Working on Sunday NIGHT allowed?

[Psaltos]

If the liturgical day begins at sunset, does that mean that the Sunday obligation to stop working begins Saturday at sunset? I am seeing that the Orthodox Jews do not work Friday night but do work Saturday night. Does the same practice apply to Christians? Is it okay to work Sunday night?

 

[Horton]

It is fine to work on Sunday at any time if you have to work. I work for my parish and work every Sunday of the school year.

If our job obligates us to work on Sunday, then we go to work on Sunday. Think of all the shift work employees, hospitals, law enforcement, fire safety, agriculture, and every other type of job the requires 24/7 coverage.

 

[1ke]

If the liturgical day begins at sunset, does that mean that the Sunday obligation to stop working begins Saturday at sunset?

A) Canon law defines a day midnight to midnight.

B). There is no obligation to stop working on Saturday evening. Nor is there an obligation to not work on Sunday.

I am seeing that the Orthodox Jews do not work Friday night but do work Saturday night. Does the same practice apply to Christians?

No. It doesn’t.

Is it okay to work Sunday night?

If you need to work on Sunday evening, work.

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

If the liturgical day begins at sunset

The liturgical day doesn’t begin at sunset.

The rule about Sunday work isn’t actually about work at all - the rule is about not observing the holy character of the day: worship, taking rest from the routine of (in this day) making money, and spending more leisure time with loved ones.

If you have chores to do around home, studies, or even shift work that you’re dependent upon and obligated to, have at it!

 

[IdaCatholic]

You can work anytime on a Sunday. Millions of Catholics do.

 

[TomH1]

In general the liturgical day runs from midnight to midnight. In other words it is concurrent with the calendar day. Sundays and solemnities start on the previous evening with First Vespers.

Our observance is not the same as the Jewish one. In Judaism there is a prohibition on doing a lot of things on their Sabbath. For example, I remember a ruling was made here in the UK by the Chief Rabbi that ladies could carry handbags on the Sabbath.

The Church does encourage us to refrain from work on Sunday but does also recognise that in today’s modern society it is often difficult not to work on Sunday. Of course, in some jobs it is necessary, e.g. nurse, fireman, etc. In others it isn’t necessary but if you want to keep your job you have to work, e.g. in retail. I still remember a time when everywhere was closed on Sundays. Today, it is just like any other day.

 

[TheLittleLady]

Working anytime Sunday is okay.

 

[Psaltos]

But If Sunday and solemnities start with vespers the previous day, does the the church encourage us to abstain from work Saturday evening (after vespers). And is working Sunday (after vespers) not discouraged?

 

[TheLittleLady]

does the the church encourage us to abstain from work Saturday evening (after vespers). And is working Sunday (after vespers) not discouraged?

Where is this discouragement coming from?

 

[JulianN]

But If Sunday and solemnities start with vespers the previous day, does the the church encourage us to abstain from work Saturday evening (after vespers). And is working Sunday (after vespers) not discouraged?

It does not really matter when the solemnity begins, since the Church does not require us to abstain from work on Sundays or Holy Days. It would certainly be ironic for those of us who work for the Church if that were the case.

 

[TomH1]

But If Sunday and solemnities start with vespers the previous day, does the the church encourage us to abstain from work Saturday evening (after vespers). And is working Sunday (after vespers) not discouraged?

No we do not need to start on Saturday evening just Sunday. And, that’s the entire day not just until Vespers.

 

[Psaltos]

Thanks for your reply

 

[1ke]

But If Sunday and solemnities start with vespers the previous day,

Sunday does not start at vespers on Saturday. It starts at midnight.

does the the church encourage us to abstain from work Saturday evening (after vespers).

No.

And is working Sunday (after vespers) not discouraged?

Again, Sunday is midnight to midnight, so no.

 

[chevalier]

The prohibition against working on Sundays is not a joke, nor a rule with more exemptions than applications, so I need to expressly contradict those posters who claim there is no prohibition against working on Sundays (making Sunday look like just another legit business day). There is one and has always been in the Church’s tradition. It has never been abrogated and can’t be, as it is linked with the 3rd commandment.

However, the prohibition is not absolute.

Sunday is not free game for working. Unnecessary work is not acceptable on a Sunday.

If there are chores you can only do on Sunday, however, then you can do them.

If your job requires you to work on Sundays because you do something that’s needed on Sundays, then you can do that.

If your boss requires you to work on Sundays or else you risk losing your job, you can do that.

If something unexpected pops up you can only handle if you work on Sunday, then you can.

What you can’t do is replace Sunday with a different day of the week because that’s just what you feel like, or use Sunday as one more business day to make more money you don’t need for survival or go to work on a Sunday to avoid family dinners.