God's name, vows, and the Lord's Day

Question 345

What is the second Commandment?

The second Commandment is: Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.

Question 346

What are we commanded by the second Commandment?

We are commanded by the second Commandment to speak with reverence of God and of the saints, and of all holy things, and to keep our lawful oaths and vows.

Question 347

What is an oath?

An oath is the calling upon God to witness the truth of what we say.

Question 348

When may we take an oath?

We may take an oath when it is ordered by lawful authority or required for God's honor or for our own or our neighbor's good.

Question 349

What is necessary to make an oath lawful?

To make an oath lawful it is necessary that what we swear to, be true, and that there be a sufficient cause for taking an oath.

Question 350

What is a vow?

A vow is a deliberate promise made to God to do something that is pleasing to Him.

Question 351

Is it a sin not to fulfill our vows?

Not to fulfill our vows is a sin, mortal or venial, according to the nature of the vow and the intention we had in making it.

Question 352

What is forbidden by the second Commandment?

The second Commandment forbids all false, rash, unjust, and unnecessary oaths, blasphemy, cursing, and profane words.

Question 353

What is the third Commandment?

The third Commandment is: Remember thou keep holy the Sabbath day.

Question 354

What are we commanded by the third Commandment?

By the third Commandment we are commanded to keep holy the Lord's day and the holydays of obligation, on which we are to give our time to the service and worship of God.

Question 355

How are we to worship God on Sundays and holydays of obligation?

We are to worship God on Sundays and holydays of obligation by hearing Mass, by prayer, and by other good works.

Question 356

Are the Sabbath day and the Sunday the same?

The Sabbath day and the Sunday are not the same. The Sabbath is the seventh day of the week, and is the day which was kept holy in the Old Law; the Sunday is the first day of the week, and is the day which is kept holy in the New Law.

Question 357

Why does the Church command us to keep the Sunday holy instead of the Sabbath?

The Church commands us to keep the Sunday holy instead of the Sabbath because on Sunday Christ rose from the dead, and on Sunday He sent the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles.

Question 358

What is forbidden by the third Commandment?

The third Commandment forbids all unnecessary servile work and whatever else may hinder the due observance of the Lord's day.

Question 359

What are servile works?

Servile works are those which require labor rather of body than of mind.

Question 360

Are servile works on Sunday ever lawful?

Servile works are lawful on Sunday when the honor of God, the good of our neighbor, or necessity requires them.

Truthful speech before God

Questions 345, 346, 347, 348, 349, 350, 351, 352

God's name must be used with reverence. A lawful oath concerns truth, justice, judgment, and a sufficiently serious matter; false or reckless oaths profane truth. A vow is a deliberate promise to God and should not be made impulsively; legitimate authority can dispense or commute vows in cases established by law.

Sunday and Christ's Resurrection

Questions 353, 354, 355, 356, 357

Sunday is the Christian Lord's Day, rooted in the first day and the Resurrection, not a claim that the biblical Sabbath and Sunday are identical. Catholics participate in Mass on Sundays and holy days unless excused by a serious reason or dispensed.

Worship, joy, rest, mercy

Questions 358, 359, 360

The older category servile work should be read through the present rule: avoid work and affairs that hinder worship, the joy of the day, or suitable rest. Necessary family care, essential services, and works of mercy can be lawful; workers should not be burdened without need.

Matthew 5:33–37

Jesus rejects manipulative oath-taking and calls disciples to speech whose yes and no are trustworthy.

33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: 34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: 35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

Acts 20:7–12

The disciples gather to break bread on the first day, an early scriptural witness to Christian Sunday worship.

7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. 8 And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together. 9 And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. 10 And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him. 11 When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed. 12 And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.