Have you heard of the French Sunday? Apparently, it is a tradition in France to use Sundays as a day of prayer, rest, and family time, aiming to truly rest on the one day of the week meant for these purposes. Some French shops are closed for the day or at least have hours that do not go past noon. Automobile traffic is blocked from designated streets for leisure bike rides and walks. This tradition isn't limited to France, however. Slow paced Sundays also hold true for areas in Italy, Spain, and Germany, to name a few. Personally, I think the concept of everyone designating a day for prayer, family, and rest is a tradition that should be followed by all. Unfortunately, in modern culture, it is not economically realistic to completely shut down all businesses on Sundays. However, some places make an effort to honor it as a day of rest and make business as low-key as possible.

Growing up Italian in Chicago, I remember Sundays dedicated to church, family meals, and relaxation. Oftentimes, my aunt, uncle, and cousins would join us in the afternoon. To begin the day, Sunday gravy and meatballs would be simmering while the chicken and potatoes slow-roasted in the oven. Depending on who was cooking, my mom or my grandmother (who lived in the flat below us) would leave the oven on low for the meat or chicken course to slow-roast while we attended mass. After church, we'd walk into a home of wonderful, delectable smells of the meal awaiting our indulgence. Typically, we'd have salad, pasta, a meat or poultry with potatoes and vegetables, plenty of bread, and dessert of cakes, cookies, and fruits. The adult beverage of choice was typically Italian red wine, most likely homemade. Even us children might get a splash of wine added to a glass of 7-Up. After the feast, the cousins would often catch a city bus to the movies while the adults had their visit. Or, oftentimes, one of us would play whatever song we knew best on the piano. Sunday evenings were for watching the Ed Sullivan and Lawrence Welk shows. Oh my, life was so simple then.

When I think about it, Sundays in France and other countries today are similar to my own when I was a child. To me, that was a time in my life that left me with priceless memories of family and tradition.

What can we do in this modern day to find some sense of relaxation and time for family and prayer on the one day a week that was meant for this purpose?

A few ideas:

· Plan your Sunday ahead of time and have the whole family on board.

· Whatever you typically do on Sundays that isn't exactly restful, make an effort to do that another day of the week, like Saturday, perhaps.

· Limit electronic use so you're not tempted to get sidetracked.

· Either attend church or find time for prayer and reflection.

· Develop new family traditions, whether it be a bike ride, watching a movie, or playing a game.

· Never underestimate the power of a nap, something you may not get to have other days of the week.