![]() ![]() ![]() MARCH 1 st: PRAY the Divine Mercy Chaplet FAST from unnecessary verbal communication. The coming Ember Days, March 1, 3 and 4, will be offered for Eucharistic Reparation: Since the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has undertaken the three-year Eucharistic Revival, Ember Days observances this liturgical year will directly relate to themes focusing prayer and fasting on the Eucharist. On these days, the Church ‘entreats the Lord for the various needs of humanity’ and gives thanks to God for various blessings received” (Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year and the Calendar, 45). Our diocesan Office of Liturgy, directed by Father Christopher Seibt, has communicated a reminder to parishes and the faithful that “Ember Days are days of prayer and fasting that mark the changing of times and seasons in order to bring about deeper spiritual renewal. The Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after the feast of St.The Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on Sept.The Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after Pentecost (May 13, Jun 2 & 3 this year).The Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after Ash Wednesday (March 1, 3 & 4 this year).The reason ‘ember’ is associated with these days seems to be that the word is a corruption of the Latin phrase ‘quatuor tempora,’ meaning four seasons.”ĭoing the math, then, each of the annual four seasons contains three ember days, so there are 12 total throughout the year: The dish quickly spread to most of Southern Japan and makes a wonderful way to observe the Ember Days fast.This may sound like a question from a Catholic middle school class quiz: “Define Ember Days and when they take place.” Wondering aloud, how many good Catholics would know the answer to this query?įear not! The Diocesan Office of Liturgy and Catholic News Agency (CNA) have the answers.ĬNA reports that “Ember days are tied to the four seasons of the year. This style came to be associated with Ember Days, and took on its related name. In the 16th century, Portuguese missionaries to Japan observed Ember Days by eating battered seafood or vegetables (which fit the program for meat-free fasting). Another surprising derivative is the Japanese tempura. The very term “Ember Days” comes into English from a corruption of the Latin Quatuor Tempora (“four times”). Bishop David Zubik of Pittsburg rekindled Ember Days as part of his “Year of Penance” to atone for the sins brought to light by the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report.Ī fun quirk of history makes it especially fitting to observe Ember Days by eating a certain type of Japanese food. Several bishops have called for their diocese to join them in prayer and fasting for Ember Days, especially in the wake of the abuse revelations of this summer. These special lessons tend to focus on thanksgiving and the bounty of God.Īlthough largely abandoned after Vatican II, the observance of Ember Days has seen a recent resurgence. Traditionally, the liturgy for the day would include several readings in addition to the usual selection and the Gospel. Ordinations have also been associated with Ember Days since the 5th century, since days of fasting seem a natural preparation for such occasions. Leo the Great encourages donating the money saved by fasting to the poor. Availing oneself of the sacrament of Confession is also recommended. Observance of Ember Days includes general fasting (one full meal and two partial meals per day and abstinence from meat). ![]() ![]() Though many of us are far from the Holy Land, Ember Days are an opportunity to connect with the culture in which Christianity takes seed. The anchoring of these days in the rhythm of the agricultural Mediterranean also serves as a reminder of the Incarnational aspects of Christianity. Their purposes-to give thanks to God for the fruits of the Earth, to teach people to use those gifts in moderation, and to assist the needy-echo those of the ancient Roman harvest festivals. It is fitting for these to occur at the change of seasons, as this practice preserves the agricultural origin of the fasts. As early as the 3rd century, the Church saw that these could be Christianized, and repurposed them for fasts. The dates of the fasts follow the ancient harvests of the Mediterranean-cereals, grapes, and olives-and so these occasions likely started as Roman harvest festivals. ![]()
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