YOUCAT Question n. 365 – Part IV. How do Christians make Sunday “the Lord’s day”?
(Youcat
answer - repeated) 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.
A deepening through CCC
(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.
Reflecting and meditating
(Youcat comment) 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.
(CCC Comment)
(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" (CIC, can. 1248 § 2).
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