Ember Days

[palmas85]

Ah yes, the Ember Days of Advent are upon us.

Anybody besides me remember them? Days of fast and abstinence as well as having multiple kneelings during the the Mass apart from the normal kneeling… Days to pray for vocations and for the Church. Wednesday Friday and Saturday before the 4th Sunday of Advent.

Does anyone know why they were suppressed? I have always thought maybe as a result of the reforms of Vatican II, but thinking back it seems to me that they were on the way out before then.

Anyone know or care to venture a guess?

 

[LilyM]

Ah yes, the Ember Days of Advent are upon us.

Anybody besides me remember them? Days of fast and abstinence as well as having multiple kneelings during the the Mass apart from the normal kneeling… Days to pray for vocations and for the Church. Wednesday Friday and Saturday before the 4th Sunday of Advent.

Does anyone know why they were suppressed? I have always thought maybe as a result of the reforms of Vatican II, but thinking back it seems to me that they were on the way out before then.

Anyone know or care to venture a guess?

No idea.

Shame that, due to time differences, it’s too late for me do the Wednesday fast (though I haven’t eaten meat). But I’m in for Friday and Saturday

 

[Lion]

Ah yes, the Ember Days of Advent are upon us.

Anybody besides me remember them? Days of fast and abstinence as well as having multiple kneelings during the the Mass apart from the normal kneeling… Days to pray for vocations and for the Church. Wednesday Friday and Saturday before the 4th Sunday of Advent.

Does anyone know why they were suppressed? I have always thought maybe as a result of the reforms of Vatican II, but thinking back it seems to me that they were on the way out before then.

Anyone know or care to venture a guess?

I’ve never even heard of this… thanks for bringing the topic up!!

 

[Lion]

No idea.

Shame that, due to time differences, it’s too late for me do the Wednesday fast (though I haven’t eaten meat). But I’m in for Friday and Saturday

Being Australian and 12 or so hours ahead of us is no excuse, LilyM :tsktsk:

 

[AJV]

Ah yes, the Ember Days of Advent are upon us.

Anybody besides me remember them? Days of fast and abstinence as well as having multiple kneelings during the the Mass apart from the normal kneeling… Days to pray for vocations and for the Church. Wednesday Friday and Saturday before the 4th Sunday of Advent.

Does anyone know why they were suppressed? I have always thought maybe as a result of the reforms of Vatican II, but thinking back it seems to me that they were on the way out before then.

Anyone know or care to venture a guess?

They weren’t, however, instead of adhering to ember days that have their origin in seasons in another place, it was decided that the individual bishops conferences should determine the ember and rogation days for each country. So far, till date, I don’t think the USCCB has done so.

 

[mommyof4]

Thank you for the reminder! I completely forgot about Ember Days! It’s only 10 am here, so I can do some fasting/praying today. I’ve already had bacon this morning, but I think the good Lord will overlook it…

 

[Andruschak]

Ah yes, the Ember Days of Advent are upon us.

Anybody besides me remember them? Days of fast and abstinence as well as having multiple kneelings during the the Mass apart from the normal kneeling… Days to pray for vocations and for the Church. Wednesday Friday and Saturday before the 4th Sunday of Advent.

Does anyone know why they were suppressed? I have always thought maybe as a result of the reforms of Vatican II, but thinking back it seems to me that they were on the way out before then.

Anyone know or care to venture a guess?

Nope. I know vaguely about Ember days, but the start of the Advent Ember days escaped my notice. Not that it matters.

As part of my CFP training, I already abstain on all Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

I also eat but two meals a day, dinner and supper, with no solid food between meals. This counts as a fasting by today’s standards. I do this seven days a week.

All bases covered. Thank You, CFP.

 

[Mummybee]

I belong to the Pittsburgh Latin Mass Community, and father always reminds us (it’s also in the bulletin) when the Ember Days are about to come up. It’s not only an opportunity to pray for your own parish priests, but for vocations in general. This is from our bulletin this week:

"Winter Ember Days:

The Ember days were traditionally the days at the start of each season when candidates for the Holy Priesthood received ordination. As a result, these days became days of penance and prayer to ask the Lord for an increase of vocations to the Priesthood and for the sactification of the Clergy. This year the Winter Ember Days fall on December 20, 22 and 23. Traditionally, the Wednesday and Saturday Ember Days are days of fast and partial abstinence while the Friday Ember Day is a day of fast and total abstinence."

As for their suppression, I don’t know if it was ever official, because we are still free to observe them. (The PLMC is completely in line with our diocese and Rome, and has an indult from the bishop, so if they were supposed to be ‘suppressed’ per se, Father would never mention them from the pulpit!!!) I think it was a matter of neglect, they fell to the wayside with many other beautiful and important things after the dramatic changes of the novus order had their advent.