Results from my “highly scientific” Sunday Indulgence survey:
1. Do you know what the Sunday Indulgence is? (observed during Lent)
- 45.2% (28) Yes.
- 54.8% (34) No.
2. Do you observe the Lenten Sunday Indulgence?
- 27.4% (17) Yes.
- 22.6% (14) No.
- 50.0% (31) Since I have no idea what it is, how can I observe it?
3. Do you know where the Sunday Indulgence came from and if so, can you cite the source?
- Mass is always a celebration of the resurection, a mini Easter with the repitition of the last supper, etc. No idea of where besides Biblr and Catechism of Catholic Church. too lazy and pregnant to look up.
- Yes, In a decree dated August 3, 2002 by the Apostolic Penitentiary.
- Sundays are not considered part of lent as all Sundays are considered little easters
- The fact that Sundays are always feast days, and that there are no feast days during lent. So sundays aren’t part of lent. No idea where it comes from. Thought it was just common sense.
- Because there are more than 40 days during the lenten season, some think that you can take Sundays off. I don’t agree.
Sister Julie’s Comments:
The Sunday Indulgence (as I understand it) means that there is no fasting on Sundays (not even during Lent) because Sunday is always a feast day. It is the Lord’s Day, a day of celebration and joy. Even though Lent is a time of preparation for Easter, we live in the reality that Christ has already risen from the dead.
Though I hadn’t ever heard it called “The Sunday Indulgence”, it’s something that I always took for granted since I was a kid. I haven’t been able to find an actual church document that specifically addresses this but I’ll keep an eye out!
Grace MacKinnon, in her column “Ask Grace” at Catholic Online, confirms the gist of the Sunday Indulgence, though not citing it as such:
Every Friday is a day to prepare for Sunday – the day that, for us who believe, is Easter every week of the year. And Sunday is never a day of fasting (not even during Lent). It is the glorious Day of the Lord!
MacKinnon also provides some very good background on the season of Lent and our practice of fasting. She makes a great point that whatever we do, we are to do not just out of sorrow but love for God. Each Catholic must take the Church’s recommendations to heart and practice them in a way that is fitting to them (e.g., persons with health issues might not be able to fast from food).
Tomorrow … results from the question, “Since we’re talking Lent here, what are you fasting from?” …
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
deerose 03.03.08 at 7:52 am
I knew what the “Sunday Indulgence” was, I just didn’t know what it was called!
Desiree 03.05.08 at 12:34 am
Is this something we have to believe in?
Sister Julie 03.05.08 at 5:11 am
How you choose to fast, taking into consideration the Church’s teaching, is up to you and God.
Br. Dominic-Michael OHS 03.08.08 at 12:10 pm
I hope this thought is appropriate to the matter under review.
While Sunday is always a “feast day” as others have noted, we cannot divorce any Sunday from the Season in which it falls, in this case Lent. This is what I would call in anglo-catholic terminology a “penitential season”. The colours and vestments are violet/black, the selection of hymns and settings reflects the sombre penitential character of any celebration of the Eucharist during this time, and even the Offices are more subdued and restrained. The joyful music associated with Easter is out of place and in poor taste during Lent. Likewise, the notion that one can at 12:01 am on Sunday morning pig out and get drunk and still properly observe Lent is absurd. The whole tenor of Lent must be carried through the Sundays that fall within it, and this may as well include the personal disciplines we apply to ourselves the other days - if we fast at all.
So, yes, Sundays are a day apart - the Eighth Day - but not a day off of Lent.
in my lowly opinion…;)
Mom 03.09.08 at 5:03 pm
Br. Dominic, I agree with you. I had never heard of the “Sunday free day” during lent until I went away to college. It always seemed contrary to the purpose, so I never did it. Lately, there have been a few people who have tried to suggest that perhaps I just didn’t understand Catholicism because I didn’t celebrate more on Sundays during lent by taking a vacation from whatever I was working on….this always sticks in my craw, and I couldn’t think of a better way to explain it until I read your comment. Thanks…plus I know if I give myself the excuse to cheat on Sunday, I won’t be able to stick to whatever I am working on.