Is it a sin to play baseball on Sunday?

[coolcatholicguy]

I am on a baseball team and we have a game this Sunday. I know one of the Ten Commandments says to keep holy and rest on The Sabbath. I am going to church before the game, but is it a sin to play the game?

 

[PaulinVA]

It’s only a sin if you try to steal third with two outs and the number four batter up.

 

[curlycool89]

Do you enjoy playing baseball? I’m assuming it would be a yes, and all I’ve heard says that recreation on Sunday is fine. As long as it’s not interfering with your relationship with God (like you have to miss Mass or something) you’ll be fine.

 

[OpenSource]

I am on a baseball team and we have a game this Sunday. I know one of the Ten Commandments says to keep holy and rest on The Sabbath. I am going to church before the game, but is it a sin to play the game?

Noway! I’m going fishing on Sunday. The Sabbath was made for men, not vice versa.

 

[Ponyguy]

Is it a sin to play baseball on Sunday?

Not if you play the game after (or before, too, I suppose) Mass.

However, if you steal a base when the coach says not to, then you’ve sinned. A successful steal is still a venial sin, but if you get thrown or tagged out when the coach didn’t have the “steal” sign on, that would be a very serious sin. And you will experience Hell from the coach & manager.

(Totally tongue-in-cheek, of course…)

 

[VetA]

Not if you play the game after (or before, too, I suppose) Mass.

However, if you steal a base when the coach says not to, then you’ve sinned. A successful steal is still a venial sin, but if you get thrown or tagged out when the coach didn’t have the “steal” sign on, that would be a very serious sin. And you will experience Hell from the coach & manager.

(Totally tongue-in-cheek, of course…)

^that

 

[EmeraldWings]

the “rest” on Sunday is referring to rest from service to man(servile work), it does not mean that we take it easy and laze around, you know? it just means we give our service that day to God, and not to man,
and of course recreation and family togetherness are very important things, they bring us closer together, put our minds of ease, help us to get recollected, and in turn bring us closer to God,
of course there needs to be temperance in all our activities and devotions, which is where discretion comes in, but that’s another subject.

The church tells us that sports on Sunday is permitted as long as it does not interfere with your Sunday obligation,
and since you already said you will be going to church first, then there is no problem, have fun :3

 

[Bookcat]

From the Catechism:

A day of grace and rest from work

2184 Just as God "rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done,"121 human life has a rhythm of work and rest. The institution of the Lord’s Day helps everyone enjoy adequate rest and leisure to cultivate their familial, cultural, social, and religious lives.122

2185 On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are to refrain from engaging in work or activities that hinder the worship owed to God, the joy proper to the Lord’s Day, the performance of the works of mercy, and the appropriate relaxation of mind and body.123 Family needs or important social service can legitimately excuse from the obligation of Sunday rest. The faithful should see to it that legitimate excuses do not lead to habits prejudicial to religion, family life, and health.

The charity of truth seeks holy leisure- the necessity of charity accepts just work.124

2186 Those Christians who have leisure should be mindful of their brethren who have the same needs and the same rights, yet cannot rest from work because of poverty and misery. Sunday is traditionally consecrated by Christian piety to good works and humble service of the sick, the infirm, and the elderly. Christians will also sanctify Sunday by devoting time and care to their families and relatives, often difficult to do on other days of the week. Sunday is a time for reflection, silence, cultivation of the mind, and meditation which furthers the growth of the Christian interior life.

2187 Sanctifying Sundays and holy days requires a common effort. Every Christian should avoid making unnecessary demands on others that would hinder them from observing the Lord’s Day. Traditional activities (sport, restaurants, etc.), and social necessities (public services, etc.), require some people to work on Sundays, but everyone should still take care to set aside sufficient time for leisure. With temperance and charity the faithful will see to it that they avoid the excesses and violence sometimes associated with popular leisure activities. In spite of economic constraints, public authorities should ensure citizens a time intended for rest and divine worship. Employers have a similar obligation toward their employees.

2188 In respecting religious liberty and the common good of all, Christians should seek recognition of Sundays and the Church’s holy days as legal holidays. They have to give everyone a public example of prayer, respect, and joy and defend their traditions as a precious contribution to the spiritual life of society. If a country’s legislation or other reasons require work on Sunday, the day should nevertheless be lived as the day of our deliverance which lets us share in this “festal gathering,” this "assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven."125

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Note that sport is even included as a traditional activity that require some to work…so playing in a sport if it is leisure for you …and does not interfere with the worship due to God etc…can be a good way to enjoy part of the Lords Day…and provide leisure for others watching …(though I think some sports may not fit this (read the whole quote above) …but baseball would seem to me to be one which would).

 

[Colincal]

I am sorry I did not come across this question before. I think the thoughtful and documented answers to the question posted were very helpful. Many of the original professional baseball players had a difficult time with this one since their play was essentially work for them. In some parts of the country, professional baseball was originally banned on Sunday. Many players would not play on Sunday even though their teams did in places where it was legal like Chicago. Christy Mathewson, one of the great early pitchers who was often called Gentleman Christy Mathewson for good reason, would not play on Sunday. Many cities banned Sunday baseball, but because fans often worked throughout the rest of the week, Sunday ball eventually was accepted throughout the country.

Readers might also be interested in knowing about the 10 Commandments of Baseball, a list of 10 baseball (and life) principles that were penned by the most successful Major League Manager in history Joe McCarthy. McCarthy was born of Irish Catholic parents in New York and wrote the commandments in 1921 as means to try to help his players maintain the basic rules of play. Not religious in nature, and certainly no replacement for the original commandments, the Baseball Commandments have been part and parcel of the baseball training regiment even though most people have never heard their origin. Baseball continues to be a good place for kids to learn discipline and respect – but it is disturbing that in many youth sports today, no consideration is given to scheduling practice times around traditional religious education times and game times around Sunday mass schedules especially with weekend tournaments.

 

[tjm190]

Only the most radical of the Jewish sects (the Essens?) would forbid leisure activity on the Sabbath. These are also the groups that forbade bowel movements on the Sabbath.