WHAT AND WHEN ARE THE EMBER DAYS?

New Zealand Tablet, 27 February 1919, Page 34

WHAT AND WHEN ARE THE EMBER DAYS?

The Ember Days are the first Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday of each of the four seasons of the year, set apart as fast days by the Church. According to the testimony of Pope Leo, they originated in the time of the Apostles, who were inspired by the Holy Ghost to dedicate each season of the year to God by a few days of penance; or, as it were, to pay three days' interest every three months on the graces received from God. The Church always commanded the faithful to fast at the beginning of each of the four seasons of the year, because it is at this time that she ordains the priests and other servants of the Church, which even the Apostles did with much prayer and fasting. Thus she desires that during the Ember Days Christions should fervently ask of God by prayer, fasting, and other good works, for worthy pastors and servants, on whom depends the welfare of the whole Christian flock; she also desires that in the spring Ember Days we should ask God's blessing for the fertility of the earth ; in summer for the preservation of the fruits of the field ; in autumn when the harvest is ripe, and in winter when it is sheltered, that we should offer to God, by fasting and prayer, a sacrifice of thanks, petitioning Him to assist us, that we may not use His gifts for our souls detriment, but refer all praise to Him, the fountain of all good, and assist our neighbor according to our means.