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The First Precept
You shall attend Mass on Sundays and on holy days of obligation
and rest from servile labor.
requires the faithful to sanctify the day commemorating the Resurrection
of the Lord as well as the principal liturgical feasts honoring the myster-
by participating in the Eucharistic celebration, in which the Christian
community is gathered, and by resting from those works and activities
Of course, this precept is based on keeping the Third Commandment.
(Please see the chapter in this book about the Third Commandment.)
One thing that many Catholics seem to have forgotten is that deliberately
missing Mass without a serious reason is a mortal sin. This is explained
in the Catechism, paragraph 2181. “For this reason the faithful
are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation, unless
excused for a serious reason (for example illness, the care of infants) or
dispensed by their own pastor. Those who deliberately fail in this obligation
commit a grave sin.”
As Catholics, we believe that the Mass is the highest form of prayer and
worship. The Catechism tells us, “The Sunday Eucharist is the founda-
Finally, Sunday is a day of rest, and “servile labor” should be left to the
other six days. The Church realizes that this is not always possible, that
some folks simply must work on Sundays. If this is the case, every effort
should be made to attend Mass, if not on Sunday, then on a Saturday
vigil.
For further study:
CCC 2042 • Exodus 20:8-11
Deuteronomy 5:12-15 • CCC 2180-2195