Lent: Ember Saturday (Feb 24th) the day Christ was entombed. (Fast and half-abstinence)
by VP
Posted on Saturday February 24, 2024 at 12:00AM in Ember Days
Jesus Tempted in the Wilderness by Jacques Tissot
"There
are two main purposes for the Ember days: “ the consecration of the
four seasons to God and the ordination of the clergy. With
regard to the first; gratitude for God’s gifts is a leading feature in
each of the four fasts, for gratitude is the best means of drawing down
His future blessings in the preservation of the fruits of the earth.
"As
to the second point; the importance of the periodical ordinations of
the clergy cannot be overrated. All good Catholics must needs feel an
interest in the future priests of the Church, for ordination not only
confers an immense privilege on those who are ordained, but also affects
the salvation of those souls, who are hereafter to be entrusted to
their care. The recurrence of the Ember Days should, therefore, remind
all to pray:
1.for vocations to the priesthood, that God would send fit laborers for reaping the harvest;
2. that those about to be ordained may be filled with the true spirit of their high calling;
3. for the success of the labors of the bishops and clergy, both secular and regular, as also for their welfare.
To
obtain these blessings from God, the fast, (which is of strict
obligation) on the Ember Days, should be offered. The value of fasting
as a penitential exercise is too well known to need explanation here,
but it may be remarked that when it is practiced in obedience to the
Church, its efficacy is increased a hundred-fold. By those not able to
fast, other good works are usually substituted. Prayer and fasting,
therefore, are joined together, after the example of the Apostles, who
“fasting and praying, and imposing their hands upon them, sent them
away.” (…)
We may sum up what has already been said by stating
that the three good works, styled eminent, are inculcated upon us at the
Ember seasons. Prayer and Fasting hold a prominent place; St. Leo, who
said so much on Ember Days, adds Almsgiving: “Let us spend in good
deeds,” he says, “what we take from indulgence.” No better time than
the Ember Days could be chosen to lay aside, or offer, and alms towards
the support of candidates for the priesthood; or for an object which is
equally important, the maintenance of the clergy in general.
To
carry out with success these intentions of the Church at Ember-tide, no
new confraternity need be established; all that is required is a full
appreciation of the spirit of the Church as manifested in her Liturgy
and observances, when these seasons come round. The test of true
love for our Lord, as His own words tell, is obedience to His will. We
may apply to the Church, His representative, and her ordinances, this
same test of true love, which He Himself has given: “If you love Me,
Keep My commandments.” Source: The Ember Days, by Dom Columba Edmonds, OSB the Catholic Truth Society, Vol 32 1897
Prayers for Ember Days:
Listen, Almighty God, we beseech Thee, to the prayers which Thy universal Church offers to Thee at this time, beseeching Thy blessing on those who are about to be admitted to Thy Holy Service of the Altar, in particular on (name). Give Thy grace to all who are called to any office and administration amongst Thy clergy, and so replenish them with the truth of Thy doctrine, and indue them with innocence of life, that they may faithfully serve Thee, to the glory of Thy great name and the benefit of Thy Holy Church. Amen
O God, of Whose mercies there is no number, and of Whose goodness the treasure is infinite, we humbly thank Thee for the gifts thou hast bestowed upon us. Continue Thy mercy to us, and give us also so much of Thy temporal blessings as Thou knowest to be for our good. Grant that the fruits of the earth may, by Thy holy favor, increase and multiply. Defend them from all drought, frosts or tempests, or whatever else may be hurtful to them. It is from Thy hand only that we look for succor, and to Thee we have recourse in all our necessities. Amen.
Source: St. John's Manual 1856, Archbishop of New York John J. Hugues
Saturday in Ember-Week. Daily Meditations by Bishop Richard Challoner: On the Spiritual Works of Mercy.
" Consider first, that the spiritual works of mercy, by which we relieve our neighbours in the necessities of their souls, are of far greater value in the sight of God, than such as merely relate to their bodies. If then he is pleased to promise such ample rewards to the feeding the hungry, cloathing the naked, and such-like good works, which relate only to these corruptible carcases, and to the short time of our mortal pilgrimage: how much more will he esteem and reward those works of mercy and charity, by which immortal souls, made after God's own image, and redeemed by the blood of Christ, are drawn out of darkness and sin, rescued from Satan and hell, and brought to God and a happy eternity? He that causeth a sinner to be converted from the error of his way, saith the scripture, shall save his soul from death, and shall cover a multitude of sins, (St. James v. 20). And they that instruct many to justice, shall shine as stars for all eternity, (Daniel xii. 3.).
Consider 2dly, that the spiritual works of mercy are principally exercised: by reclaiming sinners from their evil ways, even the ways of death and hell, by admonitions, remonstrances, fraternal corrections, etc. by enlightening and instructing such as, through ignorance, are in danger of losing their precious soul; or by procuring them this light and instruction from other proper persons: by comforting the afflicted; encouraging the pusillanimous; upholding and assisting them that are under temptations; reconciling such as are at variance; bearing with all, forgiving all, ever overcoming evil with good, and praying for all. O how happy; how precious in the sight of God, is a life spent in such works of mercy and charity as these are! And how happy will that death be, that shall conclude such a life! O my soul, that we may lead such a life! O that we may die such a death!
Consider 3dly, that these spiritual works of mercy are not only the most acceptable of all, and the most meritorious in the sight of God, but also are of strict obligation: and this not only to pastors, but to all other Christians, according to their circumstances and abilities. Charity is a virtue of universal obligation and the principal object of that love, which charity obliges us to have for our neighbours, is the eternal welfare of their immortal souls. If then, we can unconcernedly see numbers of souls crowding into hell, without affording them all the help that lies in our power, in order to rescue them from that extremity of endless misery: is it not evident, that we have no charity for them? and if not, may not our case one day be as bad as theirs? What then must we do? We must gladly lay hold of every opportunity of contributing what lies in us to the conversion and salvation of any one of these poor unhappy souls and we shall quickly find that opportunities of this nature will not be wanting, if we take the matter to heart. At least there are two ways, and those the most effectual of all, of reclaiming sinners, and bringing them to God; which are certainly in the power of every one, and from which no one can be excused: and these are, the example of a holy life, and the efficacy of fervent prayer poured out to God in behalf of poor sinners.
Conclude ever to make use of these two, the most effectual, ways of bringing sinners to God: yet so as not to neglect any other means that lie in thy power. What a comfort will it be to thee; what an honour, what a happiness, to be the instrument of God in the salvation of souls: that same great work, which brought the Son of God from heaven! But what dreadful punishments mayest thou not justly apprehend, if for want of this charity, any of these souls should perish, because thou wouldst not lend them a helping hand, to withdraw them from the precipice to which they were running. Ah! will not their blood one day cry to heaven for vengeance against thee!
Devotions for Ember days:
- Diving into the Catholic Treasury: A Revival of the Ember Days by Canon Huberfelt, ICRSS
- Renewal and the Penitential Life by Msgr. Ingham
- The Seven Penitential Psalms (Msgr. Ingham, audio)
- Seven Penitential Psalms (Latin/English)
- Litany of Saints
- Litany to Obtain Holy Priests
- Holy Hour of Adoration and Reparation for Priests
- Stations of the Cross for Priests (Especially for those who are suffering persecution)
- The Rosary to Our Lady of Sorrows dedicated for Priests, (by Fr. Scott McCaig,CC on the occasion of the Year for Priest, 2009)
