Comments on: Thursday, 5/4/17 – Dies Domini: On Keeping Sunday Holy

By: Mary Ortwein

Mary Ortwein — Thu, 04 May 2017 21:49:13 +0000

Thanks to all for comments. Today’s work on Keeping of Sundays and Pope Saint John Paul II’s Dies Domini focused on aspects of the letter that fit well with today’s Scripture readings. He addresses the questions people have raised in other parts of the letter. The questions raised about what is the source of choosing Sunday as the holy day, what remember the Sabbath and keep it holy, how the holiness of Sunday is the same or different from other days, relationship of Jewish law and Church provision–all are covered thoroughly in Dies Domini. For immediate answers, I would encourage you to use the link above and read it.

I will also look for opportunities to discuss these topics more thoroughly in upcoming weeks. Research shows that in the US, polls show from 24% to 55% of Catholics attend mass weekly. That’s a lot of variation! Pope St. John Paul makes the point clearly that mass attendance is only a part of what the keeping of Sunday means. It is more. So this is a topic that it will be good to explore more thoroughly.

Thanks for the questions and comments. The discussion is good for us all.

Mary Ortwein

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 04 May 2017 19:00:39 +0000

Hey Mary,

Actually, Jack has a pretty good point.

As most Christians and Jews know from the 10 Commandments, the Jews are to keep the Sabbath (the seventh day) holy. Of course this commandment originated in the Book of Exodus. The Catholic religion comes from the Jewish faith. So, why do we keep Sunday (the eigth day) holy and celebrate mass on that day instead of Saturday? You may say that everything changed when Jesus rose on the third day, which happened to be on a Sunday. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t recall it written anywhere in the New Testament that we are now to keep Sunday holy because of this. You might even read St Paul’s letter to the Romans (14:5-6a) and wonder why we keep Sunday holy at all. From St Paul’s standpoint, we should keep every day holy.

Yes, St Paul, through Jesus’ teachings, explains why the Jewish law (the Torah) is no longer needed. But the 10 commandments are never questioned, they are never rewritten and always needed.

So maybe a better question is why keep Sunday holy?

Mark

By: Vida Amoro

Vida Amoro — Thu, 04 May 2017 13:07:40 +0000

That super,Mary blessings

By: Bob Burford

Bob Burford — Thu, 04 May 2017 12:53:48 +0000

As a child Sunday’s were boring. Many states at the time had “blue laws”. Many businesses were closed including grocery stores and department stores. Today grocery stores are open and department stores are almost a thing of the past because of online purchasing. As I have matured, Sunday is no longer an obligation. It is something that I am drawn too and desirable. My connection to Jesus is an important thing in my life as well as the community I serve and worship. Any chance I get I search for that connection in daily mass. The scripture and the Body and Blood of our Lord are a feeding of the 5000 all over again. Eucharist is truly a source of rest and growth in the Spirit. God Bless.

By: Matthew Able

Matthew Able — Thu, 04 May 2017 10:56:06 +0000

Thank you for your reflection. It’s important to note what Jesus says that no one comes to me unless drawn to me by the Father. With that in mind I think it may be important to pray for the priest & Shepherds that Christ has placed before us as these are the methods used in which we are drawn.
P.S. I love Saint John Paul II and everything he’s done for us.
Glory Honer and Praise be to God.

By: Jack Findlay

Jack Findlay — Thu, 04 May 2017 10:28:01 +0000

The church watered down the distinction of Sunday when mass on Saturday satisfied our obligation. Just what constitutes a Sunday today? Are we permitted to carve out our own day of rest?

By: Alice

Alice — Thu, 04 May 2017 07:56:26 +0000

Thanks Mary for your insightful reflection
May the Lord God guide us as we celebrate Sunday Mass so that we may achieve maximum benefit to enable us live better lives so that what Christ has put in us may proclaim his love
God bless you Mary for your good work

By: Joseph Kpodo

Joseph Kpodo — Thu, 04 May 2017 06:59:12 +0000

Thanks to Mary for this INSIGHTFUL exposition of our SUNDAY OBLIGATIONS. I pray that the GOOD LORD grant me and all other people of GOODWILL the ways we can make SUNDAY a HOLY DAY