My article for Aleteia this week echoes Pope Francis’ message at his audience on Wednesday.
Take some time off and relax!
Beginning a three-part teaching in support of the family, Pope Francis began with the subject of celebration. His down to earth teaching in his usual accessible style was a reminder of the third commandment to keep holy the Sabbath day. The pope said rest and celebration are part of the very order of creation, “We recall the conclusion of the account of Creation…’And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had done, and he rested on the seventh day.’”
In other words, Catholics believe in taking time off for rest, relaxation and recreation, and what is recreation except “re-creation”? The pope reminds us that a day off or vacation is therefore not laziness or shirking from work. He said, “A celebration is first of all a loving and thankful look on work well done; we celebrate work…. a true time of celebration halts professional work and is sacred, because it reminds man and woman that they are made in the image of God, who is not a slave of work.”
Go here to read the whole article.
