50: Keeping the Lord's Day Holy
CHAPTER 50, "Keeping the Lord's Day Holy," explains that sanctifying the Lord's Day, as per the Third Commandment, primarily involves abstaining from profane labor as a negative yet profoundly positive act of homage, sacrificing personal gain to honor God. This rest, however, should not devolve into idleness or puritanical gloom, but should allow for proper spiritual and physical recreation. Beyond mere cessation of work, the commandment implies an obligation to engage in positive, public worship, which for Catholics means participation in the Sacrifice of the Mass. The chapter asserts that since the Church has the authority to designate the day and interpret its observance, Catholics are bound to attend Mass to fulfill their duty of Sunday worship, as no other act of religion can substitute for this central offering.
For the full audiobook can be obtained here. The contents of this volume appeared originally in The Catholic Transcript, of Hartford, Connecticut, in weekly installments, from February, 1901, to February, 1903.
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