![]() (In 2021, the Advent Ember Days are December 15th, 17th, and 18th.) The rose candle is already lit, reminding us that Christ is coming very soon. The Ember Days remind us that Jesus taught that some petitions can only be answered by prayer and fasting ( see Mark 9:28).Īs noted above, Advent Embertide begins the Wednesday after Gaudete Sunday. While they are no longer mandatory, many Catholics continue to keep them, because they assist in bringing fasting into our prayer. Keep the Ember DaysĪll Catholics observed the Ember Days until they were removed from the liturgical calendar in 1966. Acts 13:3Īs a result, for centuries, priestly ordinations took place during Ember Days, in addition to the Easter season. Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. This correlates with the apostolic tradition of ordaining new priests after a period of prayer and fasting: Spring // grapes, used for the Precious Bloodīecause of the link between the harvests and the Sacraments, the prayer intentions of Ember Days focus on priestly and religious vocations.Summer // wheat, used for the Holy Eucharist.Spring // flowers and bees, used for altar and Baptismal candles. ![]() Winter // olives and oil, used for anointing the sick.The Church counts her blessings and rejoices in the gifts of nature, especially crops that contribute to the administration of the Sacraments. However, unlike the solemnness of Lenten fasting, Ember Days’ fasting is joyful and thankful. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, meat is permitted in the primary meal, but on Fridays, abstaining from meat is required. Like fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, Ember Days allow one primary meal and two snacks, which when combined do not equal a full meal. Similar to Lent, but on a smaller scale, the Ember Days offer us a time of spiritual renewal, a chance to reset and refocus our priorities. Wednesday // Christ’s betrayal by Judas. ![]() Three Days of Fasting, Four Times Per YearĮach set of Ember Days includes three days of fasting-Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday-in remembrance of Christ’s Passion.
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