Catholic Holydays

Catholic Catechism Enlarges on Third [i.e., Fourth]

Source: W. Faerber, Catechism for the Catholic Parochial Schools of the United States (15th and 16th ed.; St. Louis: B. Herder, 1913), pp. 41, 42.

[p. 41] Third Commandment of God. Thou shalt keep holy the Lord’s day.

209. Which is the Lord’s day?

Sunday, the first day of the week, is the Lord’s day.

On Sunday, God the Father began the creation, God the Son arose from the dead, and the Holy Ghost descended from Heaven.—The Jews observed the last day of the week, the Sabbath, and the apostles, commissioned by our Lord Jesus Christ, substituted for it the first day, the Sunday.

210. Which days must we keep holy like the Sunday?

We must keep the Holydays of obligation holy like the Sunday.

211. Which are the Holydays of obligation in the United States?

The Holydays of obligation in the U. S. are:

1) The Immaculate Conception. December 8.

2) Christmas. December 25.

3) The Circumcision of our Lord. New Year’s day.

4) The Ascension of our Lord. 40 days after Easter.

5) The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin. August 15.

6) All Saints’ Day. November 1.

212. How must we keep holy the Sundays and Holydays of obligation?

We must keep holy the Sundays and Holydays of obligation

1) by not doing any servile work,

2) by hearing Mass.

[p. 42] "Six days shalt thou labor, and shalt do all thy works. But on the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord, thy God: Thou shalt do no work on it (neither) thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy beast" (Exod. 20:9, 10).

Servile works = such as are usually done by servants and laborers. Permitted in case of necessity. Dispensation.