Lenten Embertide: How is/was it different from other days of Lent?

[Brandon_Cal]

This question concerns the traditional fasting and abstinence of the Ember Days of Lent vis-a-vis the practices during other days of Lent.

As I understand it, The Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday of an Embertide would require fasting and partial abstinence (full abstinence on Friday) regardless of which season the Embertide falls in. I also understand the traditional fasting and abstinence practice of Lent in general to include a fast and partial abstinence on all days of Lent excluding Sundays, and Fridays (the latter of which is due to the fact that full abstinence along with fasting was required).

Is my understanding correct?

If so, what actually sets apart the Ember Days of Lent if a Catholic would traditionally fast and abstain no differently all the other days of Lent?

PS: Let this post be a friendly reminder that Lenten Embertide is this week: Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday This will be my first Embertide fast/abstinence.

 

[AngelusDomini]

I’m sure somebody more knowledgeable than I will come along to give you a full answer to this, however, I can give you an answer from an Ordinariate perspective (Ember days are retained in the Ordinariate calendar).

The Ember days were once set aside as days of preparation for those to be ordained and for the faithful to pray for them. There are four sets of Ember days throughout the liturgical year and as ordinations usually take place at Petertide now the Ember days are used to pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life, for those serving in the ministry of the church, and for our own vocations as the people of God.

It’s not so much the fasting and partial abstinence that makes the Ember days as the intentions behind them.

Extra ember days may also be declared by the Ordinary in the UK.

 

[CommonWeal]

You ask a good question. As a convert, I find myself constantly trying to reconcile the traditional calendar, which I prefer, with the newer, ordinary form. In my experience, I have found the latter to be incoherent in many respects.

At any rate, here is one website that I have found helpful: Fish Eaters. In it there is an article on Ember Days.

But I’m not sure what the answer is. By the way, what is “partial” abstinence?

 

[AngelusDomini]

Partial abstinence, as I understand it, means that meat may form part of your main meal on a fast day (provided it is not Friday), but may not form part of either collation.

 

[CommonWeal]

Partial abstinence, as I understand it, means that meat may form part of your main meal on a fast day (provided it is not Friday), but may not form part of either collation.

Hmm, that’s interesting. I didn’t know meat was ordinarily permitted as a collation when abstaining.

 

[AngelusDomini]

Hmm, that’s interesting. I didn’t know meat was ordinarily permitted as a collation when abstaining.

It’s not - sorry, I should have worded it ‘can not form…’.

 

[CommonWeal]

It’s not - sorry, I should have worded it ‘can not form…’.

Oh, I get it. Based on other things I’ve read, I think I share the view that “partial abstinence” is really no abstinence at all, since partial abstinence is only required when fasting, when only one meal is permitted anyway. If that one meal may consist of meat, then you’re not really abstaining, are you?

 

[AngelusDomini]

Partial abstinence is confusing for me - when I was an Anglican it was fasting and abstinence on Ember days and that was that!

I was also of the view that collation meals may be taken if felt absolutely necessary, however, I’m not sure if that’s the case now.

 

[CardinalChief]

Partial Abstinence means meat (other than fish) may be eaten only with your primary meal. When fasting in Lent the old law, prior to Vatican II, required you to fast all the days of Lent, but only to abstain on Ash Wednesday and on Fridays. The law of fast permits only one meal a day, but two smaller meals or “snacks” could be taken to maintain strength. During these “snacks” meat was prohibited on days of partial abstinence (which were all days in Lent aside from Fridays and Ash Wednesday, which were days of total abstinence).
The question about the Ember Days is interesting as there appears to be no difference between their practice and that of Lent. As such when the Ember days fall in Lent there appears to be no additional obligation.
Keep in mind that these observances are no longer obligatory for the faithful, however they are praiseworthy and should continually be encouraged.

 

[ORayMoose]

FASTING AND ABSTINENCE

Summary of information from fisheaters.com/fasting.html

DEFINITIONS:

FASTING is the taking of only one full meal (which may include meat) and two smaller, meatless meals that don’t equal the large one meal. No eating between meals is allowed, but water, milk, tea, coffee, and juices are OK. Meat is only allowed at one meal if abstinence isn’t also expected that day.

TOTAL ABSTINENCE means refraining from eating the meat from mammals or fowl, and soup or gravy made from them. Fish is allowed.

PARTIAL ABSTINENCE. Meat and soup or gravy made from meat may be eaten once a day at the principle meal.

TRADITIONAL LENTEN FASTING/ABSTINENCE RULES:

SUNDAYS - The fasting/abstinence requirements (except for the Eucharistic Fast) are totally abrogated.

MONDAY-THURSDAY - Fast and Partial Abstinence

FRIDAY AND SATURDAY - Fast and Total Abstinence

LENTEN EMBERTIDE (Feb 25, 27, 28, 2015) - Fast and Total Abstinence

Note that for traditional Catholics like me, the only change that Embertide makes is that the Wednesday abstinence is total rather than partial, since total abstinence is already required on Fridays and Saturdays of Lent.