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jazzbaby1
Guest
Today and Friday and Saturday of this week are Ember Days. Anyone else observing them? I am a fairly recent convert (three years) so I was wondering when observation of these days fell by the way side. Thanks.
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Trishie
Guest
You’re referring to twelve days of fasting during four Ember weeks, around thirteen weeks apart. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday were Ember days when food was restricted to one full meal and two partial meatless meals. These days were chosen because Wednesday was the day that Christ was betrayed, and Friday was the day of His death.
Prior to the Second Vatican Council, the Church required fasting on Ember Days and Catholics were encouraged to go to Confession if possible.
In 1966, Pope Paul VI’s decree Paenitemini excluded the Ember Days as days of fast and abstinence for Catholics. Therefore they are no longer observed…except of course by personal choice
Prior to the Second Vatican Council, the Church required fasting on Ember Days and Catholics were encouraged to go to Confession if possible.
In 1966, Pope Paul VI’s decree Paenitemini excluded the Ember Days as days of fast and abstinence for Catholics. Therefore they are no longer observed…except of course by personal choice
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SourGrape
Guest
I would if I wasn’t nursing, but that changes everything 
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Cathryn
Guest
My parish has the traditional Latin Mass on Sunday and Wednesday mornings. The Mass we had this morning was the Ember Wednesday Mass, ( Wednesday after the First Sunday of Lent). Today on the traditional calendar it is a day of fast and partial abstinence. If one chooses to observe fasting and abstinence in this way, meat can be eaten only once at the principle meal. I am doing this.
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IrishAm
Guest
I do, as a personal devotion. The seasonal nature of the Ember Days somehow resonates with me – must be a holdover from all those generations of farmers from which I came!
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yinekka
Guest
Vatican II retained ember days in principle, but left it to bishops conferences to determine the extent and form of their observance. "The word probably comes from the Old English word “ymbrine” meaning a recurring period.They mark the beginning of each of the four seasons.
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference[40 + years since Vatican II] has now decided that the Church in Australia should observe the first Fridays of autumn and spring (March and September) as special days of prayer and penance."
On … ember days the practice of the church is to give God public thanks, offer prayers to the Lord for the needs of all people, especially for the productivity of the earth and for human labour . (GNLYC 45)
Source - Ordo 2009 for Australia and New Zealand
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference[40 + years since Vatican II] has now decided that the Church in Australia should observe the first Fridays of autumn and spring (March and September) as special days of prayer and penance."
On … ember days the practice of the church is to give God public thanks, offer prayers to the Lord for the needs of all people, especially for the productivity of the earth and for human labour . (GNLYC 45)
Source - Ordo 2009 for Australia and New Zealand
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