Sunday is a time for reflection, silence, cultivation of the mind and meditation which furthers the growth of the Christian interior life. 2187 Sanctifying Sundays and holy days requires a common effort. Every Christian should avoid making unnecessary demands on others that would hinder them from observing the Lord’s Day. Traditional activities (sport, res— 2289 taurants, etc.), and social necessities (public services, etc.), require some people to work on Sundays, but everyone should still take care to set aside sufficient time for leisure. With temperance and charity the faithful will see to it that they avoid the excesses and violence sometimes associated with popular leisure
activities. In spite of economic constraints, public authorities should ensure citizens a time intended for rest and divine worship. Employers have a similar obligation toward their employees. 2188 In respecting religious liberty and the common good of all, 2105 Christians should seek recognition of Sundays and the Church’s holy days as legal holidays. They have to give everyone a public example of prayer, respect and joy, and defend their traditions as a precious contribution to the spiritual life of society. If a country’s legislation or other reasons require work on Sunday, the day should nevertheless be lived as the day of our deliverance which lets us share in this ‘festal gathering’, this ‘assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven’.’25



IN BRIEF

2189 ‘Observe the sabbath day, to keep it holy’ (Dt 5:12). ‘The seventh day is a sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the LORD’ (Ex 31:15).


2190 The sabbath, which represented the completion ofthefirst creation, has been replaced by Sunday, which recalls the new creation inaugurated by the Resurrection of Christ.

2191 The Church celebrates the day of Christ’s Resurrection on the ‘eighth day’, Sunday, which is rightly called the Lord’s Day (cf. SC 106).

2192 ‘Sunday.. . is to be observed as the foremost holy day of obligation in the universal Church’ (CIC, can. 1246 § i). ‘On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass’ (CIC, can. 1247).

2193 ‘On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound. . . to abstain from those labours and business concerns which impede the worship to be rendered to God, the joy which is proper to the Lord’s Day, or the proper relaxation of mind and body’ (CIC, can. 1247).