It’s a little tricky because the Ember Days appear in threes, yet our Prayer Book only gives us two sets of Communion Propers ( Collects on page 634 and Lessons on page 732). For Advent (winter) that date is December 13th (Saint Lucia Day): the first Wednesday after that day starts off the Ember Days for spring it’s in the first full week of Lent, for summer it’s in the Pentecost Octave (starting today), and for autumn the anchor date is September 14th (Holy Cross Day). Those who are discerning for holy orders, including transitional deacons awaiting the priesthood, typically write an Ember Day letter to their bishop, updating him on their ministerial progress and how the discernment process has been proceeding.Įach seasonal group of Ember Days is a Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after an anchor date. Positioned fairly evenly throughout the year near the changes of the season, these were often the days when ordinations would take place and people would have a quarterly reminder to pray for their clergymen. Although in some places the purpose of these days have changed somewhat, their original purpose was to be a time of fasting and prayer for the clergy, those preparing for ordination, and those discerning a call to ordination. The dish quickly spread to most of Southern Japan and makes a wonderful way to observe the Ember Days fast.The Pentecost Ember Days are here! It’s been a few months since we last talked about Ember Days, so let’s hazard some repetition of material. ![]() ![]() This style came to be associated with Ember Days, and took on its related name. In the 16th century, Portuguese missionaries to Japan observed Ember Days by eating battered seafood or vegetables (which fit the program for meat-free fasting). Another surprising derivative is the Japanese tempura. The very term “Ember Days” comes into English from a corruption of the Latin Quatuor Tempora (“four times”). Bishop David Zubik of Pittsburg rekindled Ember Days as part of his “Year of Penance” to atone for the sins brought to light by the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report.Ī fun quirk of history makes it especially fitting to observe Ember Days by eating a certain type of Japanese food. Several bishops have called for their diocese to join them in prayer and fasting for Ember Days, especially in the wake of the abuse revelations of this summer. These special lessons tend to focus on thanksgiving and the bounty of God.Īlthough largely abandoned after Vatican II, the observance of Ember Days has seen a recent resurgence. Traditionally, the liturgy for the day would include several readings in addition to the usual selection and the Gospel. Ordinations have also been associated with Ember Days since the 5th century, since days of fasting seem a natural preparation for such occasions. Leo the Great encourages donating the money saved by fasting to the poor. Availing oneself of the sacrament of Confession is also recommended. Observance of Ember Days includes general fasting (one full meal and two partial meals per day and abstinence from meat). Though many of us are far from the Holy Land, Ember Days are an opportunity to connect with the culture in which Christianity takes seed. The anchoring of these days in the rhythm of the agricultural Mediterranean also serves as a reminder of the Incarnational aspects of Christianity. Their purposes-to give thanks to God for the fruits of the Earth, to teach people to use those gifts in moderation, and to assist the needy-echo those of the ancient Roman harvest festivals. It is fitting for these to occur at the change of seasons, as this practice preserves the agricultural origin of the fasts. As early as the 3rd century, the Church saw that these could be Christianized, and repurposed them for fasts. The dates of the fasts follow the ancient harvests of the Mediterranean-cereals, grapes, and olives-and so these occasions likely started as Roman harvest festivals.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |