The Third Commandment

"Remember to keep the feasts holy"

COMPENDIUM

This Commandment orders us to honor God by worshiping Him on feast days. There were feast days under the Old Law, such as Sabbaths and other solemn days. Under the New Law, there are the Sundays and other feasts ordained by the Church. The Sunday was substituted for the Sabbath, and is called the Lord's Day, because Jesus Christ our Lord rose again on this day. Therefore, on Sundays, Christians are bidden to attend Holy Mass devoutly.

A good Christian keeps feast days holy: 1. by attending to Christian doctrine, which is imparted by sermons and by the Divine Office; 2. by receiving frequently, and with devout dispositions, the Sacraments of Penance and the Blessed Eucharist; 3. by the practice of prayer and of works of Christian charity towards his neighbor.

This Commandment also forbids servile works and any work that hinders the worship of God. The servile works forbidden on feast days are manual works, which are labors in which the body is more engaged than the mind, such as are ordinarily done by servants, workmen and artisans. To toil thus on a feast day is to commit a mortal sin, although, if the time spent in such toil be brief, the gravity of the fault is excused; and, further, works indispensable for life or for the service of God are allowed, and any others done for some serious reason; though leave should be asked beforehand from the parish priest, if possible.

The object of this prohibition is to enable people to attend divine worship more easily, and to mind the salvation of the soul, and also that they may rest from their labor; and, therefore, no honest and healthy amusements are forbidden on feast days. On such days, however, special care must be taken to avoid all sin and whatever may lead to sin, such as amusements and company that are dangerous.

CATECHISM

388. What does the Third Commandment: Remember to keep the feasts holy, command us to do?

The Third Commandment: Remember to keep the feasts holy, commands us to honor God by acts of worship on feast days.

389. What are feast days?

In the Old Law, they were Saturdays and certain other days regarded as specially solemn by the Jews; in the New Law, they are Sundays and other feast days instituted by the Church.

390. Why is Sunday sanctified instead of Saturday in the New Law?

Sunday, which means the Lord's Day, was substituted for Saturday, because it was on that day that our Lord rose from the dead.

391. What act of worship is commanded us on feast days?

On feast days, we are commanded to assist devoutly at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

392. With what other good works does a good Christian sanctify feast days?

A good Christian sanctifies feast days: 1. by attending to Christian doctrine, which is imparted by sermons and the Divine Office; 2. by frequently and devoutly receiving the Sacraments of Penance and the Blessed Eucharist; 3. by the practice of prayer and works of Christian charity.

393. What does the Third Commandment forbid?

The Third Commandment forbids servile works and any other works that hinder the worship of God.

394. What servile works are forbidden on feast days?

The servile works forbidden on feast days are those works called manual, that is, those material works in which the body has more part than the mind, such, for instance, as are ordinarily done by servants, laborers, and artisans.

395. What sin does one commit by working on feast days?

One commits a mortal sin by working on feast days; brevity of time, however, will excuse from grave sin.

396. Is no servile work at all permitted on feast days?

On feast days, those works are permitted which are necessary for life, or for the service of God; as well as those done for a grave reason, with leave, when possible, from the pastor.

397. Why is servile work forbidden on feast days?

Servile work is forbidden on feast days in order that we may the better attend to divine worship, and to the care of our souls; and to enable us to rest from toil. Hence, innocent recreation is not forbidden.

398. What else above all should we avoid on feast days?

We should above all avoid sin and whatever leads to sin, such as dangerous diversions and dangerous places of amusement.