From Newsgroup: uk.religion.christian

I have recently been reading the Life of Cuthbert by the Venemous Bede.
In it Bede describes how the saint was visiting Carlisle while the king
was north of Hadrian's Wall on a punitive expedition against the Picts. Suddenly he saw a vision of a fierce battle and had a foreboding that it
had not gone well for the Northumbrian forces.

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But he immediately entered in and spoke to the queen in private, for it
was the Sabbath-day. rCLTake care,rCY said he, rCLthat you get into your chariot very early on the second day of the week, for it is not lawful
to ride in a chariot on the LordrCOs day, and go quickly to the royal
city, lest, perchance, the king may have been slain.rCY
Bede, Life of Cuthbert XXVII
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Several interesting points arise. The first is that neither Bede nor St Cuthbert made the common modern mistake of confusing the Sabbath and
Sunday. They are two separate days.

The second is that he did not adivse the queen to flee immediately. It
is not clear whether that was because the warning was given so late in
the day, but I suspect that it was because the Sabbath was a day of rest.

According to the best information I have been able to find, the Celtic
church - or at least, Celtic monasteries - began their weekend with a
vigil commending Friday midday. Saturday (the Sabbath) was a day of
rest. Sunday, however, could be employed in non-secular labour. The
example which sticks in my mind is that nuns would use Sunday for
weaving and sewing clothes to be given to the poor. Weaving or sewing
for their own use would be secular employment, but for charity it was acceptable as a Sunday occupation.

God bless,
Kendall K. Down
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