, 1873-07-06
THE CATHOLIC SUNDAY.


itciana Of this city havo produced discussion
of tho Justice OF statutes known as Sunday lnws.
On tho ono hand, Sunday laws havo heen de-
nounced as tho offspring Of fanntical Puritan
lam, aud on tho other, IN opposition to than is
declared to DO the result Of irreligion and anti
Christian sentimonts. In this discussion there
hns been IN eudoayor to mako this question tho
ruling ono In the choice Of municipal goyorn-
mants, and tho rigid Bahhatariana and the frco-
thinking opponeuts Of ali religion havo alike
called upon the people to take position under
ono or tho othor Of theao aags, and thht tho cit
izeus vote for establishing, hero in Chicago, the
Puritan Sabbath" or vote to abolish all rocog-
milton Of Bunday ut oil. Thosc two factions, in
fact, represent but very small portion Of tho
rational-thnking people Of Chicago. Thoy arc
literally factions, and it Ia, Perhaps rather I'M
pudent for them to thrust their notions to tho
front and ask, or expooe. TINT the great body Of
the people shall accept one Or the other, when,
Tho Catholic population Of Chicago, and Of all
other places, hhyo an interest in this question,
and it IL not one on which they aro divided, nor
upon which thoy have any trouble in roaohing
no doubts or uncertainties as to his duty in tho
matter OF Sunday observance. From tho day ho
ia able to comprehend my instruction at oil, ho
IL instructed to hia religious obligations, in
Guiding What he MuSt d. and h what b b. mnst a; not
Catholic child In Chicago, 7 years Of age,
who IL not fully informed as to what Is lawful
for him to do on that day, and what is required
Of him. Thoro aro bnt fow Catholics-at all In
Lords Day Of the Christian Church is not the
ind TINT 1t is day set apart by
tho Church, upon Which all men shall
unite in the public Worship Of God; who does
not know that by tic special command Of tho
Church, speaking In the namo of Its Divine
Founder, and by His authority, that on that day
oyory Catholic must devote a portion of his ti,ne
to this public worship, and that uuless ho do so
Ho is compelled, un1oss prevented by physical
lmpossibilltes, to attond and hour mass, and
devote portion Of tho day to prayers, pious
reading Or rooeivlng religious instEacsioln. r iIo
Lords Day, which commentaries the glorious
resurruotion Of the Savior, is festival. duy Of
rejoicing md Thanksgiving, day sot apart for
sanctiaod enjoyment OF Gods blessings and Of
praiHe therefor. He knows that ha il forbidden
and prohibited from doing my urnuco6-
sary work on TINT day, OF 10 commit any
other act which Touid be sinful on uny other
day. In tho course Of time, and tho changes
and production, thero arc changes in the ON
ploymentB OF men, What would be necessary
labor in ono country at ono age and in ono sea
son, would not be 30 In othar countries, tllero-
lore, HQHk MUulU Q9 III AllAHlQl DCEupHtlQu Ql
Sunday under one condition Of circumstances
would not not be at all unlawful uMdor othor
circumstances. The Catholic finds no difficulty
or uncertainty undor any circumstances upon
this point. The Church considers oacl, caso up
On its own merits, and directs its children nc
oordingly. When tho great Constantine first
gave imperial recognition to the institution of
the Lords Day, by the Church, AZ ono Of gem
oral and public worship, Ee decreed:
Lot all tho Judgaa and towpspeoplo and tho occupa-
tons Of ali trades, rest OH tho venerable day Of the
Sun but lot those who are situated y tho country.
aq 10 hs osr
critical nomon. beng 10. s mon .houa loae tho
That deoroo, prepared at the request and,
doubtless, undor tho oyo Of tho Bishops of tho
Church, embodieB the spirit Of tho Catholic
doctrine Of Sunday observance. The distinction
in the manner Of observing tho Lords Day, from
that Of koaping the Jewish Sabbath was strongly
impressed, and tho whole toaohng Of tho Church
was to destroy the idoa TINT the old Sabbath was
preserved under tho now Law. The Lords Day
owes Its establishment to tho Catholic Church.
ity Il tho Observance Of tho day for
general public worship, among the Christians,
except 30 far 81 avoidance of tho seventh day,
and finally tho Church, at worry carly day, set
apart the first day Of the week, called i the
acrvance. Tho Lords Day, therefore, is pecu-
liarly an establishment OF the Catholic Church.
instituted by It's authority AB the Church Of God
having control over tho spiritual welfare Of man
| kind.
Sunday ip, in addition to being day eet apart
for religious dutes day Of rest t,-rest from the
tolls and busy occupations Of men. It ia day
set apart whom thoy can leave their. worldly af-
worship OF God. 1t is also day Of rost for tho
| body. In tho command to rest from unnecessary
work is included, Of necessity, not only sua-
pension Of manual labor, but Of all occupation
arrests % tho iabor of tic mechanic, but Of tho
| tradeaman; though the latter may not perform
physical labor, the spirit Of tho law requires him
to close his place Of business, unless keeping 1t
The Catholic Sunday, therefore, may be d.
aoribed as day uhon the whole community,
| buapending commerce aud labor Of overy kind,
coIlecta tho young and tho old In tho churches,
and there Join together In public dovotiona to
ligious books, vialt tho stok, give alma to tho
poor, hunt up and comfort the afflicted. Having
performed faithfully al these dutios, they seek
and find recreation for body and mind in any
manner not Of itself sinful and not IN any way
ineonnistent with ths proper performance of the
| religious dutioa hlroady mentioned. Except In
tho matter Of abstaining from unnecessary labor,
| and in that Ia included evory worldly occupation
OF businesa for profit or GAIN there Is no proht-
ings Of life, that It would be lawful to enjoy on
any other day. Keeping always In mind tho
| prohibition Of all unnecessary work Or business
occupation on Sunday, any Catholic who has
faithfully performed tho religious dutiesrequirod
Of him, il ut liberty to onjoy auy .roorcation,
amusement, Or pleasure that Of itssif would be
harmless and innocent On any othor day, aud IL
In no wise q proclamation OF the Lords Day, 0,
inconsistent with tho laws OF the land.
Tho Roman Catholic, while under the sam {
obligation ~ all other citizona, to obey the laws
! and Tho constituted authorities, has upon him .
religious obligation to keep holy tho Lords Day
IIo ia not Vi hborty to dlsrogard ths Injunction
Ho doea not keep tho sabbnth day OF the Jews II
the manner prescribed, nor because of any OBJ
legation contained In tho Mosaic law. 10 OBJ
serves tho Sunday az an institution establlshot
by tho Church, by whom he ia commanded to re-
Bpaot II. The Roman Catholic IL tho only Chris
tian who recognizes tho imperative obligation tt
attond Church on tho Lords Day, md perform
other religious duties. Tho obligation IL pro
eiyoly tho same whether tho State or rnunicpa
law has anything to any on Tho subioot or not
Tho Roman Catholic, IN tho abaonce, Of IN.
"Bunday law,' IL under tho same restraints tim
-.I., rn1If If1fn