wood, and so forth were so forbidden on Sunday except in cases of emergency or real necessity.

"In the past twenty years or so many exceptions have been placed on the meaning of servile work by moral theologians that it is just about impossible to lay down general rules. Thus, many men who spend the whole week behind a desk find real refreshment working in their garden, mowing the lawn, washing their car. Although these activities require physical labor, they are not now considered to be 'servile' in the situation of contemporary technology in America.

"It seems to me that what all should try to do is to observe the spirit of Sunday--worship, rest, and joy. If some kind of work does not fit into that pattern and is truly unnecessary, then it should be avoided. If anyone has serious doubt about whether or not he or she is violating God's law of the Sunday rest, then that person should seek the advice of a priest" (Fundamentals of Catholicism [San Francisco: Ignatius, 1982], I:174-175).[/quote]

If you attend Mass on Saturday, then you are simply fulfilling that requirement early(the whole sundown thing)
Sunday is still the Lord's day and should be observed, unless your job required that you be there or some other unforseen or unchangable event.

What is it you wish to do on Sunday that you think would be a violation?
Just curious.


Peace

Edited July 19, 2004 by Quietfire