At this time of year many people are looking forward to the slower pace of July and August. There are two words associated with the season – vacation and holiday.

The word ‘vacation’ comes from the Latin vacare and means to be empty, to be free, to abandon. Vacation in its simplest definition is the “state of being unoccupied”. This is a positive dimension of taking time away from work and the responsibilities of the September to June routines, demands and expectations; to vacate our regular mental, emotional and physical states.

The word ‘holiday’ comes from the Old English holigdaeg (holig = holy) and (daeg = day). Holy means “to set apart”. This is what we do with the sacrament of Holy Eucharist. We set apart bread and wine, that becomes the body and blood of Christ. Holidays are therefore holy time where the opportunity for rest and recreation can draw us into a deeper relationship with the Lord, those closest and dearest to us and with ourselves.