Section — Prümmer, Manuale Theologiae Moralis
§ 2. On the Utility of the Sanctification of Sunday and Feast Days
471. Alas, sad experience demonstrates more than sufficiently that, in those regions and families in which the sanctification of Sunday and feast days is little esteemed, faith soon vanishes, morals become corrupt, family life perishes, and even industrial progress is impeded. On the contrary, the due sanctification of Sunday and feast days produces the greatest benefits. For through it there is produced:
472. 1. The preservation of man's natural powers.
The physical powers of man, since they are limited, are quickly consumed unless they are restored by at least weekly rest. This rest is obtained much more certainly and efficaciously if determined days are appointed at fixed intervals, on which not only ordinary labors are interrupted, but spiritual refreshment also is furnished through religious worship. Certainly a man could also choose a day of rest of his own accord and worship God in a private manner, but this end is attained much more efficaciously if a determined day is established for all men by ecclesiastical and civil law. For by the force of the unavoidable competition existing everywhere, many men (especially laborers and artisans) would be compelled to labor more than is just, so that no time of rest would remain, if the law itself did not command Sunday and feast-day rest.
473. 2. A precious aid for the whole spiritual life.647
For man, oppressed by continual labors to sustain himself and his own, often distracted by various cares and anxieties, and enticed by many pleasures, gradually becomes totally immersed in material things; as the sad experience of all ages and peoples, among whom the faithful practice of religion was neglected, demonstrates. Witnesses are the ancient pagans, whose detestable vices and altogether irrational life St. Paul describes so graphically.648 "Bread and Circuses" cried those pagans, thus manifesting that they desired nothing other than sustenance and pleasure. But if on Sundays and feast days all are bound by force of law to cease from servile works and apply themselves to religious exercises, hearts are raised above matter to spiritual and heavenly things. After Sunday rest has been duly completed, men return eagerly, equipped with new powers of mind and body, to their daily labors, which they perform with greater energy. Hence it has happened that those peoples who faithfully observe Sunday rest are accustomed to surpass, even in commerce and industrial affairs, other nations which are accustomed to make little of the observance of Sunday. Therefore Sunday rest in no way impedes even the industrial progress of peoples. To this is added that, through religious exercises performed on Sundays and feast days, the moral and religious life of man is efficaciously promoted. Through sermons heard concerning matters of religion and morals, and through graces received in religious exercises, man is greatly assisted to detest vices and to lead a well-ordered life.
647 Cf. Tanquerey, l.c., n. 1014, and Gilfillan, The Sabbath Viewed in the Light of Reason, Revelation, and History. Edinburgh, 1867.
648 Rom. 1:21ff.
474. 3. The integrity of family life is fostered.
For the various members of a family are often compelled to occupy themselves with different labors throughout the entire week. Spouses are separated from one another, and parents from their children; but when they are reunited in the evening hours after their labors have been completed, they generally cannot, being tired in their powers, sufficiently enjoy the consolations of domestic life. But if Sunday rest is well observed, then all the members of the family can converse pleasantly together at least once in the week and foster mutual love. Especially, the good education of children is almost impossible without Sunday rest. For unless children are incited by the example of their parents to religious worship, they scarcely, if indeed at all, guard against irreligion and bad morals.
475. 4. The propagation of social worship, and even of the true Church herself, is obtained.
Christ founded a visible Church and consequently also requires visible worship performed by His Church. Such worship is social, that is, it must be performed by ecclesiastical society. Further, it is impossible for social worship to be completed in the due manner unless all the faithful are bound to assemble in churches at determined times. Moreover, it is very fitting and efficacious that such assemblies take place on Sundays and feast days, as perpetual experience demonstrates. It is likewise evident how good an influence religious services performed in our churches on Sundays and feast days exercise even upon non-Catholics who may be present. Therefore very many conversions have taken their beginning from attendance rendered at religious services. Thus the true Church is propagated through the social worship of Sunday and feast days.
From these things it is apparent that every effort must be made so that the observance of Sunday and feast days may take root more and more in the Christian people. Hence those associations founded for the protection of Sunday rest are to be fostered; hence civil laws already in force in several kingdoms concerning the observance of Sunday are to be commended; hence violators of Sunday rest are to be prudently admonished, and indeed, if they cause public scandal, they are to be denounced to the competent superior; hence, finally, let each person, by most religiously observing the Sunday precept, furnish a good example to others and procure spiritual profit for himself.