Expert: Fr. Michael - 7/11/2011

Question
can u pls tell me what comes under keeping the Lord's day holy?
does it mean we do no work or buy things and stuff like that?
Also Sundays are the only off days so we tend to do our house work on those days. is it wrong to do that?

Also Jesus had said man is not made for sabbath but sabbath for man. So is ok?

Also isn't it better to work and keep yourself from being idle coz an idle mind is de work place of devil? also work is worship..

P.S. is it ok to watch movies or tv or use computer, internet, or even listening to music. Not just on Sunday but other days too..

Answer
The precept to keep the Lord's Day holy means first of all devoting some part of the day to religious observance, specifically assisting at Holy Mass.  Other devotions and religious exercises are also to be encouraged.

Secondly, the precept requires abstinence from servile work.  The day should be spent as much as possible in occupations of the mind and of recreation of the body and soul.  As much as possible, commercial activities should be performed on other days.  Normally, one would abstain from any significant housework, as it is servile work, but if there is truly no other day on which this can be done because of legitimate job responsibilities, it can be tolerated to just the extent necessary.  The other activities you mention are either mental or recreational, so there is no problem with them.