Expert: Fr. Michael - 8/1/2004

Question
I am a housewife and for a couple of years, I have been keeping Sunday holy in a special way.
Not by going to church only, but in staying away from work (I only do necessary kitchen work) and I also don't buy anything. Why should I observe a day of rest while forcing someone else to work?  This day of rest has become so satisfying that I look forward to it all week.  It is the day I have Time.  Time to play with the kids, talk to the neighbors, do some reading, invite someone over, I suddenly have time for everything.  It keeps me thinking about God even before Sunday because planning is often necessary to avoid working or spending on this day.

Well, even though it's been a couple of years and I am convinced it is a truly holy practice and a gift of God, my husband is not convinced.
He does not observe Sunday as I do.  When we are done with church, he is done observing Sunday. Even after all this time, he does not want me to observe Sunday in this way.  He would like us to go out and spend money every Sunday.  I do not keep him from doing this if he wants to on his own, but for some reason, he hates the way I choose to observe Sunday.

My question is this:  Am I wrong to observe Sunday in my way against the wishes of my husband?  We are Catholic.

Answer
Your practice is more in accordance with the God-given purpose of Sundays.  However, you will probably be able to make some compromise without violating the essence, while at the same time trying to win him over to your more Catholic perspective.  It takes patience and persistence.