This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. Even before you open your eyes in the early mornings don’t you think about the day ahead? To wake up to the fact that it is Sunday and a day not like the others in feeling and spirit means that you have a way of celebrating this day; that you know the art of celebrating a feast. You know that Sunday is a day created for our benefit. It means to give us a taste of heaven. But if Sunday is merely a day to make it to church on time, then you may need some ways to make Sunday special.

A special Sunday begins on Friday night. By sundown on Friday, try to have a clean slate. Complete what needs doing–finish off the unpleasant chores. Clean off your desk. Get the grocery shopping done for the weekend so you don’t have to shop on Sunday (thereby asking others to serve you in the shops on Sunday). It is important to take time to repair your relationships with the rest of the family.

Use Saturday to ready your home for Sunday. Put the house and yard in order. Wash the car. Change the linens. Cook something special for Sunday’s brunch. Bring fresh flowers to brighten the table. Read tomorrow’s gospel as a family and talk about it. Put the children to bed with greater attention. Saturday night is a special opportunity for the adults to spend time together repairing and enjoying their relationships.

On Sunday, begin the new week in a special way. Put Sunday music on the stereo. Avoid all unnecessary talk. Go from bedroom to bedroom speaking the ancient monastic greeting: “Let us arise and bless the Lord.” Dress in your “Sunday best;” if you’ve recently bought new clothes, wear them for the first time on a Sunday. Sunday clothes are a metaphor for our baptismal garments. Don’t watch TV or read the Sunday papers before Eucharist.

At brunch, use a special meal prayer. Then change from your “Sunday best” to clothes for relaxation and play. Resolve to do no unnecessary work. Go to a museum, the park, the beach, the zoo, or the mountains. Play the piano, read a book, go swimming, play ball, read the fat Sunday papers. Family members or friends can take turns planning Sunday’s recreation. If there is a special ball game or television program that is truly worth watching, watch it together. Preparing Sunday dinner can be a cooperative undertaking–and Sunday dinner can be one day in the week you can count on everyone being together. It’s also a good meal to invite a friend. Use the good table cloth and the good dishes. Whatever you undertake to do on Sunday, do it without haste or anxiety. Sunday is a day meant to restore and refresh us. Sunday is a day to become fully human.

Copyright © 2001 Archdiocese of Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications, 1800 North Hermitage Avenue, Chicago IL 60622-1101; 1-800-933-1800; www.ltp.org. Text and art by Gertrud Mueller Nelson. All rights reserved. Used with permission.