July 30, 2025

Summer is a season when many of us take time away for rest and renewal. Whether it’s a family trip to the beach, a pilgrimage to a holy site, or simply a few quiet days at home, vacation is more than just a break from work – it is an opportunity to live out our Catholic faith in a different rhythm.

As Catholics, we recognize that leisure is not laziness, but a gift from God. The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us that Sunday rest is meant “to enrich the family life, cultural, social, and religious life of the faithful” (CCC 2184). While Sundays are unique, the principle of God‑centered rest applies to all our time away. True vacation is not an escape from God, but an invitation to draw nearer to Him.

From the very beginning, God Himself modeled rest for us. After six days of creation, “He rested on the seventh day from all the work He had undertaken” (Genesis 2:2). When we step away from our routines, we imitate the Creator, reminding ourselves that our worth is not found in productivity, but in being beloved children of God.

The philosopher Josef Pieper once said, “Leisure is the basis of culture.” For Christians, leisure is also the basis of deeper communion with God and others. It gives us the space to pray more intentionally, to enjoy God’s creation, and to spend quality time with family and friends. A vacation can be a time to deepen prayer by visiting a local church, praying the Rosary on the beach, or simply giving thanks to God for the beauty around us. It can strengthen family bonds by giving us the chance to share meals without the usual rush and to have conversations that daily life often pushes aside. It can also be a time to encounter beauty, whether in nature, art, or history, which uplifts the soul and leads us to the Author of all beauty. Finally, it is a moment to practice gratitude by stepping back and seeing our blessings with clearer eyes.

At the same time, vacation can become a temptation to indulgence or an escape from our responsibilities. Leisure is not meant to distract us from God, but to restore us for His service. A truly Catholic approach to vacation asks: Will this time refresh me to love God and neighbor more fully when I return?

There are some simple ways to keep our vacations centered on Christ. No matter where we go, we should keep Sunday holy by attending Mass. Bringing along a prayer book or Bible allows even ten minutes a day to center the heart. We can seek out Catholic sites such as shrines, cathedrals, monasteries, or local parishes. Choosing to unplug wisely from screens allows us to be present with the people around us. And offering our vacation for a spiritual intention transforms travel into pilgrimage.

Jesus tells us, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). A good vacation should lead us closer to this rest in Christ, not only refreshing our bodies, but renewing our souls. When we return home, we should feel not just that we have “gotten away,” but that we have been given back to our families, our work, and our Lord with greater joy and strength.

May our times of rest this summer be true encounters with the God who invites us to pause, to delight, and to be renewed in His love.