Holy Days of Obligation

Regnum Christi Spirituality Center Ask a Priest

“Ask a Priest: Is it OK to Exercise on Sundays?”

Q: Would you please be able to tell me Church teaching on doing exercise/working out on Sundays? Is it wrong to do this or is it OK? Thank you very much for your time and the work you do! -C.S.

Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC

A: Your question touches on the first precept of the Church, “You shall attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation and rest from servile labor.”

Two numbers in the Catechism help us to understand the context of the precept:

2184 Just as God “rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done,” human life has a rhythm of work and rest. The institution of the Lord’s Day helps everyone enjoy adequate rest and leisure to cultivate their familial, cultural, social, and religious lives.

2185 On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are to refrain from engaging in work or activities that hinder the worship owed to God, the joy proper to the Lord’s Day, the performance of the works of mercy, and the appropriate relaxation of mind and body. Family needs or important social service can legitimately excuse one from the obligation of Sunday rest. The faithful should see to it that legitimate excuses do not lead to habits prejudicial to religion, family life, and health.

In practical terms we could say: If exercise impedes you from worship, do it on another day; if exercise impedes you from “adequate rest and leisure,” do it on another day.

In the mind of the Church, the Lord’s Day needs to be different from other days. So how we choose to live that day should reflect this difference. That choice is in your hands. Prayer will help you make the right choice.

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Regnum Christi Spirituality Center Ask a Priest

“Ask a Priest: Is it a sin if I miss Sunday Mass while on a cruise?”

Q: I have been invited to go on a cruise with my family. If there is not a priest on board, I will miss Sunday Mass. I attend Mass daily. May I do this without committing sin? I am 80 years old, and will be with my daughter, her husband and two grandchildren over 18. -T.A.

Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC

A: The ideal would be to find a cruise line that ensures a priest’s presence on Sundays and holy days of obligation. But many moral theologians would say in this case the obligation is not binding.

Church documents give guidance in this case. The Catechism in No. 2181 says that “the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation, unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants) or dispensed by their own pastor.”

That sentence in the Catechism cites No. 1245 of the Code of Canon Law. This canon says that “for a just cause and according to the prescripts of the diocesan bishop, a pastor can grant in individual cases a dispensation from the obligation of observing a feast day or a day of penance or can grant a commutation of the obligation into other pious works.”

If you want to rest easy, you could follow the spirit of that canon, which implies that your pastor could dispense you from Mass in this case. Of course, if the ship stops in a port town where Sunday Mass is available, you should try to attend the Mass. I hope this helps. God bless.

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Alex Kucera

Atlanta

Alex Kucera has lived in Atlanta, GA, for the last 46 years. He is one of 9 children, married to his wife Karmen, and has 3 girls, one grandson, and a granddaughter on the way. Alex joined Regnum Christi in 2007. Out of the gate, he joined the Helping Hands Medical Missions apostolate and is still participating today with the Ghana Friendship Mission.

In 2009, Alex was asked to be the Atlanta RC Renewal Coordinator for the Atlanta Locality to help the RC members with the RC renewal process. Alex became a Group Leader in 2012 for four of the Atlanta Men’s Section Teams and continues today. Running in parallel, in 2013, Alex became a Team Leader and shepherded a large team of good men.

Alex was honored to be the Atlanta Mission Coordinator between 2010 to 2022 (12 years), coordinating 5-8 Holy Week Mission teams across Georgia. He also created and coordinated missions at a parish in Athens, GA, for 9 years. Alex continues to coordinate Holy Week Missions, Advent Missions, and Monthly missions at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Cumming, GA.

From 2016 to 2022, Alex also served as the Men’s Section Assistant in Atlanta. He loved working with the Men’s Section Director, the Legionaries, Consecrated, and Women’s Section leadership teams.

Alex is exceptionally grateful to the Legionaries, Consecrated, and many RC members who he’s journeyed shoulder to shoulder, growing his relationship with Christ and others along the way. He knows that there is only one way, that’s Christ’s Way, with others!