The Church first observed Ember Days in its early centuries. Once each season, the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday of one week were set apart for to pray, fast, and thank God for the blessings of the season (particularly the crops that yielded oil, bread, and wine), and to pray for priests. (At one time, priests were ordained during Ember Days.)
Ember Days are no longer times of mandatory fasting and abstinence, so they are not on the Church calendar, but observing the tradition of Ember Days is a helpful reminder to:
· Thank God for the gifts He gives through nature.
· Thank God for the priesthood and the gift of the sacraments.
· Pray and sacrifice for vocations to the priesthood.
The next Ember Days, March 12, 14, and 15, occur during the first week in Lent. Perhaps we can include the intention of priestly vocations in our Lenten prayers and sacrifices.
The Church first observed Ember Days in its early centuries. Once each season, the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday of one week were set apart for to pray, fast, and thank God for the blessings of the season (particularly the crops that yielded oil, bread, and wine), and to pray for priests. (At one time, priests were ordained during Ember Days.) Ember Days are no longer times of mandatory fasting and abstinence, so they are not on the Church calendar, but observing the tradition of Ember Days is a helpful reminder to: · Thank God for the gifts He gives through nature. · Thank God for the priesthood and the gift of the sacraments. · Pray and sacrifice for vocations to the priesthood. The next Ember Days, March 12, 14, and 15, occur during the first week in Lent. Perhaps we can include the intention of priestly vocations in our Lenten prayers and sacrifices.