Keeping the Sabbath holy is an important aspect of Catholic life!
The Third Commandment states:
“Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day. Six days you may labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord, your God.”
Sometimes, it can seem easy to slip into our normal routines every day of the week.
Father William Saunders says,
“Despite our very complex and busy modern times, we must strive to keep the ‘Sabbath Day’—Sunday—holy. Our first priority is to worship God publicly by participating at holy Mass. Since the days of the Apostles, the Church community has gathered together on Sunday to attend Mass.”
The Blessed Mother focused on this very commandment during an apparition as Our Lady of La Salette. It is truly a timeless message!
According to Father Thomas More Garrett,
“On Sept. 19, 1846, Mélanie Mathieu and Maximin Giraud reported having encountered a lady seated along the hillside outside a small hamlet in the French Alps with her face buried in her hands. The 'beautiful lady,' as the children described her, was crying inconsolably.
What were the reasons for her tears? When the children approached the lady to inquire, the woman spoke of two great causes that estrange people from her Son — blasphemy and the neglect of the Lord’s day.
Like many reported apparitions, Mary did not explicitly introduce herself to the visionaries. Her identity remained a mystery until the context and purpose of her discourse revealed what was left unsaid.
As she continued her conversation with the children, the crying woman expressed her deep concern about the empty pews at Mass on Sunday and the irreverent attitude among those who were present. Many chose work or other activities over worship. Worse yet, those inclined to skip Sunday Mass replaced the words of prayer with vain uses of her Son’s name. After making her affection and sentiment known to her young audience, the woman relayed the hope that her message would move many souls to restore a relationship with her Son through more faithful attendance at Mass.”
So, how can we keep Sunday as a day set apart for God?
1) Attend Mass.
“It would be easier for the world to survive without the sun than to do without Holy Mass.” – Saint Padre Pio
Of course, the best way to keep the Sabbath day holy is to attend Mass
2) Prepare a Special Meal.
Sunday is a day of celebration. Prepare a special meal as a reminder of Jesus' Resurrection! You can also add a special dessert to your normal meal rotation. There are many ways to involve food as a way to make Sundays stand out.
3) Rest and Reflect.
Rest is so important. Set aside time for an afternoon nap or leisurely stroll after truly reflecting on the day’s Gospel or homily.
4) Skip the Chores.
“In our fast-paced world, sometimes Sunday becomes ‘catch-up’ day—of running to the store, doing laundry, and the like. Granted, sometimes we have no choice in the matter. However, we should restructure our lives and strive to accomplish those tasks during the rest of the week. Then we can take good leisurely time for ourselves. All of us need time to read, think, meditate and talk with God in the quiet of our hearts,” Father William Saunders says.
5) Engage in Spiritual Reading or Entertainment.
Although there is nothing in the Catechism of the Catholic Church that prohibits secular entertainment on the Lord’s Day, try to focus on books or movies that point your mind to God!
6) Focus Activities Around Family and/or Community.
During the week, our relationships can get pushed to the side. Make time on Sunday to reconnect with loved ones! Call your parents, have a tech-free afternoon with your children, or get together with fellow parishioners after Mass for donuts.