The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1955-08-05
Turning the Sunday
Shopping Tide

There has been considerable effort throughout
the nation to stop the flagrant violation ot me %
servsnce Of Sunday day of rest AND prayer
The endeavor to do something about IL mas neen
somewhat Intellectual, principally due To lack ol
interest on the part of people generally IL seems
10 be the old story of Indifference
Possibly il is Just that indifference whlcn
should be attacked The Blessed VIRGIN dld y at Ia
Sallette in France in 1916. She told the niue cnil
dren to whom she appeared that unless people
stopped working on Sunday and stopped swearing
she would be unable longer to hold back the wrath
Of God Our Lady warned of an impending famine
il neonle did not obey Gods laws. But little heed
uas given Later between 1884 and 1885. abou.
million people in Europe died Of starvation
Not only is unnecessary Servile work forbidden
on Sunday but the growing tendency IN some
places IN cooperate in this must also be condemned
For those who buy from merchants who keep theif
stores open on Sundays are just as guilty as the
owner and employees who manage the store
The professor of moral theology at the seminary
In Cleveland Father William A. Bachmann says,
tthere is definite relation between the merchant
who opens his store on Sunday and the Catholic
who shops there Over the long pull IT is evident
that il buyers wouldn't buy, sellers couldn't sell
THE virtue of prudence he says, dictates thai
We use ordinary foresight to purchase the things
necessary for our needs over the weekend The
ideal situation is that Catholics should refrain
from all unnecessary buying on SUNDAY. And Tor
stores selling essential goods the theo0gian mas
suggestion also II is not necessary that all Of them
be open on Sunday therefore he suggests that such
o store rotate with others in the area and per
haps remain open one Sunday in four or five.
Regarding Sunday observance the words of Pope
Plus XII uttered in 1947 should be recalled. Ad-
dressing 250,000 members of Italian Catholic Aehon,
the HOLY Father said Sunday must become again
the day Of the Lord the day of alteration, Of glori
fication and reflection the day Of happy reunion in
the intimate circle of the family,
How will those Christians not fear spiritual death
whose rest on, those days is not devoted to
religion and pety. but given over 10 The allure
tnents of the world Indeed the result Of the
struggle between faith and unbelief will depend
to great extent on the use that each OF the
opposing forces will make of Sunday. Will II he
stamped clearly and unmistakably with the holy
Name Of the Lord or will that Name be profanely
ohscured and passed over?
Sunday is not to he returned 10 the old Puritan
concept of observance In addition TO works OF neces
sity and Of charity recreation is certainly permit
ted The day is one Of recreation, and such parish
SUNDAY programs as athletic events carnivals are
not forbidden hy the Third Commandment, since
they are obviously recreational charitable.
The example Of = store in Columbus which closes
IN Saturday but remains open on Sunday may be
cited as an objection II is presumably the belief
of the owner that Saturday is the day to be observ
ed as day nj prayer and recreation The answer
to- this is that only those who believe he does
should work in his store Sundays and only those
who believe as he does should buy there on Sun
days And we might hope that they truly observe
Saturday day nf prayer and rest They cannot
object If all Christians do not work in their store
on Sunday and IL they do not buy there Sunday.
Obedience 10 the Third Commandment Of God
turn the Sunday shopping tide