Working on Sunday, Mortal Sin?

[Cary.Melvin]

Hello all,

Work at my office has been very busy as of late and I had to work this Sunday. Is this a mortal sin to do this? I did go to mass this morning but I decided at the last second not to recieve communion because I was not sure.

Should you recieve communion if you think that you might be in mortal sin, but are not sure?

What should have I done?

Thanks,

 

[Irenaeus]

Cary,

I think there is a way for your Parish Priest to grant you a dispensation so you can attend Mass another day and have it fulfill your Sunday Obligation. You should ask your Priest about this, perhaps. I may be mistaken, but I am 80% sure I've heard it done before.

We're Christians living in the world. Sometimes we have to do what we have to do...

The Church says we must try to refrain from unnecessary work on Sundays. Read the Catechism on the 3rd Commandment.

 

[Cary.Melvin]

Cary,

I think there is a way for your Parish Priest to grant you a dispensation so you can attend Mass another day and have it fulfill your Sunday Obligation. You should ask your Priest about this, perhaps. I may be mistaken, but I am 80% sure I've heard it done before.

We're Christians living in the world. Sometimes we have to do what we have to do...

The Church says we must try to refrain from unnecessary work on Sundays. Read the Catechism on the 3rd Commandment.

I went to mass, but I worked the rest of the day. Is that a sin? If so can it be mortal?

 

[Rosa Mystica]

I went to mass, but I worked the rest of the day. Is that a sin? If so can it be mortal?

Do you absolutely need the income? If so, there is no sin in working on a Sunday if you can still get to Mass. I'm in a position where I have to work Sundays, and would never do this if it was a mortal sin.

 

[Rosa Mystica]

Should you recieve communion if you think that you might be in mortal sin, but are not sure?

If I were you, I would have received Communion. Rule of thumb for you: if you are unsure of having committed a mortal sin, then you haven't committed a mortal sin. Remember, that one of the criteria for a mortal sin is sufficient reflection, something which doesn't apply in this instance.

 

[jukesk9]

Father Lange gave a homily last week on resting on the sabbath. His points were the sabbath is for rest and relaxation, like the Lord did on the seventh day. If you have to work, ie your employers who pay the bills and put food on the table for you and your family, then you aren't sinning. He made good points that if you are off on a Sunday, spend it with your family having fun avoiding all unnecessary work.

 

[Miss Shelby]

Medical professionals have to work on Sundays. People get sick every day of the week. I seem to recall Jesus healing on the Sabbath.

Michelle

 

[Victrixa]

If you're obliged to work on Sunday, then it's not a mortal sin. If you're not obliged to work on Sunday but go to work anyway, well, it is not right because Sunday is the Lord's Day and must be sanctified. Don't feel guilty if you have to work on Sunday, if your boss makes you work on that day. If that's the case, than that's not your fault. Be at peace. As long as you can make it to Mass on Sunday, you're fine brother!

Pax Christi,

Caroline

 

[Polycarp1]

I love the wonderful, compassionate yet clear explanations people have given here.

One aspect that has not been addressed: Suppose you are a worker in a responsible job, whose work is essential to the company's "product" (good or service). You may not have a Simon Legree for a boss who requires you to work on Sunday, but your conscience tells you that you have a prudential duty to your employer to devote a given Sunday to the completion of a necessary task in accordance with deadlines.

In such a case, I'm given to understand, you must weigh this against your responsibility to a just but compassionate God, determine that you do owe that duty to your employer, then request the dispensation from your Sunday obligation from your priest, and later set aside "comp. time" from work to the "keeping of the Sabbath" in the Christian vise -- the honoring of God by attendance at Mass, then time spent in rest and refreshment, and in "quality time" with your family (vile cliché, but accurate in this instance).

 

[Irenaeus]

Medical professionals have to work on Sundays. People get sick every day of the week. I seem to recall Jesus healing on the Sabbath.

I recall that too.

Good comparison.