Joshua Bennett
The Sabbath is the weekly holy day, observed by Jews on the last day of the week, Saturday. The Catholic Church, however, celebrates the Lord's Day on Sunday, the day of Christ's resurrection, which is considered the first and eighth day of the week, symbolizing new creation. This practice has been in place since the first century, with St. Ignatius of Antioch and St. Justin Martyr both referencing Sunday as the day of worship for the early Catholic Church. While the Sabbath is not considered binding for Christians, the Catholic Church emphasizes the importance of keeping Sunday holy, with Pope John Paul II encouraging Catholics to refrain from treating it as just another day of the weekend.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Day of the week | Sunday is the day of worship for Catholics, also known as the Lord's Day. |
| Sabbath day | The Sabbath day is Saturday, the seventh day of the week, as per Jewish law. Catholics do not worship on the Sabbath. |
| Holy day | Sunday is the preeminent holy day for Christians, a day of rest and worship. |
| Mass | Catholics gather for Mass on Sundays, with some parishes also serving the Divine Liturgy on Saturday mornings. |
| Work | Catholics refrain from servile work on Sundays, including commercial activities. |
| Eucharist | The Eucharist is celebrated on Sundays, with some Catholics also celebrating on Saturdays. |
| Scripture | The Catholic Church interprets the Third Commandment as ceremonial and changeable, distinguishing Sunday from the Sabbath. |
| Tradition | The early Church, comprising all Jews, initially observed the Sabbath but added Sunday gatherings to commemorate Jesus' resurrection. |
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What You'll Learn
The Sabbath is Saturday, the day God rested after creation
The Catholic Church teaches that the particular day of worship is ceremonial and changeable. Sunday is distinguished from the Sabbath in the Catechism, which states that "for Christians its ceremonial observance replaces that of the Sabbath". This interpretation is supported by St. Paul, who stated that the Sabbath is a mere shadow and no longer binding for Christians.
The early Church, which was entirely Jewish, continued to keep the Sabbath for a while but added a gathering on the day of Jesus' resurrection. This practice of gathering on Sundays was continued by the earliest followers of Jesus and persists today. By the second century, the designation of Sunday as the "Lord's Day" was well-established, as evidenced by the writings of St. Ignatius of Antioch and St. Justin Martyr.
While the term "Sabbath" is often recognized as referring to Saturday, the Christian Sabbath generally represents a reinterpretation of the term within the context of Christian law, values, and practices. In the Latin Church, Sunday is kept as a day of commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus and is celebrated with the Eucharist. It is considered a day of rest from servile work and devotion to prayer, family gatherings, and the Eucharist.
It is important to note that the Catholic Church does not teach that the Sabbath was moved from Saturday to Sunday. Instead, the Sabbath, representing the completion of the first creation, has been replaced by Sunday, which symbolizes the new creation inaugurated by the Resurrection of Christ.
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Catholics worship on Sunday, the Lord's Day
The Sabbath day is Saturday, as it was in the Old Testament when God rested from his work of creation. However, Catholics worship on Sunday, the Lord's Day, which is considered the first day of the week and the "eighth day", symbolising both the first creation and the new creation.
The Catholic Church teaches that the particular day of worship is an accidental component of the law that is changeable. Sunday is expressly distinguished from the Sabbath, and for Christians, its ceremonial observance replaces that of the Sabbath. This is supported by St. Paul, who states that the Sabbath day is no longer binding for Christians. He uses the same division of "festivals", "new moons", and "Sabbaths" as the Old Testament, and the Sabbath is included in what he calls a "mere shadow".
The early Church, which was all Jewish, continued to keep the Sabbath for a while but added a gathering on the day of Jesus' resurrection, which was on a Sunday. This practice has been continued by contemporary Catholics, who gather together on Sundays to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus, celebrated with the Eucharist. The day is also considered a time of intimacy between Christ and the Church, with an obligation to participate in Sunday Mass.
The designation of Sunday as the Lord's Day was well-established by the second century. St. Ignatius of Antioch, in his Letter to the Magnesians, wrote that those who lived according to the old ways had come to a new hope, no longer sabbathing but living by the Lord's Day. Similarly, St. Justin Martyr, in his First Apology, wrote that Sunday was the day on which Christians gathered in a common meeting, and it was the day on which Jesus Christ rose from the dead.
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Sunday is the day Jesus rose from the dead
The Sabbath is on Saturday, as it was in the Old Testament when God rested from all the work he had done in creation. However, Christians celebrate the Lord's Day on Sunday, as this is the day that Jesus rose from the dead and the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that "Sunday is expressly distinguished from the Sabbath which it follows chronologically every week; for Christians, its ceremonial observance replaces that of the Sabbath". This is supported by St. Paul, who states that the Sabbath day is no longer binding for Christians, as it is a "mere shadow" of what is to come.
The Catholic Church teaches that the particular day of the week is an accidental component of the law that is changeable. Sunday is considered a day of worship and rest, and Catholics are encouraged to keep it holy. This is also known as the Lord's Day, and it is believed that Christians should gather in worship services on this day.
The resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of the Christian faith. The New Testament states that Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion, and this is commemorated by Easter. While the exact day of the week is debated, it is generally accepted that Jesus rose on the first day of the week, which is Sunday.
The Gospel accounts of the resurrection refer to the first day of the week as the time when people found the empty tomb or saw the risen Christ for the first time. However, some translations and interpretations of these texts suggest that Jesus rose at the end of the seventh day, which is Saturday.
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The Sabbath is a shadow of things to come
The Sabbath is a day of rest and assembly for Christians. It is observed on Saturday, the seventh day of the week, as it was in the Old Testament when God rested from his work of creation. However, Christians celebrate Sunday as "the Lord's Day" instead, fulfilling the spiritual truth of the Jewish Sabbath. This is because Sunday is the day on which Jesus rose from the dead and the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles.
The term "Sabbath" is often used to describe the general establishment of Sunday worship and rest within Christianity. However, this is incorrect as the Sabbath is Saturday and has never been Sunday. The Catholic Church teaches that the particular day of celebration is an accidental component of the law that is changeable. St. Paul supports this view, stating that the Sabbath is a "mere shadow" and no longer binding for Christians.
Paul uses the same division of festivals (annual holy days), new moons (monthly holy days), and Sabbaths (weekly holy days) as the Old Testament. He includes the Sabbath in what he calls a "'mere shadow', referring to the holy days specific to the Jews. This does not mean that Christians do not have to keep any holy days at all. Paul was addressing Judaizers, who told Gentile Christians they had to follow the Old Covenant law, including the Sabbath, to be saved.
The New Testament speaks of a Sabbath-keeping that remains for the people of God, indicating a spiritual rest found in Jesus. The Sabbath prefigured the freedom from the law that Jesus' death provided. Believers are now free from legal duty and are able to rest in Christ. The "body of Christ", or the Church, is to be heeded instead of the pagan views of the Colossian citizens.
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The Catholic Church moved the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday
The Catholic Church celebrates the Sabbath on Sunday, the day of Christ's resurrection, which is considered the first day of the week and the "eighth day". This is based on the belief that the Sabbath, which represented the completion of the first creation, has been replaced by Sunday, which symbolises the new creation inaugurated by Christ's resurrection. This interpretation of the Sabbath in light of Christian law and values is known as the Christian Sabbath.
The Catholic Church's designation of Sunday as the "Lord's Day" is well-established, dating back to the second century. Early Church fathers, such as St. Ignatius of Antioch and St. Justin Martyr, wrote about the importance of Sunday as a day of worship and gathering for Christians. However, it is essential to note that the early Church, which was predominantly Jewish, continued to observe the Sabbath on Saturday while also gathering on Sundays.
The distinction between the Sabbath and the Lord's Day is evident in the teachings of St. Paul, who stated that Christians are not bound by the ceremonial aspects of the old law, including the Sabbath. Instead, Paul emphasised that believers should not be judged regarding their observance of festivals, new moons, or Sabbath days, as these are considered "'shadows'" of what is to come in Christ.
While the Catholic Church does not explicitly state that it moved the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday, it does teach that the particular day of celebration is ceremonial or changeable. This flexibility in the day of observance is also reflected in the Catholic understanding of the Lord's Day as both the first day and the "eighth day" of the week.
The Catholic Church encourages its followers to keep Sunday holy, emphasising its significance as a day of worship, rest, and intimacy with the Lord. This dedication to Sunday as the primary day of worship aligns with the broader Christian tradition of Sunday Sabbatarianism, which has been promoted by organisations such as the Catholic Sunday League and the Lord's Day Alliance.
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Frequently asked questions
The Sabbath day is Saturday, as it was in the Old Testament when God rested from his work. However, Catholics worship on the Lord's Day, which is Sunday, the day when Jesus rose from the dead.
The Sabbath is not binding for Catholics. Instead, they celebrate the Lord's Day, which is considered the first and "eighth day" of the week, representing the first creation and new creation.
The Sabbath is the seventh day of the week, Saturday, when God rested after creation. The Lord's Day is Sunday, the day of Jesus' resurrection, and is considered a new creation.
Catholics do not consider the Sabbath binding as St. Paul taught that Christians do not have to keep the Jewish holy days. Instead, they worship on the Lord's Day, which has been celebrated since the first century.
