Pope Benedict XVI: "Only those who keep Sunday belong to Christ"

Pope Benedict XVI on the Papal Sabbath

People cannot be sanctified except on Sunday, that Christ transferred Sabbath sacredness to Sunday, that only those who keep Sunday belong to Christ, that only on Sunday does “the risen Lord makes himself present among his followers”, that only these “worship God properly”, and that may Sunday “regain all its importance.” - Letter of Pope Benedict XVI to Card. Francis Arinze on the Occasion of the Study Day in Honour of the 43rd Anniversary of the Promulgation of the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, From the Vatican, November 27, 2006.

Sunday “is the identity of the Christian community and the center of his life and mission”, that “we cannot live without joining together on Sunday”, that only those Christians “who lived in accordance with Sunday” have “attained new hope”, and that “the Christians of today will rediscover the crucial importance of the Sunday Celebration”. - Pastoral Visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Bari for the Closing of the 24th Italian National Eucharistic Congress, Homily of Pope Benedict XVI, Esplanade of Marisabella, Sunday, May 29, 2005.

Saturday is “no longer” the worship day of God, only on Sunday can we become part of the body of Christ in the world, only by worshiping on Sunday can we avoid “egoistic isolation” and instead be united “in a great community...a universal community” becoming “related to everyone in the world.” - Meeting with Diocesan Clergy of Aosta, Address of Pope Benedict XVI, Parish Church at Introd (Aosta Valley), Monday, July 25, 2005.

Every Sunday is to be dedicated and given to God. - Mass on the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Homily of Pope Benedict XVI, given in Parish Church of Castel Gandolfo, Monday, August 15, 2005.

“Social disorder, war, injustice and violence” can only be countered “ by renewed appreciation and respect for the universal moral law [Sunday observance], that only by recognizing that law can the world have “dignity, life and freedom” with “conditions of justice and peace” in all the communities of the world, and that the promotion and defense of this law is what “must govern relations between nations and peoples in the pursuit of the common good of the human family...within the international community.” - Address of Pope Benedict XVI to H.E. Mr Francis Rooney, New Ambassador of the United States of America to the Holy See, Saturday, November 12, 2005.

Sunday is a day of rest for all workers. -  Address of Pope Benedict XVI to the Italian Christian Workers' Associations (A.C.L.I.), Clementine Hall, Friday, January 27, 2006.

Sunday is an “obligation for all the faithful” which brings “authentic freedom enabling them to live each day”, that it is the Lord’s day, that it is “a day to be sanctified”, and those who do not keep it suffer “the loss of an authentic sense of Christian freedom” and the loss of being “the children of God”, that Sunday is the “primordial holy day” and “is meant to be kept holy”, “a day of rest from work”, which hopefully “will also be recognized by civil society” by law. - Sacramentum Caritatis: Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation on the Eucharist as the Source and Summit of the Church's Life and Mission, Given by Pope Benedict XVI in Rome, at Saint Peter's, February 22, 2007, the Feast of the Chair of Peter.

“It is necessary” “to hold Sunday in special high regard” in order “to remain united to Christ”, as “it is the day dedicated to the Lord.” - Message of Pope Benedict XVI to the Participants in the 9th International Youth Forum (Rocca di Papa, 28-31 March 2007), from the Vatican, March 28, 2007.

Only on Sunday can we experience “a personal encounter with Christ.” - Apostolic Journey of Pope Benedict XVI to Brazil on the Occasion of the Fifth General Conference of the Bishops of Latin America and the Carribbean, Inaugural Session, Address of Pope Benedict XVI, Conference Hall, Shrine of Aparecida, Sunday, May 13, 2007.

“Without the Lord’s day, we cannot live”, that meeting with the Lord only occurs on the “specific day” of Sunday, that life does not flourish without Sunday, and that Sunday is a day of rest, of freedom and equality for all the world. - Eucharistic Celebration Homily of Pope Benedict XVI , Saint Stephen’s Cathedral, Vienna, Sunday, September 9, 2007.

Encouraged America to exercise “its leadership within the international community” based on “the common moral law [Sunday holiness].” - Address of Pope Benedict XVI to H.E. Mrs. Mary Ann Glendon, New Ambassador of the United States of America to the Holy See, Friday, February 29, 2008.

The world has greater need of hope for peace, justice and freedom, which “can never be delivered without obedience to the law of God [Sunday holiness]”. - Video-Message of the Pope Benedict XVI to Catholics and People of the United States of America on the Occasion of the Upcoming Apostolic Journey, April 15-21, 2008.

The RCC “makes its contribution (in the ethical and moral sphere) according to the dispositions of international law, helps to define that law, and makes appeal to it”, that we live in a time when little groups of independent people threaten the unity of the world, and that the only way to combat this problem is by establishing law and then ordering all of society according to this law, thus promoting “peace and good will throughout the earth.” - Apostolic Journey to the United States of America and Visit to the United Nations Organization Headquarters, Meeting with the Members of the General Assembly of the United Nations Organization, Address of Pope Benedict XVI, New York, Friday, April 18, 2008.   Source