Third Commandment

1. What is the third commandment of God?
2. What did Jesus say about the third commandment?
3. What does the third commandment require of us?
4. What does the third commandment tell us to avoid?
5. Is it necessary to worship God?
6. Why do Christians celebrate Sunday and not Saturday?
7. Are Catholics obliged to participate in Mass on Sunday?
8. Why is it spiritually unwise to easily exempt ourselves from Sunday Mass?
9. Who are exempt from participating in Sunday or holy day Mass?
10. What is the Mass?
11. What is the best way of participating in the Mass?
12. How is the unity of God's people expressed in the Mass?
13. Can we not worship God in our own hearts instead of participating at Mass?
14. What activities are especially suited to make Sunday a holy day?

1. What is the third commandment of God?
The third commandment of God is:

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy...for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it (Ex 20:8, 11).

2. What did Jesus say about the third commandment?
Jesus said:

The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath; thus the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath (Mk 2:27-28).

3. What does the third commandment require of us?
The third commandment requires us to celebrate the holiness of the Lord's Day by observing it as a day of rest. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church says: "The Sabbath is for the Lord, holy and set apart for the praise of God, his work of creation, and his saving actions on behalf of Israel." (2171)

(What is said in this section about Sundays applies also to holy days of obligation.)

Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord (Ex 31:15).

4. What does the third commandment tell us to avoid?
We should abstain from work or business which would impede worship of God, the joy which is proper to the Lord's Day, or the proper relaxation of mind and body. (2185)

And on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed (Ex 31:17).

5. Is it necessary to worship God?
Yes, the worship of God is a duty inscribed on the human heart. In gratitude for God's goodness and providence we owe public, communal worship. The Sunday rest is the natural opportunity because it is the day we dedicate to God. (2176)

Do not neglect your assemblies, as some are in the habit of doing; encourage one another (Heb 10:25).

6. Why do Christians celebrate Sunday and not Saturday?
Christians celebrate on Sunday because it is the day of Christ's resurrection, which began a new creation, a new covenant with us. (2174-2175)

Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the sepulcher (Mt 28:1).

7. Are Catholics obliged to participate in Mass on Sunday?
Church law obliges Catholics to participate in Mass on Sundays and holy days (or on the previous evening). To deliberately miss Mass is a grave sin. To be excused from attendance requires a weighty reason such as serious illness or grave inconvenience, or being dispensed by one's pastor. (2180-2181)

8. Why is it spiritually unwise to easily exempt ourselves from Sunday Mass?
It is spiritually unwise to easily exempt ourselves from Sunday Mass because the graces that we need to live fervent Catholic lives come to us through the Mass. (2182)

9. Who are exempt from participating in Sunday or holy day Mass?
Some of those exempted from participating in Sunday or holy day Mass are the sick and those who must care for them, those who live a great distance from a Catholic Church, those who have an urgent work (policemen, firemen, medical personnel on duty, etc.), and those hampered by temporary difficulties such as weather. Anyone may freely consult a priest about his or her particular situation, and is encouraged to do so. (2181)

10. What is the Mass?
The Mass is the sacrifice of Calvary made present on our altars so that we may share in the benefits of the redemption; it is a memorial of the death and resurrection of Christ and a sacred banquet in which Christ is received. (See entire section on the Eucharist, pages 97-114.)

11. What is the best way of participating in the Mass?
The best way of participating in the Mass is to offer it to God in union with the priest and the entire faith community, uniting oneself interiorly and exteriorly with Christ the Victim, and by receiving him in Holy Communion.

12. How is the unity of God's people expressed in the Mass?
The unity of God's people is expressed by the actions of the faithful who pray, sing and act together in the Mass. Most of all it is expressed in receiving the Holy Eucharist which is the center of unity.

13. Can we not worship God in our own hearts instead of participating at Mass?
Interior worship is not enough, for God created us as social beings. Our unity in the Church calls us to worship with the community.

14. What activities are especially suited to make Sunday a holy day?
Reading a good book, doing good works of charity, cultivating our cultural interests and enjoying wholesome recreation are some activities suited for Sundays. (2186)