From The Deanery  

Keeping Holy the Sabbath

17th Sunday after Pentecost

My upcoming trip to Kansas City this week made me think of those unfortunate folks, victims one and all of Vatican II, who find themselves too far from the traditional Mass to be able to fulfill their Sunday obligations.  That got me thinking about the nature of these obligations, when exactly they apply, and what we should do if we are unable to meet them.

First of all, it should be said that the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days is not one of the Ten Commandments.  The Third Commandment tells us to remember to observe the Sabbath, which is the seventh day of the week, on which God “rested” after his work of Creation.  It does not tell us we have to go to Mass on Sunday.  The Apostles changed the day on which we are commanded to give external worship to God from Saturday to Sunday in honor of the Resurrection and of Pentecost, both of which occurred on the first day of the week.  It was also deemed more fitting to give honor to God on this first day, that is before all other works are begun.  The “opus Dei”, or Work of God, should come first.

In making Mass attendance a precept of the Church, a grave obligation was imposed upon the faithful to obey it.  Going to Mass has never been an option that should be decided upon when you wake up on Sunday morning.  The obligation is grave, and should never be ignored for superficial reasons.  We have six days to complete all the other obligations we feel we may have in life, but surely, we can give to God one day of the week?  The Church does not ask this question, she answers it.  And we know the answer.  Sporting events, social occasions, political or business meetings are, or should be banned on Sundays, and Catholics should never participate in them on this day.  The reason is simple, that they distract us from our primary duty, which is to give honor to God.  Attendance at Mass is part of that duty, but by no means the only one.  We must also refrain from any idle servile work, from shopping, from doing business—in short, from anything that takes us away from what we belong doing.

Recreation is not banned, and indeed may be considered quite appropriate.  Family picnics, a drive in the country, an informal game of soccer, suitable video games, these are all things that may be done as part of our Sunday relaxation.  But more formal sports, where some kind of obligation is imposed on participating, that’s a different story.

When may we legitimately miss Mass?  When the distance from our home is so inconvenient that it becomes a legitimate burden on us or our family.  Even then, care must be taken not to abandon the Holy Sacrifice altogether, but rather we should make the long trip as often as we think prudent and justified.  The sick are excused of course, as well as those who must stay home to take care of them.  Those who work in jobs that must be performed on Sundays, such as nurses, police officers, bakers, and so on, are also excused, but they should try and manipulate their shifts so as to be able to attend if possible.  Working at MacDonald’s is not a legitimate reason for missing Mass, so get a job at Chick-Fil-A instead.

Finally, we must “remember to keep the Sabbath”.  This is most definitely one of the Ten Commandments, and even if we can’t attend Mass, we are still obliged to give worship to God on this day, no matter what.  To disobey this commandment is to defy the law of God himself, and that may never be done!

FR. BERNARD G. HALL
Dean of Chapter
Guild of St. Peter ad Vincula

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