2224. What is the third commandment? (CCC 2168) The third commandment is: “Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.”

2225. What is the origin of the Sabbath day? (CCC 2169) The origin of the Sabbath day is the time of creation when God, after having made the world, rested the seventh day and blessed and hallowed it.

2226. What three facts does the Sabbath day recall? (CCC 2169-2171) The Sabbath day recalls:
1. the creation of the world
2. the liberation from Egypt
3. the irrevocable covenant.

2227. Why is the Sabbath the model for human action? (CCC 2172) The Sabbath is the model for human action, because it teaches man to rest so that God can act in him.

2228. How does Christ give the definite explanation of the Sabbath? (CCC 2173) Christ gives the definite explanation of the Sabbath by saying: “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mk 2).

2229. What day of the week is the Lord’s Day? (CCC 2174) The Sunday, first day of the week, is the Lord’s Day.

2230. Why is the first day of the week the Lord’s Day? (CCC 2174) The first day of the week is the Lord’s Day, because it is the day of Christ’s Resurrection.

2231. Why is the Sabbath replaced by the Sunday? (CCC 2175) The Sabbath is replaced by the Sunday, because the Sunday as the day of Christ’s Resurrection fulfils the spiritual truth of the Jewish Sabbath and announces man’s eternal rest in God.

2232. What is the foremost holy day of obligation in the universal Church? (CCC 2177) The foremost holy day of obligation in the universal Church is the Sunday.

2233. What are the Church’s ten holy days of obligation? (CCC 2177) The Church’s ten holy days of obligation are:
1. Christmas
2. Epiphany
3. Ascension
4. Corpus Christi
5. the feast of the Mother of God on January 1
6. Immaculate Conception
7. Assumption
8. the feast of St Joseph
9. the feast of the apostles Peter and Paul
10. All Saints.

2234. Why can we not pray at home as at church according to St John Chrysostom? (CCC 2179) According to St John Chrysostom (around AD 400), we cannot pray at home as at church, because in the church we find:
1. a great multitude that cries out to God as from one great heart
2. the union of minds
3. the accord of souls
4. the bond of charity
5. the prayers of the priest.

2235. On what days are the faithful bound to attend Mass? (CCC 2180) The faithful are bound to attend Mass on Sundays and other holy days of obligation.

2236. How is the obligation to attend Mass satisfied? (CCC 2180) The obligation to attend Mass is satisfied by assistance at a Mass which is celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the holy day or on the evening of the preceding day.

2237. When are the faithful excused from attending Mass on days of obligation? (CCC 2181) The faithful are excused from attending Mass on days of obligation in the case of:
1. a serious reason
2. dispensation by their own pastor.
A serious reason is e.g. illness, the care of infants or when no Mass is available.

2238. What kind of sin is the deliberate failure to attend Mass on days of obligation? (CCC 2181) The deliberate failure to attend Mass on days of obligation is a grave sin.

2239. What may the faithful do if Sunday Mass is not available? (CCC 2183) If Sunday Mass is not available the faithful may:
1. take part in the Liturgy of the Word if it is celebrated or
2. engage in prayer for an appropriate amount of time personally or in groups.

2240. What activities must be avoided on Sundays and other holy days of obligation? (CCC 2185) The activities that must be avoided on Sundays and other holy days of obligation are those that hinder:
1. the worship owed to God
2. the joy proper to the Lord’s Day
3. the performance of the works of mercy
4. the appropriate relaxation of mind and body.

2241. Why should Sundays and holy days of obligation be legal holidays? (CCC 2188) Sundays and holy days of obligation should be legal holidays, because they are a precious contribution to the spiritual life of society.