Course 4, Chapter 24: Christianity visible. — The days o f the week and month

1. How should we consider the days of the week?

We should consider the days of the week as a continual festival; during which we must not only abstain from all acts that may offend God, but also" pray to him and honor him by the holiness of our conduct.

2. Why have particular feasts been established?

They have been established to renew the fervor of the lukewarm, and to animate their courage, by recalling to their minds the great events of religion, and proposing to them new motives to be virtuous.

3. What name has the church given to the days of the week?

She has given them the name of feria, which signifies rest and rejoicing; to remind us that each day ought to be for us a day of rest from sin, and a day of rejoicing by means of a good conscience. 32

374 CATECHISM OF PERSEVERANCE

4. What particular devotion is attached to each day of the week?

The Monday is consecrated to the souls in purgatory; Tuesday, to the guardian angels; Wednesday, to the passion; Thursday, to the Holy Eucharist; Friday to the death of our Lord, and Saturday to the Blessed Virgin.

5. What were the Wednesday and Friday in the first ages?

The Wednesday and Friday of each week were days of station.; that is, days of fast, prayer, and assembling at the tombs of the martyrs. Hence the custom and the law of abstinence on Friday. At Home, Saturday has been a day of fast since the first ages; hence the law of abstinence on that day.*

6. What do you remark on the days of the month?

I remark that the church has given to each of them the name of a saint, in order each day to place before us the example of our brethren who are in heaven, and to encourage us to imitate their virtues.

7. What' must we do to respond to this intention of the church? •

We should read each day the lives of the saints; especially when all the family are assembled.