A. Answer with one of these words: work, rest, Saturday, Sunday, sin, talk.

1. Sunday, or the Lord’s day

   God orders to dedicate Him a day of the week in a special way; a day to Him and to our rest. The Israelites celebrated Saturday, as Moses was ordered in the Sinai; but the Apostles chose Sunday, the day in which Jesus resurrected. Also, Sunday was the day when the Holy Spirit came to the Apostles in the day of Pentecost. Sunday means day of the Lord, and it is called on this way as a memorial of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

2. The holy days of obligation

         In adittion to Saturday, the Israelites celebrated other festivities along the year: the most important one was Easter. As Christians, we also celebrate festivities when we commemorate the main mysteries of Jesus' life: Christmas, Epiphany, Presentation at the Temple, Corpus Christi...; of the Holy Virgin: Divine Motherhood, Immaculate Conception, Assumption, Visitation...; and of the saints: Saint Joseph, Saint Peter...

        The Church decides which festivities are holy days of obligation; the ones which we must sanctify as if they woud be Sunday. In Catholic liturgy, the most important festivity is the Easter or Resurrection of Christ, which repeats every Sunday.

3. Going to mass

  Although every day must be lived in a holy way, God wanted us to worship Him on Sunday and holy days. How can we sanctify these days? Mainly, going to mass. The mass is the highest way of worshipping we can do in our world. As the first Christians did, we are reunited around the altar and the priest- who embodies Christ- to celebrate the holy sacrifize of the mass.

  B. There are 7 true sentences and 2 wrong ones. Choose the correct ones.

4. The obligation of going to mass on Sunday and holy days

   To help us to fulfil the third commandment of God’s law, the Church has imposed the obligation of listening the whole mass on Sunday and on days of obligation. This commandment force those Christians who are older than 7 years old to go to mass. Those who don’t go to mass commit mortal sin, unless they have serious and just causes to do it, as if they are ill or live far away from a church. If we are not sure about our causes, we must ask for advice.

    The Church has power and authority to impose this obligation and to dictate laws, and its only aim is to help us to fulfill God’s will. On this way, the third commandment of God’s law is concretized.

5. How to assist to mass

   The precept compel to listen the whole mass on Sunday and Holy Days- or eve days-, following it with care and attention. For this reason, we must arrive promptly, listen carefully the readings and the homily and be quiet and attentive for a better participation in the act.

6. Resting on holidays

    Human life is a combination of work and rest. Sunday rest helps everybody to enjoy their resting time, giving us a valuable time to be with our families and to have a cultural, social and religious life.

    On Sunday and holy days, Christians must avoid works and activities which prevent us from being grateful to God and better enjoy the happiness of a day dedicated to God’s workship and take rest mind and body.

    We can rest with healthy competitions, like sports or trips, with our family and friends... But without offending God, primarily on holy days.

Curso de Catequesis. Don Jaime Pujol Balcells and Don Jesús Sancho Bielsa. EUNSA. Navarra. 1982. With permission from the authors.

C. There are 6 true sentences and 3 false ones. Choose the correct ones.