Fr Derek Anton

In a past article by the Commission for Social Justice headlined: “Enjoying the right to work must not disrupt family life” (Oct 29, 2006), reference was made to the interdependence of work and the family.

It was rightly pointed out that in negotiating working conditions “many of us do not pay adequate attention to those factors that will affect the family relationship”. The point was made that work and work-related activities take up a considerable amount of an individual’s time.

This, I think, is an on-going general challenge that we have to deal with over time in relation to seeking proper values, focus and balance in life. I would like to suggest, however, that a specific issue that urgently needs to be addressed is that of free time on Sundays for personal and communal worship and for quality time for family members to spend together.

This is an issue that has drawn my attention over recent times in parish ministry. Very often the issue of attendance at Holy Mass on a Sunday (or Saturday evening) is raised in some pastoral context. Granted one can always make convenient excuses, but it seems to me that the incidence of longer hours/shift work/work on Sundays is increasingly becoming a hindrance to the observance of the Sunday obligation. I would like to share two of the more significant stories I have encountered in past months.

One concerns a young cashier who greeted me as I prepared to check out after purchasing some groceries. “Father, you don’t remember me?” she enquired. In fact, I did not recognise her and even as I looked at her badge, her name was not familiar. “Maybe”, I said, “I have not seen you for some time.”

She explained that she works the morning shift on Sundays at the supermarket. She really had wanted to come to Mass the previous Sunday, because she celebrated her twentieth birthday on that day.

She had wanted to give thanks to God, pointing out that many do not make it to twenty these days! Anyone paying attention to the daily news knows what she is talking about. It was a sad statement from a young person about life today. For her own benefit I advised her to try to attend Sunday evening Mass in a neighbouring parish.

We see the declining state of values in our society today, and we cannot deny that there is a link to the decline in family life. We see declining moral values. We witness the negative effects of all of this on the social fabric.

Do we stop to wonder: “How did we ever let Sunday become just another work day?” I have a vague recollection of the time when the law(s) was being changed. I remember seeing a cautioning letter written to the Catholic News from a spiritual mentor friend of mine.

 There may have been one or two others. I hope I am not understating the response, but I do not remember a hue and cry being made. We lament the current deplorable state of our country, but do we ever stop to think that we may be institutionalising the demoralisation process in our society?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church  (CCC) reminds us: “The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice. For this reason the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation, unless excused for a serious reason (…) or dispensed by their own pastor. Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin.” (#2182, emphasis added.) The latter may be news to some Catholics!

God’s law is not meant to restrict us but to free us to live more fully. The late Pope John Paul II reminded us that “In our own historical context there remains the obligation to ensure that everyone can enjoy the freedom, rest and relaxation which human dignity requires, together with the associated religious, family, cultural and interpersonal needs which are difficult to meet if there is no guarantee of at least one day of the week on which people can both rest and celebrate” (Dies Domini, Article 66). Can we not see a benefit of Sunday rest to the life of the individual, the family and society?

Work-free Sundays give us the “space” to deepen our relationship with God. We cannot overstate the value of Holy Mass – the faithful gathered in prayer, the nurturing on the word of God, and the spiritual nourishment that is the Body and Blood of the Lord.

The Sunday rest gives us “space” as well to gather as families, to share a family meal – for some, maybe the only time in the modern work-week this may be attempted, or even possible – and to socialise.

As a society, we do not seem to place too much importance on the value of reflection and meditation. Our culture can be very “noisy”. If we do not have that “space” how can we engender faith in God?

How can we get to know God and what he wants of us? How can we engender the right kind of values? And how do we pass them on to those coming after us to inform behaviour and help foster an environment in which we can live again in peace? Sunday rest gives us this time, this “space”. So, whatever happened to keeping the Lord’s Day holy?

Modern life continues to push us in a direction that makes relationships less personal. John Paul II also reminded us that:  “Through Sunday rest, daily concerns and tasks can find their proper perspective: the material things about which we worry give way to spiritual values; in a moment of encounter and less pressured exchange, we see the true face of the people with whom we live” (Dies Domini, Article 67).

A shared day of rest can help us to more fully appreciate one another, to deepen our relationships in a modern society that will more and more face the threat of being pulled apart by “individualism”. Remember when neighbour used to look out for neighbour, and neighbour’s children?

The second story I want to share concerns a young man who said that he also worked on Sundays. In the course of that conversation he opined that today on Sundays, “only the rich can go to Mass, the poor have to work.”

Let’s not rush to make it a class war - I should point out that it was clear that this young man thought well of his employer, whom he considered treated him well.

It was a huge claim to make, but I would have to assume that this was his perception based on his experience. Again, how sad that a young person could find it fitting to reach such a conclusion.

The Church recognises that “traditional activities (sport, restaurants, 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…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” (CCC #2187).

The authorities and employers have a responsibility. The individual has a responsibility as well. It is easy for us to see the problem as relating to “the system” but we all have choices to make.

In the short term, for an employee trying to provide for his or her family, the issue may not be a simple one. But does not the community have a responsibility to work towards a long-term goal?

And what about the individual consumer - is it necessary to buy one’s groceries on a Sunday? Before you give your answer, consider where you were on any one of the Sundays of Advent leading up to the celebration of Christmas last year.

The shops and malls open for long hours on those days, attracting large crowds of shoppers. Think about the young lady cashier mentioned earlier. What is the effect on so many like her, who find it difficult to “keep the Lord’s Day holy”?

For some time now I have attempted to resist shopping on a Sunday. What would be the outcome if a large number of those of similar mind did the same? I can imagine the economic-minded reasoning that this will only hurt employees by reducing their income or even putting them out of jobs.

 In response to this we must consider if by continuing to work on Sundays, we are not depriving ourselves of the means to achieve an overall better quality of life – not just more money.

I think this is a crucial issue for our young people, our young married couples, and our young families. And would not the merchant still make his sale on another day?

The Catechism also instructs us that “In respecting religious liberty and the common good of all, 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” (#2188). Should we not do more to properly respect the Lord’s Day in our quest for better values, and for a better way of life?

This alone is not a cure-all for our nation’s ills but it is certainly one issue that needs to be addressed in seeking to bring about a change in the way we live in the long term.

Remembering to keep the Lord’s Day holy is being faithful to a command of the Lord (cf Ex 20:8). As with all God’s Laws – meant for our benefit - it is also a thing of value for all time, for our time. We must all reflect upon this – maybe during our free time on Sunday!