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 |