Each Sunday is a mini-celebration of the Paschal Mystery. From the time of the Resurrection itself, this day has been "the Lord's Day." Because a day has been traditionally measured from sundown to sundown, many Catholics begin their celebration of the Lord's Day on Saturday evening. They gather in community, listen to God's Word, and participate in the sacrament of the Eucharist. Through extra rest and time spent eating and relaxing together, they make Sunday truly a day of rest and family togetherness.

During the first several centuries of worship, Christians celebrated the Eucharist only on Sunday. Gradually, the Church discovered that the single annual celebration of Easter was not enough to express the mystery of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, and so added a number of feasts, extending aspects of the Paschal Mystery. Now Fridays, especially during Lent, remind Christians of the passion and death of Jesus. Saturdays are dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God.

Excerpted from Worship and Sacraments: We Celebrate, We Praise by Mary Kathleen Glavich, S.N.D. and Loretta Pastva, S.N.D. Copyright © 1992: Benziger Publishing Company, P.O. BOx 544, Blacklick, OH 43004-0544. Used with permission of the publisher.