You are correct in your distinction regarding "work." He could have FED his pigs on the Sabbath, as this would be necessary to care for his animals' well-being; he just could not do the work to "produce" the food for them on the Sabbath. Making hay while the sun shines would not have included planting or harvesting or threshing or storing on a Sabbath. My family has farmed for over 200 years, and though no one doing so today is strongly religious, if they were, I can tell you that if it were the Sabbath and a hailstorm was coming in, they would let the crop fall rather than desecrate the Sabbath. The belief would be that if we lose the crop, it is for one of three reasons: we were irresponsible and did not work hard enough prior to the storm.....we are meant to suffer for a time for our own good and growth.....God means to provide for our needs through some other means. Such lives of faith are usually mocked or misunderstood today. Kimberley -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Pádraig Mór Ó Gealagáin Sent: Saturday, January 20, 2007 5:01 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [IRL-CAVAN] Cavan Weekly News - October 20, 1876 / Sunday work Some thoughts: <What work was one not allowed to do on a Sunday? How can you be a farmer and not work on Sunday? > A good question!- For Roman Catholics, it means not sinning by doing unnecessary servile work on a Sunday. The key word is 'unnecessary. Protestants are similarly bound. <Most farmers of this day and age [1876?] did NOT farm on the Sabbath> Necessary servile work: Farmers had to 'make hay whilst the sun was shining'; Cows had to be milked, etc. In to-day's society, if one's job requires one to work on a Sunday, then so be it, or find another job. In the example of the farmer in the newspaper extract, he had all the time in the world to dig potatoes for his own use or for the pigs on a Saturday, provided that day was not his Sabbath. Guilty indeed! He got off light by being fined a half-crown plus costs. I bet he didn't do again! ***** Replies to the List Only, Please ***** Pádraig Mór, An Sean Gabhar ----- Original Message ----- From: Kimberley Walters To: [email protected] Sent: Friday, January 19, 2007 9:33 PM Subject: Re: [IRL-CAVAN] Cavan Weekly News - October 20, 1876 / Sunday work Most farmers of this day and age did NOT farm on the Sabbath. The Sabbath was their only day to rest, and it was a sacred duty to do so. Did you know that when the Mayflower arrived in America, the men on board had to scout out the surrounding area to determine the best location for setting up their "village." Even though freezing temperatures and inclement winter weather threatened to confine them on board the boat for the whole winter, they still took the Sabbath off to worship and rest, rather than continue searching on that day. People of this era took their religious observances very seriously. And literally. Kimberley -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Susan Daily Sent: Friday, January 19, 2007 6:20 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [IRL-CAVAN] Cavan Weekly News - October 20, 1876 / Sunday work What work was one not allowed to do on a Sunday? How can you be a farmer and not work on Sunday? Is there some place on the internet that discusses this further? Thanks, Kay! Susan On 1/18/07, Kay Stanton <[email protected]> wrote: > CAVAN WEEKLY NEWS, Friday, October 20, 1876 > DESECRATION OF THE SABBATH. > Constable Feighery summoned James MAGUIRE for desecrating the Sabbath day by digging potatoes. > Defendant said he was only digging his dinner after coming from the chapel. > The Constable said defendant told him it was for pigs he was digging the potatoes. > Fined 2s. 6d. and costs. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message