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Whit Wednesday: The Heart of Jesus Sending us the gift of fortitude

"He hath strengthened them that were fainting in patience." (Ecclus. xvii. 20.)
"Brethren, be strengthened in the Lord, and in the might of His power." (Eph. vi. 10.)

1st Point.-St. Teresa has said that there is nothing the devil dreads so much as a resolute soul. It is but saying, in other words, that there is no gift so advantageous in our combats with him as the gift of fortitude. Oh, how earnestly we should desire and pray for this gift! Weak, irresolute, trembling souls are overcome even by the shadow of danger, while the brave-hearted walk fearlessly on, and scarcely even notice the lion in their path. But there is a natural hardihood, as utterly opposed to this gift as timidity, and most souls are inclined to either one extreme or the other. A few moments' careful examination would show us to which we are most inclined, and consequently how we should act so as to avoid the danger on either side. Perhaps the timid and irresolute are safer than the bold and self-confident.

2nd Point. Consider how the gift of fortitude strengthens us, first to do, and secondly to suffer. There is scarcely an action in the day, especially if we have been consecrated to God in religion, in which we do not require to exercise the gift of fortitude. We need it in the morning, when the summons to rise finds us weary and desirous of a longer rest; we need it at office and meditation, when pleasant fancies or reflections about coming occupations seem almost to insist on occupying our thoughts; we need it when repugnances arise to this employment or to that; we need it when obedience appoints a duty which we do not relish, and when we see another appointed to an office or occupation which we would naturally desire to fulfill; we need it-oh, how often!-in the little daily trials of our calling, in the little temptations more frequently than in the great ones, which all who are striving in earnest after perfection must encounter. Oh, if we had more fortitude, we should not only run but fly in the path of perfection, and we should find the flying easier than the running, although it is this very love of ease which we seek
to gratify, by not exerting ourselves to master the obstacles to this holy flight.

3rd Point. Consider how the gift of fortitude enables us to suffer. There are certain circumstances in which we need fortitude to enable us to suffer, more than fortitude to enable us to act. When a trial has pressed upon us for years, then we need fortitude to bear it bravely and uncomplaining. When we are deprived for a length of time of all spiritual consolation, and we neither enjoy God here or feel as if we should enjoy Him hereafter, then indeed we require fortitude to enable us to walk by faith, as if sight were granted to us. When we are exhausted and wearied by constant labor or bodily infirmity, then we need fortitude to work on through weariness, and in spite of it. Let us consider well how much and how constantly we need this blessed gift, that we may pray for it with an earnestness proportioned to our need.

Aspiration." In Thee, O Lord, have I hoped : let me never be confounded." (Ps. xxx. 1.)

Source: Meditations for Advent and Easter, p 272

Let us pray the Holy Spirit to enlighten our bishop in the choice of worthy candidates for the Holy Priesthood.

"On Ember days we pray and make sacrifices for ourselves, our families, the Church and the world." 

We should never let these seasons pass without adding prayer to our fasts, or it may be compensating fast by prayer. Our prayer should be for the clergy, not only those ordained, though for them especially; but for the Sovereign Pontiff, the cardinals, bishops, parochial clergy, missionaries and religious orders, seminarians; and for the grace of vocation to the priesthood.

Brief Meditations for Pentecost Ember Days

Today is Ember Wednesday of the Summer or Pentecost Embertide. These Ember Days fall during the week after Pentecost (the traditional octave of Pentecost), near the summer solstice. The three focal points for the Ember Days of this period of the year are:

1) to ask God to bless especially the wheat harvest,

2) to thank God for the season of summer, and

3) to ask for special graces for those being ordained as priests during this season.

‘Originally the summer Ember Days served as a time of thanksgiving at the end of the wheat harvest in Mediterranean countries. The present (pre-1969) liturgy, only faintly suggests or alludes to harvest time; rather, wheat and harvest time are used as symbols of supernatural realities. For us wheat is the Eucharistic "Bread of Life", and the harvest is the that of souls reaped by the Holy Ghost. "The floors shall be filled with wheat, and the presses shall be filled with wheat, and the presses shall be filled with oil and wine (Lesson Ember Friday)

. Ember week is a recognized time for spiritual renewal, an occasion to review the past as well as to scan the future. And during these days after Pentecost we can sense more easily the original import and the spirit of joyous gratitude proper to Ember week. Gratitude, not penance, should be the dominant Ember spirit. Even fasting can be an act of thanksgiving! Let us stress positive rather than negative values in our Christian life, cultivate the consciousness of being God's holy children rather than feel ourselves as outcasts and sinners. Wednesday of Ember week is dedicated to Mary, it is a day of interior recollection. Friday is devoted to penance, while Saturday lays greatest stress on thanksgiving. Make a summary review today of the past quarter year. These three months, covering the Lenten and Paschal seasons, were certainly the most important segment of the Church's year of grace. What tremendous graces we received! But how did we use them? Are they producing fruit? Will there be a spiritual harvest?’ (The Church's Year of Grace by Pius Parsch 1953)
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 Deacon Nicolas Rapkoch. 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

Hymns, readings and prayers for this Whit Embertide:

Hymns: Veni, Sancte Spiritus (Come, Thou Holy Spiritus, come)

Veni, Creator Spiritus, (Come Holy Spirit, Creator Blest)

Readings: Ember Wednesday: Acts of the Apostles, 2. 14-21;  Acts of the Apostles, 5. 12-16;  St. John, 6. 44-52

Prayers:

An excellent prayer for this purpose is the Litany of the Saints, in which so many bishops, priests, and levites are invoked; or the Rosary may be appropriately said, grouping those for whom we pray into five classes (Pope, Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, and Seminarians), corresponding to the five decades.

Source: Ember Days (Cure d'Ars Prayer Group)