Dear Father | How exactly should I keep the Sabbath holy?

Printer-friendly versionSend to friend

Msgr. Matthew Mitas

Q: What is the Church's position with regard to shopping on Sundays and holy days of obligation?

There are two sides to my answer, one legal, one spiritual. Legally, the command to "keep holy the Sabbath" comes from God and so it is something that we must obey. But how, exactly, are we to keep it holy? The Catechism of the Catholic Church outlines the following specifics: to take part in the Sunday Mass, to perform the works of mercy, to relax and rest appropriately, to spend time with your family and re-connect with them, to engage in cultural and social activities, and simply to enjoy yourself. (Frankly, that sounds like a pretty full day to me!)

Because of the Lord's stern rebuke of the Pharisees for their false legalism regarding the Sabbath, we Catholics shun punctilious interpretations of this commandment. Accordingly, the catechism also states: "Family needs or important social service can legitimately excuse from the obligation of Sunday rest" (No. 2185). If your Sunday shopping suits an important family need, therefore, it would be legitimate. Who decides what an important family need is? You are the only one competent to do that, but with the understanding that you stand in the sight and judgment of God.

On the spiritual side, God gave us this commandment because He knows that Sabbath is something we need. All relationships founder when there's limited contact, our relationship with God (the most important one we have) included. Even if you have to work on Sunday, you have a serious obligation for the well-being of your soul to go to Mass if at all possible and find time for prayer. If doing it on Sunday is impossible, then find time some other day. The catechism further states that governments should designate Sundays (and holy days) as legal holidays because we need to rest and pursue holiness (#2188). When Sunday becomes just another business day, we're losing our national soul.

I'm glad you included the holy days in your question. They were established by the Church to afford more leisure time to working people, especially the poor, and they count for us the same as Sundays. Catholics tend to forget that.

Sandy Koufax refused to pitch the opening game of the '65 World Series because it was Yom Kippur. I wish that Catholics had that same chutzpah in asserting their own religious prerogatives!

Msgr. Mitas is pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Union and dean of the Washington Deanery. Send questions for a priest to: St. Louis Review, 20 Archbishop May Drive, St. Louis, MO 63119 or to letters@stlouisre view.com.