Friday, March 22, 2013
453. How does one keep Sunday holy? (part 1)
(Comp 453) Christians keep Sunday and other days of obligation holy by participating
in the Eucharist of the Lord and by refraining from those activities which
impede the worship of God and disturb the joy proper to the day of the Lord or
the necessary relaxation of mind and body. Activities are allowed on the
Sabbath which are bound up with family needs or with important social service,
provided that they do not lead to habits prejudicial to the holiness of Sunday,
to family life and to health.
“In brief”
(CCC 2192) "Sunday… is to be
observed as the foremost holy day of obligation in the universal Church"
(CIC, can. 1246 § 1). "On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the
faithful are bound to participate in the Mass" (CIC, can. 1247).
To deepen and
explain
(CCC 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" (CIC, can. 1246 § 1). "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" (CIC,
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"). (CCC 2178) This practice of the Christian assembly dates from the
beginnings of the apostolic age (Cf. Acts 2:42-46; 1 Cor 11:17). 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" (Heb 10:25). 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: PG 86/1, 416C and 421C).
Reflection
(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"
(CIC, can. 515 § 1). 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: 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: PG 48, 725). [IT CONTINUES]
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