Catholic Info
Traditional Catholic Faith => Catholic Living in the Modern World => Topic started by: Dolores on June 02, 2016, 08:55:04 AM
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What type of work is acceptable to do on Sundays? I have often heard that "servile work," must be abstained from, but I've never gotten a clear explanation of exactly what that means. One woman at my chapel has been telling me (and others) that we must not do laundry, wash dishes, or clean in any way. She even stated that she will not make her bed on Sunday mornings. To be honest, my first thought was that this women was acting in a Jєωιѕн manner, but maybe I'm wrong. What can I do on Sundays?
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What type of work is acceptable to do on Sundays? I have often heard that "servile work," must be abstained from, but I've never gotten a clear explanation of exactly what that means. One woman at my chapel has been telling me (and others) that we must not do laundry, wash dishes, or clean in any way. She even stated that she will not make her bed on Sunday mornings. To be honest, my first thought was that this women was acting in a Jєωιѕн manner, but maybe I'm wrong. What can I do on Sundays?
This seems to be a common question among traditional Catholics because we take our Faith seriously, but some people tend to go overboard.
A have a friend who asked a priest about this topic and he said that work is considered servile work if it makes a person very tired, break out into a sweat, distracts them from the obligations of Sunday. But, what is work for some might not be considered as work for everyone...
Ie... Digging a ditch or constructing a house would be considered as servile work for just about everyone. But, working in ones garden might or might not be depending on how much time/effort was put into it.
Doing dishes, making ones bed and such I think would qualify as necessary servile work. There is a reason why the law says "All unnecessary servile work is forbidden."
So, try not to worry too much. Sometimes duty requires us to do a bit more than we might want to do, but I think that the idea is to take Sunday as easy as we can and keep it holy.
You have a good heart. I am sure that you will know what is best for you! :-)
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Just need to remember that: The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath.
The woman at your chapel has it wrong.
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What type of work is acceptable to do on Sundays? I have often heard that "servile work," must be abstained from, but I've never gotten a clear explanation of exactly what that means. One woman at my chapel has been telling me (and others) that we must not do laundry, wash dishes, or clean in any way. She even stated that she will not make her bed on Sunday mornings. To be honest, my first thought was that this women was acting in a Jєωιѕн manner, but maybe I'm wrong. What can I do on Sundays?
This is legalism to the max. You must use common sense.
There is more I would like to post but here is something from Outlines of Moral Theology by Fr. Francis Connell:
But work that can be put off should not be done on Sunday or a holyday (e.g. washing windows, fixing the car, etc.).
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I've mentioned before, our oven has a special "Sabbath setting" wherein it keeps the oven at a certain temperature all day Saturday, so that a "fire isn't lit" which would be breaking the sabbath.
Yes, your instincts were correct -- it is a classical example of Pharisee legalism.
I have met some Trads myself who are scrupulous about Sunday rest. For example, some won't even make a computer work on Sunday (they won't order things from websites on Sunday). I guess some poor PC server has to skip Mass to be plugged in to the Internet in order to take that order...
Obviously robots and computers are exempt from the Sunday rest. Following from this, we can command, coerce, recommend, consent, etc. to those robots/computers working on Sunday, and it wouldn't be a sin for us either.
So in the example of the car wash (above) -- you could drive as many cars through the "touch free" car wash (like they have at many gas stations today) as you could afford. As long as machines are doing all the work. Even those car washes where you put in quarters and stand there with a trigger spray hose and select different sprays (soap, hot water, cold water, wax, etc.) probably wouldn't be a problem, since you're just standing there. There's no scrubbing on your part, and these "car washes" have no employees. Some people feel the need to wipe down their car with towels afterwards, but if you're not one of those, you'd be fine using that kind of car wash on Sunday.
If you find yourself dreading Sunday, then you're PROBABLY being too strict about what you can't do on Sunday. Sunday should be a day you look forward to!
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Thanks for the responses, everyone.
As a follow-up, what about things that most people would consider work, but I do not? For example, I really enjoy gardening. Yes, it makes me hot, sweaty, and dirty, but it is enjoyable, and I consider it recreation, not work. This is something I would love to do on a nice Sunday afternoon, but certain people at my chapel would certainly tell me not to. The same thing with my husband and fixing cars. It is work for most people, but a hobby of his that he enjoys. I know some people enjoy jogging or other exercise, and do not consider it work.
Is there room for subjectivity here, or are there some things you just can't do, even if they are fun for you and not something you would consider "work"?
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I have a similar love for gardening and it's a great way to appreciate God's creation. Just ignore anyone who tells you gardening is work. For you and for me it is not work.
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Years ago I read in a book that anything over 2 hrs of servile work was not to be done, it was an old book and cited the need to milk the cows :)
I'm more concerned about not taking advantage of the fact that "others" work on Sunday. I don't think it's right to go shopping or dine out on a Sunday but I know plenty of traditionalists who have no problem with it. They don't want to "cook" on Sunday because it is "work" but think nothing of taking advantage of dumb pagans who don't know any better and do go to work on Sundays.
It's sad that we no longer live in a society that supports rest for the weary.
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Keep the Sabbath Holy. If you can take time to read catholic literature, maybe an extra rosary. In our family, we did things that families need to do, we played board games, besides the meals together. Visit those who are shut-ins, graves and such.
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One of the best examples of this I've seen was at a Catholic nursing home that did not give showers/full baths on Sundays. Thank you for bringing up this topic as I want to be me more mindful myself.
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Years ago I read in a book that anything over 2 hrs of servile work was not to be done, it was an old book and cited the need to milk the cows :)
I'm more concerned about not taking advantage of the fact that "others" work on Sunday. I don't think it's right to go shopping or dine out on a Sunday but I know plenty of traditionalists who have no problem with it. They don't want to "cook" on Sunday because it is "work" but think nothing of taking advantage of dumb pagans who don't know any better and do go to work on Sundays.
It's sad that we no longer live in a society that supports rest for the weary.
Wow that is unreal, what causes people to think like that? It's frightening.
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Traditionally, Catholic housewives would prepare Sunday's meals on Saturday evenings. I had some ancestors who did this for their many children.
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Traditionally, Catholic housewives would prepare Sunday's meals on Saturday evenings. I had some ancestors who did this for their many children.
Why would this get down-thumbed??? Cooking for 2 might not be "work", but cooking for 12 sure would be.
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Traditionally, Catholic housewives would prepare Sunday's meals on Saturday evenings. I had some ancestors who did this for their many children.
Why would this get down-thumbed??? Cooking for 2 might not be "work", but cooking for 12 sure would be.
Indeed. I cook for two, and I usually plan it out so I have to do as little as possible in the kitchen on Sunday.
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If you work as a 911 operator, a policeman, fireman, or a hospital, all those are acceptable jobs to work on Sunday.