Editing Sabbath in Christianity (section)

==Sabbatarian churches==
{{See also|Sabbatarianism}}

===Western Christianity===
Much of [[Western Christianity]] came to view Sunday as a transference of Sabbath observance to the first day, identifying Sunday with a first-day "Christian Sabbath". While first-day Sabbatarian practice declined during the 18th century, leaving few modern followers, its concern for stricter Sunday observances did have influence in the West, shaping the origin of the Christian Sabbath. The term no longer applies to a specific set of practices, but tends to be used to describe the general establishment of Sunday worship and rest observances within Christianity. It does not necessarily imply the displacement of the Sabbath itself, which is often recognized as remaining on Saturday. As such, the Christian Sabbath generally represents a reinterpretation of the meaning of the Sabbath in the light of Christian law, emphases of practice, and values.

====Roman Catholicism====
In the [[Latin Church]], Sunday is kept in commemoration of the [[resurrection of Jesus]] and celebrated with the [[Eucharist]].<ref>Catholic Catechism 2177</ref><ref name=ccc/> The Lord's Day is considered both the first day and the "eighth day" of the [[week]], symbolizing both first creation and new creation (2174).<ref name=ccc>U.S. Catholic Conference 1997, pp. 580–6.</ref> Roman Catholics view the first day as a day for assembly for worship.<ref>(2178, {{bibleverse|Heb.|10:25}}</ref><ref name=ccc/> In the spirit of the Sabbath, Catholics ought to observe a day of rest from servile work, which also becomes "a day of protest against the servitude of work and the worship of money."<ref>Catholic Catechism 2172</ref> This day is traditionally observed on Sunday in conjunction with the Lord's Day.<ref>Catholic Catechism 2176</ref><ref>{{citation |title=Celebrating the Lord's Day |publisher=U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops |url=http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/upload/celebrating-the-lords-day.pdf |access-date=8 July 2015 |ref=none }}</ref>

A summation of Catholic teaching is "Do what we can to observe the sabbatical rest on Sundays and Holy Days, hear Holy Mass, and take the time to rest your minds and bodies."<ref name="Plese2022"/> The [[1917 Code of Canon Law]] ¶1248 stipulated that "On feast days of precept, Mass is to be heard; there is an abstinence from servile work, legal acts, and likewise, unless there is a special indult or legitimate customs provide otherwise, from public trade, shopping, and other public buying and selling."<ref name="Plese2022">{{cite web |last1=Plese |first1=Matthew |title=Sunday Activities for Catholics: What Is Sinful and What Is Not? |url=https://fatima.org/news-views/catholic-aplogetics-157/ |publisher=The Fatima Center |access-date=19 April 2023 |language=English |date=22 February 2022}}</ref> Examples of servile works forbidden under this injunction include "plowing, sowing, harvesting, sewing, cobbling, tailoring, printing, masonry works" and "all works in mines and factories"; commercial activity, such as "marketing, fairs, buying and selling, public auctions, shopping in stores" is prohibited as well.<ref name="Plese2022"/>

Seeking to uphold the ''[[Lord's Day Act (Canada)|Lord's Day Act]]'' in [[French Quebec]], the Catholic Sunday League was formed in 1923 to promote First-day Sabbatarian restrictions in the province, especially against movie theaters.<ref name="Roy2005">{{cite book|last=Roy|first=Christian|title=Traditional Festivals: A Multicultural Encyclopedia|url=https://archive.org/details/traditionalfesti0000royc/page/457|url-access=registration|year=2005|publisher=ABC-CLIO|language=en|isbn=978-1-57607-089-5|page=[https://archive.org/details/traditionalfesti0000royc/page/457 457]|quote=However, an amendment was made that left is enforcement to the discretion of the provinces, so that it remained a dead letter in mostly French Quebec. A Catholic Sunday League was formed in 1923 to combat this laxity and promote sabbatarian restrictions in that province--especially against movie theaters.}}</ref>

In 1998 [[Pope John Paul II]] wrote an [[Ecclesiastical letter#Letters of the popes in modern times|apostolic letter]] ''Dies Domini'', "on keeping the Lord's day holy". He encouraged Catholics to remember the importance of keeping Sunday holy, urging that it not lose its meaning by being blended with a frivolous "[[Workweek and weekend|weekend]]" mentality.<ref>{{cite web |author1=[[John Paul II]] |title=Dies Domini (May 31, 1998) |url=http://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_letters/1998/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_05071998_dies-domini.html |publisher=[[Holy See]] |access-date=28 February 2021 |language=la |date=1998}}</ref>

====Lutheranism====
[[Lutheranism|Lutheran]] founder [[Martin Luther]] stated "I wonder exceedingly how it came to be imputed to me that I should reject the law of Ten Commandments. ...Whosoever abrogates the law must of necessity abrogate sin also."<ref>{{cite book|title=Martin Luther, Spiritual Antichrist|pages=71–2}}</ref> The Lutheran [[Augsburg Confession]], speaking of changes made by Roman Catholic pontiffs, states: "They refer to the Sabbath-day as having been changed into the Lord's Day, contrary to the Decalogue, as it seems. Neither is there any example whereof they make more than concerning the changing of the Sabbath-day. Great, say they, is the power of the Church, since it has dispensed with one of the Ten Commandments!"<ref>The [http://www.gutenberg.org/files/275/275-h/275-h.htm Augsburg Confession], 1530 AD. (Lutheran), part 2, art 7, in Philip Schaff, the Creeds of Christiandom, 4th Edition, vol 3, p64</ref> Lutheran church historian Augustus Neander<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ccel.org/ccel/neander_a|title=Augustus Neander - Christian Classics Ethereal Library - Christian Classics Ethereal Library|website=www.ccel.org}}</ref> states "The festival of Sunday, like all other festivals, was always only a human ordinance".<ref>Augustus Neander, "History of the Christian Religion and Church," Vol. 1, page 186</ref>

Lutheran writer [[Marva Dawn]] keeps a whole day as Sabbath, advocating for rest during any weekly complete 24-hour period<ref>Dawn 2006, pp. 55–6.</ref> and favoring rest from Saturday sunset to Sunday sunset,<ref>Dawn 1989, Appendix. In {{cite book|last=Bacchiocchi|first=Samuele|author-link=Samuele Bacchiocchi|title=The Sabbath Under Crossfire: A Biblical Analysis Of Recent Sabbath/Sunday Developments|publisher=Biblical Perspectives|url=http://sdanet.org/atissue/sabbath/bacchiocchi.htm|year=1998|chapter=7}}</ref> but regarding corporate worship as "an essential part of God's Sabbath reclamation."<ref>Dawn 2006, pp. 69–71.</ref>

===Eastern Christianity===
Eastern Orthodox, [[Eastern Lutheran]] and [[Eastern Catholic Churches]] distinguish between the Sabbath (Saturday) and the Lord's Day (Sunday), and both continue to play a special role for the faithful. Many parishes and monasteries will serve the [[Divine Liturgy]] on both Saturday morning and Sunday morning. The church never allows strict fasting on any Saturday (except [[Holy Saturday]]) or Sunday, and the fasting rules on those Saturdays and Sundays which fall during one of the fasting seasons (such as [[Great Lent]], [[Apostles' Fast]], etc.) are always relaxed to some degree. During Great Lent, when the celebration of the Liturgy is forbidden on weekdays, there is always Liturgy on Saturday as well as Sunday. The church also has a special cycle of Bible readings ([[Epistle]] and [[Gospel]]) for Saturdays and Sundays which is different from the cycle of readings allotted to weekdays. However, the Lord's Day, being a celebration of the Resurrection, is clearly given more emphasis. For instance, in the [[Russian Orthodox Church]] Sunday is always observed with an [[all-night vigil]] on Saturday night, and in all of the Eastern Churches it is amplified with special hymns which are chanted only on Sunday. If a [[feast day]] falls on a Sunday it is always combined with the [[Octoechos (liturgy)|hymns for Sunday]] (unless it is a [[Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church|Lord's Great Feast]]). Saturday is celebrated as a sort of [[afterfeast]] for the previous Sunday, on which several of the hymns from the previous Sunday are repeated.

In part, Eastern Christians continue to celebrate Saturday as Sabbath because of its role in the history of salvation: it was on a Saturday that Jesus "rested" in the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre|cave tomb]] after the [[Passion (Christianity)|Passion]]. For this reason also, Saturday is a day for general [[prayer for the dead|commemoration of the departed]], and special [[Memorial service (Orthodox)|requiem hymns]] are often chanted on this day. Orthodox Christians make time to help the poor and needy as well on this day.

====Eastern Orthodoxy====
Orthodox Sunday worship is not a direct Sabbath observance. The [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] observes the first day (liturgical Sunday, beginning Saturday evening) as a weekly feast, the remembrance of Christ's resurrection, and a mini-[[Easter|Pascha]]. As such, it tends to hold the first place within a week's observances, sharing that place only with other major feasts which occur from time to time. The Divine Liturgy is always celebrated, joining the participants on earth with those who offer the worship in God's kingdom, and hence joining the first day to the [[The eighth day (Christian)|eighth day]], wherein the communion of the whole Church with Christ is fully realized. As such, it is never surpassed as a time for the Orthodox to assemble in worship.

The Church affirms its authority to appoint the time of this feast (and all observances) as deriving from the authority given to the apostles and passed to the bishops through the [[laying-on of hands]], for the sake of the governance of the Church on earth, and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.<ref>{{bibleverse|John|20:22|NKJV}}, {{bibleverse|John|14:26|NKJV}}, {{bibleverse|Rom.|6:14-18|NKJV}}, {{bibleverse|Rom.|7:6|NKJV}}</ref> It does not treat Sunday worship as a transference of Sabbath worship, but identifies the Sabbath, still on Saturday, as a Biblical "type", a precursor, realized fully only after Christ's fulfillment of the Mosaic Law.<ref>{{bibleverse|Matt|5:17-18|NKJV}}</ref> Thus, the Sabbath and the Mosaic Law both remain as a teacher, reminding Christians to worship in holiness, but now according to grace, in Christian observations and Sunday worship.

The grace received in baptism binds the Church to Christ, who has given his people the freedom to seek him directly in relationship, not to pursue whatever suits one's fancy. The goal of that freedom is always union with Christ in [[Divinization (Christian)|theosis]], and the maintenance of that union all the time, throughout this life and into the next, which is sometimes described as the "sanctification of time". Grace therefore never permits of whatever is sinful or unhelpful to salvation, such as laziness or hedonistic revelry. Rather, it becomes a stricter guide for behavior than any legal code, even the Mosaic, and disciplines the believer in some degree of ascetic endeavor.<ref>{{bibleverse|Rom.|6:14-18|NKJV}}</ref><ref>{{citation |title=Orthodox Study Bible |publisher=St. Athanasius Academy of Orthodox Theology |year=2008 |page=1533 |ref=none}}</ref>

Orthodoxy recognizes no mandated time for rest, a day or any other span, but the Church leads the individual to holiness in different ways, and recognizes the need for [[Economy (religion)|economy]] and for rest. Activities such as sleep, relaxation, and recreation become a matter of balance and proper handling, and acceptance of God's mercy. [[Basil of Caesarea|St. Basil the Great]] expresses thanks for this in a prayer often said by Orthodox Christians in the morning, after rising: "You do we bless, O Most High God and Lord of mercy, ... Who has given unto us sleep for rest from our infirmity, and for repose of our much-toiling flesh."<ref>{{citation |title=A Prayer Book for Orthodox Christians |publisher=Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Boston, MA |year=1987 |page=7 |ref=none }}</ref> In recognition of God's gifts, therefore, the Church welcomes and supports civil laws that provide a day away from labor, which then become opportunities for Christians to pray, rest, and engage in acts of mercy. In grace do Christians respond, remembering both the example of the Sabbath rest, and Christ's lordship.<ref>{{bibleverse|Mk.|2:21-28}}</ref>

===Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints===
{{see also|Sacrament meeting|Worship services of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints}}
{{anchor|The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints}}
In 1831, [[Joseph Smith]] published a revelation commanding his related movement, the formative [[Church of Christ (Latter Day Saints)]], to go to the house of prayer, offer up their sacraments, rest from their labors, and pay their devotions on the Lord's day (D&C 59:9–12). Latter Day Saints believe this means performing no labor that would keep them from giving their full attention to spiritual matters (Ex. 20:10). LDS prophets have described this as meaning they should not shop, hunt, fish, attend sports events, or participate in similar activities on that day. Elder [[Spencer W. Kimball]] wrote in his ''[[The Miracle of Forgiveness]]'' that mere idle lounging on the Sabbath does not keep the day holy, and that it calls for constructive thoughts and acts.<ref>''[[The Miracle of Forgiveness]]'', pp.&nbsp;96–97</ref>

Members of the [[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] are encouraged to prepare their meals with "singleness of heart" on the Sabbath<ref>{{cite web|title=Doctrine and Covenants 59|url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/59?lang=eng|publisher=Intellectual Reserve, Inc.|website=ChurchofJesusChrist.org|access-date=December 22, 2019}}</ref> and believe the day is only for righteous activities (Is. 58:13). In most areas of the world, Latter-day Saints worship on Sunday.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sabbath Day|url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/sabbath-day?lang=eng|publisher=Intellectual Reserve, Inc.|website=ChurchofJesusChrist.org|access-date=December 22, 2019}}</ref>