Sunday, February 1, 2009

Reclaiming Sunday

"It is right, therefore, to claim, in the words of a fourth century homily, that "the Lord's Day" is "the lord of days". Those who have received the grace of faith in the Risen Lord cannot fail to grasp the significance of this day of the week with the same deep emotion which led Saint Jerome to say: "Sunday is the day of the Resurrection, it is the day of Christians, it is our day". For Christians, Sunday is "the fundamental feastday", established not only to mark the succession of time but to reveal time's deeper meaning." [John Paul II, Dies Domini]

My family emphasizes the importance of Sunday by following the European tradition of placing an image of the Trinity and a vigil candle on the table since Sunday is the feast of the triune God. We also pray an abbreviated Psalm 90 as our grace on Sunday nights, and try to use the nice china and silverware.

LORD, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting thou art God.
For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
Satisfy us in the morning with thy steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Make us glad as many days as thou hast afflicted us, and as many years as we have seen evil.
Let thy work be manifest to thy servants, and thy glorious power to their children.
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish thou the work of our hands upon us, yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.
[Psalm 90, RSV]

No comments: