The document explains the significance of the Sabbath and its evolution into the Lord's Day for Christians, emphasizing a weekly day of rest and worship rooted in scripture and tradition. It outlines the obligations of the faithful to attend mass on Sundays and holy days, as well as the importance of communal worship within a parish. Additionally, it addresses the need for rest, leisure, and charitable works on this day, promoting a balanced rhythm of work and spiritual life.

1. “Take care to keep holy the
Sabbath day… The sabbath
was made for man, not man
for the sabbath… [so] the
SON OF MAN is LORD, even of
the sabbath.”
-Deut 5:12a; Mk 2:27-28

3. Sabbat
h?

4. Sabbath
• A weekly day of rest or time of worship.
• Shavat/ savat

5. The Sabbath - Rest and
Liberation
• The third commandment says, "The seventh
day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the
Lord" (Ex 31:15). Scripture recalls that God
created in six days and "rested the seventh
day," thus blessing "the sabbath day" (Ex
20:11).
• Keeping the Sabbath is Israel's way of
remembering their liberation from Egypt, "The
Lord your God brought you out. Therefore, he
commanded you to keep the Sabbath day"

7. Sign of the Covenant
• Israel was to keep the
Sabbath as a sign of the
irrevocable Covenant to
recall both God's creation
and his saving actions for
Israel.
• The Sabbath is God's
model for human activity
for he "stopped working
and rested" (Ex 31:17). It is
a protest against the
servitude of work and the

8. Jesus' Interpretation
• Jesus always respected
the Sabbath, giving the
law its authentic
interpretation. "The
Sabbath was made for
man" (Mk 2:27). The
Sabbath is meant "to do
good" and "to save life"
(Mk 3:4). Jesus is "Lord

11. The Lord‟s Day

Jesus rose from the dead
“on the first day of the
week”; it recalls the first
creation and is the 8th day
after the Sabbath,
symbolizing the new
creation ushered in by
Christ‟s resurrection.

12. For Christians it has
become the first of all
days, the first of all feasts,
the “Lord‟s Day!”
 For Christians its
ceremonial observance
replaces the Sabbath
because it fulfills its
spiritual truth and
announces man‟s eternal
rest in God through Christ.
 The celebration of Sunday
observes the
commandment to render


13. A New Hope - A New Day

Sunday replaces the Sabbath for
Christians because Christ's Passover
fulfills the truth of the Jewish Sabbath.
The Old Law worship prepared for the
mystery of Christ. "We have come to a
new hope, no longer keeping the
sabbath, but the Lord's Day" (St.
Ignatius of Antioch).

14. Six Holy Days of
Obligation
The Sunday Eucharistic celebration
of the Lord's Day is at the heart of
Church life, "the foremost holy day of
obligation in the universal Church."
Canon 1246 also lists six other days as
holydays of obligation which have been
accepted by the United States bishops:

15. Christm
as

16. 1. Christmas

21. The Weekly Parish
Gathering
The practice of the weekly

Christian assembly comes from
the apostolic age. "Do not
neglect to meet together but
encourage one another" (Heb
10:25). "Come to Church early,
approach the Lord and confess
your sins, repent in prayer. Be
present at the sacred and
divine liturgy, conclude its
prayer, and do not leave before
the dismissal" (Sermon on the
Lord's Day).

22. 
The Weekly Parish
Gathering gather at
For Eucharist, the faithful
the parish (a stable community
entrusted to a priest by the
diocesan bishop). The parish
initiates Christians, gathers them for
celebration, teaches Christ's
doctrines, and shows charity in
good works. "You cannot pray at
home as at Church where there are
great multitudes crying out as from
one great heart. In Church, there is
the union of minds, the accord of
souls, and the prayers of the priest"
(St. John Chrysostom).

23. a Grave Obligation

"On Sundays and holy days the faithful
are bound to participate in the Mass"
(Canon 1247). This is satisfied in any
Catholic rite on the day or the evening
before (Canon 1248).

24. a Grave Obligation

“Under obligation of grave sin, the
faithful are bound to attend Mass unless
excused for a serious reason (e.g.
illness, care of infants) or dispensed by
their pastor (Canon 1245).

25. The Sunday Eucharist &
Obligation





The Sunday celebration of the Lord‟s Day and his
Eucharist is at the heart of the Church‟s life.
It is the day on which the paschal mystery is celebrated
in light of the apostolic tradition and is a holy day of
obligation in the Church.
The parish is the place where all gather regularly for
this communal worship.
“On Sundays & other holy days the faithful are bound
to participate in the holy sacrifice of the Mass.”
Participation in the communal celebration of the
Sunday Eucharist is a testimony of belonging and of
being faithful to Christ and to his Church.

26. a Grave Obligation

“By Sunday participation the faithful
witness to their belonging to the Church,
to their communion in charity, and to
their hope of salvation.

27. When No Priest

“If a sacred minister is not
available, the faithful should
gather in the Church for the
Liturgy of the Word, or set
aside time with the family or
with groups of families for an
appropriate period of time
(C1248 #2).

28. Day of Grace & rest
 The Lord‟s work enjoy adequate rest & leisure to
day helps us
fromfamilial, cultural, social & spiritual lives.
cultivate

On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are to
refrain from engaging in work or activities that hinder the
worship owed to God, the joy proper to the Lord‟s Day, the
performance of works of mercy and appropriate relaxation of
mind and body.

Family needs or social service can excuse one from the
obligation of Sunday rest.

Legitimate excuses should not lead to habits that are
prejudicial to religion, family life and health.

29. Grace and Rest
Sunday Priorities

“Human life should have a rhythm of
work and rest. By keeping the Lord's
day, the faithful cultivate their social and
religious lives.

30. Grace and Rest
Sunday Priorities

“The faithful must not engage in works
that hinder the worship due to God, the
needed works of mercy or the
appropriate relaxation of mind and body.
Family needs or social services can
legitimately excuse but should not lead
to habits that harm religion or family life.
"The charity of truth seeks holy leisure;

31. Grace and Rest
Sunday Priorities

“Christians with leisure should use the
day to help the sick and the elderly.
Believers should devote this time to their
families, and to prayer to grow in the
interior life.

32. Grace and Rest
A Common Effort Needed

Sanctifying Sundays requires a common
effort. Christians should not make
excessive demands on others. Although
traditional activities require some to
work, everyone should still set aside
some time. Public authorities and
employers should ensure citizens and
employees a time for rest.

33. Grace and Rest
A Common Effort Needed

Christians should seek recognition of
Sundays and holy days as legal
holidays. By defending this Sunday
Tradition, they will contribute to public
life. Even if a country's laws require
Sunday to be a "work day," Christians
should celebrate it as a festal "day of
deliverance.“

34. The Third Commandment






“Keep holy the Sabbath.”
God entrusted the Sabbath to Israel as a sign of His
irrevocable covenant with them.
The Sabbath is for the Lord; it is holy and set apart for the
praise and worship of God.
God‟s action is the model for human action; since God
rested on the Sabbath, man too ought to rest from his
labor and be refreshed in contemplation.
The Sabbath brings everyday work to a halt.
The Sabbath is a kind of „protest‟ or limit against the
servitude of work and the worship of money.