The Ember Days: A Nearly Forgotten Ancient Catholic Tradition
Sant Crux, Lucia, Cineres, Charismata Dia
Ut sit in angaria quarta sequens feria.
Holy Cross, Lucy, Ash Wednesday, Pentecost,
are when the quarter holidays follow.
This article has been reposted in several forms and forums. It's a drum I will continue to beat because I see Ember Day observances as one small way of reclaiming our past and re-embracing our Catholic heritage and culture.
Ember Days are one of the more ancient observances in the liturgical calendar--dating from ancient Rome and then more definitively established in the Church by Pope Gelasius in the 5th Century. Traditionally commemorated four times a year over three days (Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday), they mark the changing of the four seasons. Prior to the changes to the Church’s liturgical calendar in the 1960s, the Ember Days were observed the weeks following the celebrations of:
Saint Lucy’s Day for winter
1st Sunday of Lent for spring
Pentecost for summer
The Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross for fall
In 1969 the General Roman Calendar essentially eliminated the commemoration of Ember Days altogether.
Holy Mother Church, in her wisdom, originally established Ember Days for Catholics to focus upon God in His marvelous creation, as a means of offering Him thanks for the abundance He provides, and to ask His blessing upon the earth as we sow and reap in due season. The faithful were enjoined to pray and fast in particular for these intentions.
Under Pope Gelasius, Ember Saturdays were utilized for ordinations to the priesthood and diaconate. In subsequent years,1st Holy Communions were often conferred. Practices such as praying for priests, the holy souls in Purgatory, and almsgiving were especially encouraged.
Each of the four Embertides were particularly devoted to giving thanks to God for His bounty and to ask for His blessing upon an agricultural feature which were in turn paired with a particular sacrament, spiritual aspect, or devotion.
Winter for the olive harvest and in anticipation of the blessing of the holy oils used in anointing of the sick
Spring for the flower harvest and the works of honey bees especially in thanksgiving for bee's wax used in liturgical candle making
Summer for the wheat harvest and in honor of the Holy Eucharist
Fall for the grape harvest and in honor of the Most Precious Blood
How truly beautiful and rich is our Faith.
Sadly abrogated in the Universal Church, I’d been Catholic for many years before hearing of the Ember Days. Suddenly they seemed to be re-emerging and growing in popularity, especially among the laity; quite possibly due to the explosion in growth of the Traditional Latin Mass. Within Traditional Catholicism, Ember Days continued to be honored faithfully, according to the 1962 Missal. The growth and influence of Traditionalism may have spilled over into the larger population of Catholic faithful. It’s a lovely devotion and one many might find attractive. Like so many favorite devotions, this one does seem to be lay-driven and I love it.
For more information about Ember Days and its many traditions and practices check out:
Catholic All Year: Rogation and Ember Days and Vigils
OnePeterFive: Forgotten Customs of Ember Days
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