Keeping Sunday Special Edition

Inspired by Erin McCole Cupp‘s monthly Sabbath Rest Book Talk, I’ve been thinking about how our family does (or doesn’t) make Sunday special. I’m not too young to remember when most stores were closed on Sundays, which in itself set Sunday aside as different. These days, it’s business as usual, and I’m often surprised at how crowded the grocery stores are on Sunday mornings when we stop in to grab something.

In re-reading what the Catechism of the Catholic Church has to say about the Sabbath, I was struck by these lines: “It is a day of protest against the servitude of work and the worship of money.” Not much support from the culture on that one.

Here some ways we try to keep  Sunday special in our house and in my home growing up.

Church

 Maybe this goes without saying, but the primary way we keep Sunday special is by attending church. As Catholics, that means Sunday Mass. We prefer to attend as a family, but I’ll admit the occasional Mass without my littlest ones in tow is a blessed relief.

Breakfast

During the week, we generally eat cold cereal for breakfast. Maybe a muffin, toast, or fruit, but generally it’s quick and easy. On Sundays, we take time with our breakfast and enjoy eggs and bacon, toast, juice or hot chocolate, and occasionally a treat such as muffins, doughnuts, or a quick bread.

–3–

Fancy Dishes

We’ve gotten away from this a bit, only because of our lack of cupboard space. I’d like to return to it. Six days a week we eat from our regular dishes. The set that is missing pieces, has nicks and chips, and is washed up to three times a day. On Sundays, our meals are special because they are served on the “fancy” dishes reserved for holidays or company.

–4–

Recreation/Relaxation

Sunday should be a day for resting, napping, or generally relaxing guilt-free. It’s also a day to take time that we think we should be “getting something done” and enjoy a special activity. That could be a family hike, a walk, a bike ride, listening to or playing music or visiting a local attraction.

–5–

Prayer and Service

Here’s one where we could use some improvement! While we struggle to make time for family prayer or Bible reading on busy weekdays, Sunday, with its flexible, wide-open schedule, should easily allow for a family Rosary. We need to take better advantage of that opportunity and also seek opportunities to serve others.

–6–

Family

Sunday is a day for families. That means finding things we can all enjoy together. It also means it’s the day to make phone calls to long distance family members. I call my mother each Sunday evening. It’s also a good day to write letters, send cards, or pen other messages to family and friends offering news about our lives, well wishes, or encouragement.

–7–

A Sunday Drive

This is a leftover from my childhood that I truly enjoyed. Because my dad owned and operated a small business, he was reluctant to take vacations. Instead, our mini-vacations were Sunday afternoons, in which we’d physically get away from his business so that he wouldn’t be bothered by it. Dad also loved to drive, so we took long and extensive drives in and around southwestern Pennsylvania, often capping our adventure with an ice cream treat.

How do you keep the Sabbath special?

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