The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) — Day 283: The Day of Rest (2025)

Date: October 10, 2025
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz
Episode Focus: The Third Commandment’s call to rest: The meaning, purpose, and practical application of the Sunday rest as outlined in Catechism paragraphs 2184–2195.

Overview

In this episode, Fr. Mike explores the Catechism’s explanation of the Third Commandment, shifting focus from the Sunday obligation of worship to the equally important but often neglected call to rest. He emphasizes that the Lord’s Day is both a day of grace and a day of rest from servile work—a countercultural challenge in modern society, particularly in the West. Fr. Mike unpacks what Christian rest looks like, how it isn’t merely an individual concern, and why developing the habit of rest is an exercise in freedom.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Rest as Commanded by God

• Timestamps: 01:45 – 03:10
• Fr. Mike frames the episode by noting that the obligation of the Third Commandment is twofold: worship and rest.
  • “If this obligation, this command to rest from work doesn't just land on me, it actually lands on how I live my life... I may need to take another evaluation of how I'm spending that day of rest.” (02:45)
• Rest is more than a personal privilege; it also considers the impact on others (e.g., causing others to work).

2. Why Rest?

• Timestamps: 03:15 – 05:10
• Human life, modeled after God who rested on the seventh day, naturally oscillates between work and rest.
• The Catechism states that Sunday rest helps cultivate family, cultural, social, and religious lives.
• Sunday is not about avoiding activity entirely, but about fostering joy, worship, mercy, and relaxation.
  • “It is everything for us... At the same time, we recognize that the commandment not only entails the obligation to worship, it also instructs us that we also have to take time aside to rest, to rest from work.” (01:35)

3. Practical Application & Exceptions

• Timestamps: 10:30 – 15:45
• The Catechism recognizes exceptions: family needs or urgent social services (healthcare, emergency workers) can excuse someone from Sunday rest, but these should not become habitual excuses.
• Fr. Mike addresses the reality of modern, busy family life, comparing shifts in culture (e.g., kids’ sporting events now common on Sundays).
• Appreciates that some work can bring joy and relaxation (e.g., gardening, hobbies) and distinguishes between “servile” work and restorative activity.
  • “It's not work per se. It is entering into rest. That's the goal. The goal is not avoiding work. The goal is entering into rest.” (13:40)
• On mandatory work: “Make it known to your boss... this is important to me as a religious exercise.” (16:00)
• Warns against letting necessity become habit, e.g., consistently accepting Sunday overtime.

4. Solidarity and Works of Mercy

• Timestamps: 19:00 – 22:15
• Christian rest isn’t selfish: the faithful are urged to consider their less fortunate brethren who cannot rest due to poverty or misery.
• Sunday has traditionally been consecrated to acts of service: visiting the sick or elderly, performing works of mercy.
  • “Sunday is traditionally consecrated by Christian piety to good works and humble service of the sick, the infirm, and the elderly.” (20:08)
• Suggests families and individuals could reclaim Sunday as a day to connect with scattered relatives or help others.

5. Personal and Communal Effort

• Timestamps: 23:00 – 26:00
• Observing Sunday rest requires collective effort. Christians should not unnecessarily cause others to work—considering choices like dining out or attending events on Sundays.
• Fr. Mike acknowledges the complexity: no strict prohibition against eating at restaurants or going to movies, but urges prudence and temperance.
  • “There’s no black and white answer to this... let’s be wise, let’s be prudent, let’s be temperate in all this.” (25:20)

6. Rest as Freedom and Discipline

• Timestamps: 27:00 – 30:10
• Rest is an expression of our freedom; we’re not slaves to work or activity.
  • “You’re not a slave, you’re free.” (28:50)
• Cites Fr. Bill Baer’s advice for seminarians: Take rest from Saturday evening through early Sunday afternoon, then resume necessary tasks—training oneself to say “enough.”
  • “You are training yourself to limit. You’re training yourself to say, ‘Okay, at some point I can say, it’s enough.’” (29:15)
• Encourages listeners to start small if needed: “Start where you can. That’s the invitation.” (30:10)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Countercultural Rest:
  “This part of this third commandment goes so directly against how we live our lives in the west, where we just have this nonstop work, we have this nonstop activity. In fact, you might even say that we've made activity an idol.” (06:39)

• On Legitimate Excuses:
  “If you need to take care of your family, that can be a legitimate excuse...But every Christian should avoid making unnecessary demands on others that would hinder them from observing the Lord's Day.” (15:45)

• On Works of Mercy:
  “Sunday is the day that we serve others. Sunday is the day that we perform those acts of mercy, those acts of love for those who need them.” (21:05)

• On Bounding Leisure:
  “If there's anything that afflicts the human heart in the Western world in the 21st century, it’s this inability to say, enough. The inability to say, okay, I’m going to stop.” (25:05)

• Fr. Bill Baer’s Practical Guidance:
  “From 4 o’clock on Saturday night, put your work aside, enter into that rest...then you live out that rest until like one o’clock...you’re cultivating, you’re training yourself to enter into rest.” (28:17)

Important Timestamps

• Recap of Sunday obligation and transition to rest: 01:20 – 02:45
• Definition and scope of Sunday rest per the Catechism: 03:25 – 06:15
• Distinction between types of work on Sunday: 13:10 – 14:05
• Guidance for work/school conflicts and communicating with employers: 15:30 – 17:10
• Solidarity, works of mercy, and family connection: 19:00 – 22:45
• Discussion of communal culture & minimizing demands on others: 23:00 – 26:00
• Personal stories, practical advice, and training in rest: 27:00 – 30:10

Conclusion

Fr. Mike closes by inviting listeners to honestly examine how they approach rest on Sundays, not only for themselves but in terms of their ripple effect on others. He underscores that developing a rhythm of worship and rest is an act of freedom, obedience, and charity—an invitation worth accepting gradually, even in small ways. The capacity to say “enough” and to trust in God’s command brings blessing both for individuals and Christian community.

Final words:
“Let's pray for each other. I am praying for you. Please pray for me. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.” (30:35)