Keeping Holy the Sabbath: Why + How | Blessed is She - Blessed Is She

Far too many times, I’ve let Sundays be my catch-all days. My “I didn’t have time to get this done yet, so I’ll just do it today” days. Sundays, in my home, have seen the likes of grocery store runs, loads of laundry, and last-minute dinners.

The Sunday Special

It’s easy to let Sunday slip into the machine of the rest of the week. But Scripture is pretty clear when it comes to the sabbath. In fact, Jesus goes as far as commanding us to keep it holy.

Rest.

Do not do any unnecessary work.

We’ve got the guidelines right in front of us. But often, Sunday can fall into the same pits as Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

Keeping Holy the Sabbath

As a young girl, I thought “keeping Sunday holy” meant it was extra important to pray a family Rosary or to read about the Saints. And those are great things to do on the sabbath! In my adulthood, I’ve added a few new methods of rest, leisure, and prayer.

Read the Gospel before Mass.

By reading and reflecting on the Gospel, either alone or with my husband, I am able to participate more fully in Mass. Plus, it serves as a moment of peaceful prayer time in the morning that can set the pace for my day.

I like to make it extra enjoyable by pouring a hot cup of coffee and playing Gregorian chant in the background. By creating an atmosphere that feels holy and restful, I am able to invite the Lord in so that He can be glorified in a special way throughout my day.

Dress for the King.

On Sundays, I try to put a little extra thought and time into my appearance. Not out of vanity, but rather because I think it’s only fitting to swap my joggers for a sharper getup when I’m going to see the King!

By dressing up a bit and maybe even wearing a little eyeliner, I remind myself of Who I’m going to see! It makes it feel like a special day.

Take a drive.

Sunday drives are one of my all-time favorite rituals. This started when I was growing up in a big family, living 25 minutes away from our parish. Often, my dad would take the extra long way home from Mass. Some Sundays it drove us absolutely mad. But I’ve come to cherish those memories, and seek to apply them to my own life.

Taking a Sunday drive means more than tacking on a few more minutes in the car. It’s the interior posture of not being in a hurry to get somewhere, noticing the passing sights through the window, and maybe listening to music through the car speakers. Taking a Sunday drive cultivates a spirit of simplicity, gratitude, and rest.

Bake.

Baking is something I have always loved to do. However, at this point in my life, it’s hard to justify whipping up two dozen chocolate chip cookies every night of the week when it’s just my husband and I at home.

So I’ve reserved Sunday as a baking day. I look forward to scrolling through my unending log of pinned recipes and carefully select one to test out. Baking on Sunday is about slowing down and being intentional. It is literally a measured activity; slow and steady. Baking fills the air with a sweet aroma that is both pleasantly hopeful and delightfully nostalgic.

Whatever you do, make it routine.

I know lots of people who keep their Sabbath holy and restful in a host of other ways besides the methods I employ. What I have found is that the rhythm of Sunday is crucial. It is, and should feel, so different than any other day of the week.

Humans are habitual. Certain actions and habits spark certain mindsets and responses. When we put on our gym clothes, we can get in the mindset of breaking a sweat. When we brew the sleepy-time tea, we settle in for bed. In a similar way, building up a Sunday routine can assist in developing a spirit of prayer through our gratitude and rest!

Sundays are not meant to be a stressful day of suppressing things we wish we had completed during the week. Rather, they are a sweet gift from God meant to order our days and reset our minds, bodies, and souls.

How do you keep holy the sabbath? Share your ideas and rhythms in the comments below!

Keeping Holy the Sabbath: Why It Matters + How to Do It #BISblog //Click to tweet

Bridget Nohara is an Ohio girl who recently moved to Canada after marrying her policeman husband. She is a proud Franciscan University of Steubenville alum, loves low-key outdoor activities (no cliff jumping, please!), enriching podcasts, and cooking without a recipe.