Confused about Holy Days of Obligation vs Works of the Law in Salvation Context

The job of the Church is to shepherd the flock. This is not something that is undertaken lightly. Just as a shepherd might use his crook to poke and prod a sheep back into the flock, less it stray and come to harm, the Church guides us for our benefit. The Church provides us with the bare minimum (if you read the Precepts this becomes obvious) of that which is good for us and leaves the rest to us.

I believe that this chapter of the Summa Theologica might also answer the question:

http://www.newadvent.org/summa/210201.htm

II. THE PRECEPTS OF THE CHURCH
2041 The precepts of the Church are set in the context of a moral life bound to and nourished by liturgical life. The obligatory character of these positive laws decreed by the pastoral authorities is meant to guarantee to the faithful the very necessary minimum in the spirit of prayer and moral effort, in the growth in love of God and neighbor:


2042 The first precept ("You shall attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation and rest from servile labor") requires the faithful to sanctify the day commemorating the Resurrection of the Lord as well as the principal liturgical feasts honoring the mysteries of the Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the saints; in the first place, by participating in the Eucharistic celebration, in which the Christian community is gathered, and by resting from those works and activities which could impede such a sanctification of these days.

The second precept ("You shall confess your sins at least once a year.") ensures preparation for the Eucharist by the reception of the sacrament of reconciliation, which continues Baptism's work of conversion and forgiveness.

The third precept ("You shall receive the sacrament of the Eucharist at least during the Easter season.") guarantees as a minimum the reception of the Lord's Body and Blood in connection with the Paschal feasts, the origin and center of the Christian liturgy.


2043 The fourth precept ("You shall observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church") ensures the times of ascesis and penance which prepare us for the liturgical feasts and help us acquire mastery over our instincts and freedom of heart.

The fifth precept ("You shall help to provide for the needs of the Church") means that the faithful are obliged to assist with the material needs of the Church, each according to his own ability.

The faithful also have the duty of providing for the material needs of the Church, each according to his abilities.

Today at 10:09 AM Chris†opher Paul said this in Post #5

Im still confused, sorry. I can see that these observances are GOOD for us, but why is it MORTAL SIN to neglect these days? Isnt this a "work of the law," so to speak?

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It's a mortal sin because if you knowingly disobey the precepts established by the Church, you are knowingly disobeying Christ who put the Church in charge of your well-being.

To keep the analogy going: The one who disobeys this precept is the sheep that refuses to rejoin the flock. Either the sheep will one day return, safe and sound, or may be eaten by the wolves. On its own, it takes its chances.

PS: Though I know you may not want to run to a priest with every question you have, none of us here have a degree in theology. For the best, soundest answers, don't look to a message board, look to a priest.

Christopher Paul,

Ewtn has a q&a forum. You could try that. I was going to post a question once, but I never did find the feature that would allow one to post, but I'm sure it's there. I'll try to find a link.


Okay, here you go.  Up at the top you just click on ask a question, I guess.   If you do ask your question will you pm me a link when you get your answer?  Thanks

http://www.ewtn.com/vexperts/conference.htm

Michelle

Christopher Paul,
if you cannot get the question answered, try forum.catholic.org

Say you lived in a different town from your spouse because of work, and you could only see them once a week, when you could drive to see them. Now if you were sick, or there was a snow storm, etc, and you couldn't make it, of course they would understand, they love you and while they want to see you, they care about your wellbeing more. Now if you've just had a long week at work, and you're tired, and you'd rather sleep in then go see them, or you'd rather hang out with friends... then it's a completely different story, then you're neglecting your spouse, which isn't good, and they probably won't be too happy about it. Christ is the bridge groom of all of us, but all too often when we make decisions about how much time can I set aside to talk to Him in prayer, how often can I make it to Church (ie can I make it during the week), we start thinking in terms of duties, and start thinking, oh, He won't mind this or that, but if we think in terms of, I can talk to my Lover now, or I can go see Him now, we see that of course we have to pray, and we have to go. We see in the Old Testament that God is a jealous God, not becuase He's petty, but because He knows what's best for us and wants that for us, so just as a spouse would be upset if we neglected them that one day of the week, I can understand how God wouldn't be too happy with it either.

11th April 2003 at 10:36 AM Chris†opher Paul said this in Post

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#1

Its a mortal sin to miss Mass or to neglect Holy Days. I suspect not eating meat during Fridays of Lent falls under this category as well. How do we reconcile this teaching with Scripture that speaks against the Jewish Laws on the similiar actions.

Aren't we repeating their same mistakes?



Galatians 4:9-11

But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?
You observe days and months and seasons and years.
I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain.

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Hi Chris,

While I don't claim to know everything, I think Galatians 4:9-11 cannot be applied to what we're referring to.  I may be wrong, but he's my reason:

Galatians 4:9-11 is referring to 'elemental things' or 'miserable principles'.  The Greek word for element/principle is 'Stoicheion'.  This is important because we see that in the same chapter, the 'elements' brought bondage (Gal 4:3)

Compare this...

But now that you know God--or rather are known by God--how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? (Stoicheion) Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you. (Galatians 4:9-11)

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With this...

Since you died with Christ to the basic principles (Stoicheion) of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. (Col 2:20-21)

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Unless I'm reading this incorrectly, this has to do with the Mosaic law and how the pharisees were 'shutting the kingdom'.  In other words, I think this has to do with the old covenant legalistic pharisaic era of the Jews during Jesus's time, because we know that the letter to the Galatians was about those who were turned back to the old covenant ways.

That's not to say the special days are bad, but rather the fact is they're going back to the old covenant pharisaic world, just as we know St. Peter was dealt with the issue of old covenant circumcision (Acts 15:11), which is comparable to Ephesians 2:8-9.  And we know that Ephesians passage tears apart the whole idea of works of the law, which the Galatians were seemingly turning back to.

Ok...that took a while =P

God bless!

-Jason

That would be my guess. Christian traditions as opposed to legalitic works of the Law.