T
Tantum_ergo
Guest
Does anybody remember ember days?
Traditionally the Church celebrates Rogation days (April 25 being the Major Rogation and the Monday,Tuesday, Wednesday before Ascension Thursday being the Minor Rogation) and also ember days. Ember days (corruption from Lat. Quatuor Tempora, four times) are the days at the beginning of the seasons ordered by the Church as days of fast and abstinence. They were definitely arranged and prescribed for the entire Church by Pope Gregory VII (1073-1085) for the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after 13 December (S. Lucia), after Ash Wednesday, after Whitsunday (Pentecost) and after 14 September (Exaltation of the Cross). The purpose of their introduction, besides the general one intended by all prayer and fasting was to thank God for the gifts of nature, to teach men to make use of them in moderation, and to assist the needy.
This Wednesday, Friday and Saturday (September 23, 25 and 26) are the ember days traditionally known as “Michaelmas” from their proximity to the feast of St. Michael. Last Monday Sept. 14th was the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, and the ember days must start at least one week after that feast.
They involve by tradition abstinence and fasting, the fasting whereby one eats one full meal and two smaller meals which do not add up to a full meal.
I thought that perhaps people who are traditionally minded, as well as those looking to learn about Church traditions, might wish to know about these in order to consider keeping them, though they are optional nowadays.
God bless.
Traditionally the Church celebrates Rogation days (April 25 being the Major Rogation and the Monday,Tuesday, Wednesday before Ascension Thursday being the Minor Rogation) and also ember days. Ember days (corruption from Lat. Quatuor Tempora, four times) are the days at the beginning of the seasons ordered by the Church as days of fast and abstinence. They were definitely arranged and prescribed for the entire Church by Pope Gregory VII (1073-1085) for the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after 13 December (S. Lucia), after Ash Wednesday, after Whitsunday (Pentecost) and after 14 September (Exaltation of the Cross). The purpose of their introduction, besides the general one intended by all prayer and fasting was to thank God for the gifts of nature, to teach men to make use of them in moderation, and to assist the needy.
This Wednesday, Friday and Saturday (September 23, 25 and 26) are the ember days traditionally known as “Michaelmas” from their proximity to the feast of St. Michael. Last Monday Sept. 14th was the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, and the ember days must start at least one week after that feast.
They involve by tradition abstinence and fasting, the fasting whereby one eats one full meal and two smaller meals which do not add up to a full meal.
I thought that perhaps people who are traditionally minded, as well as those looking to learn about Church traditions, might wish to know about these in order to consider keeping them, though they are optional nowadays.
God bless.
