If you’re anything like me, then the call to keep holy the Sabbath is something of a challenge, thanks to a constant struggle to maintain work-life balance. Whether you find it easy to overwork without respite or struggle to get started, hitting that happy medium can be difficult.
Honoring the Sabbath reminds us of the need for this balance: six days for work, and the seventh for worship, self-care, and spiritual and physical restoration. But when it proves difficult to actually live this out, what do we do?
To live properly and pray sincerely, we have to avoid exhaustion. We need time for fun and joy, as these rejuvenate our souls. One saint strongly associated with joy is St. Philip Neri, whom I’ve been inspired by. He uniquely blended holiness and joy throughout his life, earning him the nickname “The Laughing Saint.” Philip Neri’s spirit beautifully encapsulates the Sabbath: a celebration of joyful life unmistakably connected to God.
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The saints, as we know, are meant to be our exemplars, so how do we emulate Philip Neri? Well, I can give you an example of what not to do. It’s crucial to be intentional and avoid letting Sunday become overwhelmed with mundane tasks (yard work, for instance), or, for the readers in my age group, schoolwork. So many times I would walk into my college’s library on a Sunday and witness row after row of students hunkered over their studies. Though it is good for students to work, I wished we’d chosen another day to put our noses to the grindstone.
Philip Neri was a very hardworking man, but also one who knew how to balance his duties with fun. Philip’s mission was to restore Rome, which had fallen into spiritual disarray during the early 16th century, to a passionate love of the faith. He accomplished this by establishing authentically human connections with those around him, which sometimes involved deep conversations, but oftentimes did not. He played practical jokes and took part in wine-drinking contests to make himself more approachable to those around him. After Philip’s death, doctors discovered that his heart had grown noticeably larger, to the point of damaging two of his ribs — a true testament to this great man’s jubilant heart.
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Everything Philip Neri did, regardless of how frivolous it may have seemed on the surface, had a purpose indisputably connected to God. His entire ministry was treated as one continuous Sabbath, vividly showcasing his blend of holiness and joy. This is why I’ve found him so inspiring personally — the mindset we’re called to emulate on the Sabbath, he exemplified throughout his whole life.
Inspired by his love, passion, and charity, we can bring this saintly approach to the Sabbath into our own lives. Despite the importance of work, Philip knew how to incorporate joy into every day of his life, and so should we. His example reminds me that we aren’t made exclusively for work; we’re meant to live complete and fulfilling lives, with diverse interests and passions. Establishing boundaries between our work lives and the Sabbath, and engaging in the kind of Christ-centered fun Philip loved to partake in so much, is a valuable step in the right direction for us if we struggle to embrace the Lord’s Day.
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My Sundays might involve fun projects. I incorporate prayer into these activities— ora et labora, as St. Benedict would say. But boundaries are important, and I always make sure to never miss out on time for my important relationships, and for prayer. For others, take the day to relax, read, enjoy nature, or have a casual phone call with a friend. But without question, time for God must come first, especially on the Sabbath.
Being mindful and intentional about observing Sabbath lets us capture the spirit of Philip Neri, that spirit of joy that helps us learn how to incorporate family, friendship, and fun into the Lord’s Day. As Phillip himself puts it, “A joyful heart is more easily made perfect than a downcast one.”
