Category Archives: post-conciliar liturgy documents

Counting can be a problem, at first glance. Old Testament literalists may fuss at Christians for shifting Sabbath observance to the first day. But in our weird way of counting time, and adding a dollop of the transcendant to the … Continue reading →

With these two sections, John Paul II looks at “The day of the new creation.” He cites Jewish/Christian connections in the Scriptures. Linking the Creation account with the Christological hymn of the letter to the Colossians. 24. A comparison of … Continue reading →

It is a fact of history and a distinctive Christian theology that followers of Christ moved away from the Jewish Sabbath. The New Testament reports in many places that the early believers, led by the apostles, continued synagogue observances. But … Continue reading →

How did early Christians forge a Sunday, a Lord’s Day in a pagan culture? Somehow they maintained the rhythm of the week–and that may be no small feat, considering the week was a Jewish invention and not something followed in the … Continue reading →

A straightforward section for your consideration today. After the Gospel narratives (but before they were written) we have the witness of St Paul: 21. It was for this reason that, from Apostolic times, “the first day after the Sabbath”, the … Continue reading →

Pope John Paul II relies heavily on the witness of the Gospels to flesh out his examination of the Resurrection. Naturally: 20. According to the common witness of the Gospels, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead took place … Continue reading →

If Sunday is the day of the Lord, it is also the day of Christ. Dies Christi, the topic of Chapter II, extends from this section to number 30. Subtitle: The Day of the Risen Lord and of the Gift of the … Continue reading →

Let’s wrap up Chapter I, Dies Domini, the day of the Lord. We began it in numbered section 8. A curious question for watchers of Judaism and Christianity: how did they come to celebrate the Sabbath on different days of … Continue reading →

Deuteronomy, the fifth book of the Torah (and the Bible, of course) inspires DD 17 and continues the theme of remembering: 17. The connection between Sabbath rest and the theme of “remembering” God’s wonders is found also in the Book … Continue reading →

Remembering is a holy activity. Sometimes it can be indulgent, harboring grudges and such. But in the context of Sunday, of worship, and of faith, sanctification is partly based on our memory. This section and the next fall under the … Continue reading →

In God’s graceful sanctification of time, human beings who believe offer a natural response of gratitude. And we are more than believers–we stand on a relationship with a loving God who responds to us in our need and comes to … Continue reading →

Some further elaboration on the metaphor of marriage. But John Paul II wants his readers to be aware of a more complete context to Sunday. First, Sunday is sanctified and declared the Lord’s own day: 14. In the first place, … Continue reading →

According to the Torah, “God blessed the seventh day and made it holy” (Genesis 2:3). Keeping the Sabbath is enscribed in the Ten Commandments as well–both in Exodus and Deuteronomy. 13. The Sabbath precept, which in the first Covenant prepares for … Continue reading →

More on the theme of Shabbat, the Jewish tradition of Sabbath rooted in God taking the seventh day as a time of joyful rest and regard for creation. The Sabbath is more than just Law, though it is rooted in … Continue reading →

Section 11, titled “‘Shabbat’: the Creator’s joyful rest” looks at God’s seventh day as an inspiration: 11. If the first page of the Book of Genesis presents God’s “work” as an example for (people), the same is true of God’s … Continue reading →