Part II, The Commandments: The Third Commandment of God

1. What are we commanded by the Third Commandment?

By the Third Commandment we are commanded to sanctify the Lord's day by performing works of piety and abstaining from servile works.

2. Which is the Lord's day?

In the Old Law it was the seventh day of the week,

or the Sabbath-day (day of rest), in memory of God's resting on that day, after He had finished the work of Creation in six days. In the New Law it is the first day of the week, or the Sunday, in memory of the accomplishment of our Redemption, which is a new spirits ual Creation (Gal. vi. 15).

'In six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and the sea, and all things that are in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it' (Exod. XX. 11; comp. Gen. ii. 2, 3).

3. How was our Redemption accomplished on the Sunday?

It was on a Sunday that our Saviour rose from the dead, and it was also on a Sunday that He sent down the Holy Ghost upon His Church.

4. What works of. piety, should we perform on the Sunday?

1. We are bound to hear Mass, and, if possible, we should also attend the other Divine Service, especially the Sermon and Catechetical Instruction; and 2. We should receive the Holy Sacraments, read books of devotion, or meditate on the great truths of our Religion, and occupy ourselves in works of mercy, either corporal or spiritual (James i. 27).

5. Which works are servile and forbidden?

All bodily works which are commonly performed by servants, day-laborers, and tradesmen.

"Works by -which the mind only is exerted are not numbered amongst the servile works. But all those noisy and those merely worldly employments, which disturb quiet religious observance, such as law-suits, buying and selling, etc., are also forbidden.

6. Is it never lawful to do servile work on a Sunday?

It is lawful : 1. When the Pastors of the Church, for weighty reasons, give a dispensation; and 2. As often as the honor of God, the good of our neighbor,- or urgent necessity require it.

It is lawful to engage in occupations which on ac' count of public welfare cannot be interrupted on Sunday, as for example, those of railroad employes, watchmen, bakers, etc.

Persons compelled to work on Sunday should consult a Confessor or Pastor.

Examples : Matt. xii. OflSciating in the Temple, v. 5. Parable of the sheep that falls into a pit, v. 11, 12. The Disciples plucking ears of corn, v. 1-4.

7. Are they only guilty who themselves do forbidden work?

No; those also are guilty who without any necessity require their inferiors, as servants, day-iaborers, or tradesmen, to do such work, or allow them to do it; for God says : ' That thy man-servant and thy maid-servant may rest, even as thyself (Deut. v. 14).

8= Is the Sunday profaned only by servile work and staying av/ay from Divine Service?

No; it is likewise profaned by debauchery, intemperance, and extravagant games, sports, and amusements, which make of the Lord's day a day of revelry and public scandal.

9. What should we particularly consider in order to be deterred from profaning the Sunday?

We should consider;

1. The temporal and eternal punishment with which God threatens such as break the Sabbath.

'Thej grievously violated my Sabbaths; I said, therefore, that I would pour out my indignation upon them in the desert, and would consume them' (Ezech, xx. 13). 'Keep you my Sabbath ; for it is holy unto you : he that shall profane it shall be put to death' (Exod. xxxi. 14).

2. That it is an unjustifiable heedlessness not to devote even so much as one day to the care of our immortal soul, after the body has been taken care of during six days.

3. That the observance of the Sunday is a public pro-

fession of our Christian Faith, and, consequently, that by its profanation we bring disgrace on our Religion, and give great scandal to our fellow-Christians.

Zeal of the Jews in keeping holy the Sabbath day (2 Mae. vi. 11).

Application. Always observe the Lord's day conscientiously, and never be induced to violate it, either by thoughtlessness and excessive fondness for amusements, or by the example of wicked or infidel people. ' God be merciful unto us ; it is not profitable to us to forsake the law (1 Mac. ii. 21).