A west of Ireland priest has called on businesses to return to the tradition of respecting the Sabbath Day by closing their shops and in particular to shut their doors on Good Friday. Fr. Stephen Farragher, who is administrator to Tuam Cathedral, said he was not necessarily advocating complete closure but at a minimum that trading would cease early on Sundays and holy days.
The Celtic Tiger years had seen the need for rest and reflection “replaced by commercial interests”, he declared, adding that there was an opportunity now to revert to using Sundays and holy days to ‘take stock’.
He pointed out that in many European countries, which were more secular in other ways, Sunday was still observed as a day or rest. There was no reason why Ireland should not follow that pattern, Fr Farragher suggested.
He said that in recent years, more and more businesses, factories and supermarkets were staying open throughout Good Friday and this too should be reversed.
“I am not asking them to close down altogether as indeed is the case in many European cities but I would be advocating an early closure,” he said.
Fr Farragher said that in a previous era, the farming community had worked hard during the week and then made Sunday a day of rest. “I am a great believer that Sunday is a day for slowing down, relaxing, meeting our neighbours and friends.”
“I don’t thnk it would be fatal to the market place if businesses closed down early on Sundays to indicate that it is a day of rest,” Fr Farragher remarked.
He made his appeal at Mass in the cathedral, saying the solemn nature of Sunday and Good Friday should be observed.
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(Source: CIN)