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September 15, 2021The Ember Days are four seasonal times of prayer and fasting in the Catholic Church, and an ancient part of the Ordinariate's English Christian patrimony.
The word comes from the Latin “Quattember” or “the four times of the year” as the Ember days take place in Advent, Lent, Whitsuntide (the octave of Pentecost), and September following Holy Cross Day.
The Catholic Church invites its members to fast and pray for the Lord Jesus to send new vocations to ministry in His holy Church, and for Christians to take up bravely their vocations in the world.
The Church sets minimal fasting guidelines for persons between 18 - 59 as one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together would not equal a full meal.
All persons who fast should maintain their health, particularly if they choose to make a more demanding fast.
In the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter (North America), all Catholics ages 14 and up are required to abstain from meat on Ember Friday unless health reasons dictate otherwise.
The 2021 Fall Ember days are Wed. Sept. 15th, Fri. Sept. 17th, and Sat. Sept. 18th.
Here are the collects to pray for each of the Ember Days in Fall:
EMBER WEDNESDAY IN SEPTEMBER
GRANT, we beseech thee, O Lord, to us thy humble servants: that we, who do refrain ourselves from carnal feastings, may likewise fast from sin within our souls; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
EMBER FRIDAY IN SEPTEMBER
GRANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God: that we, who year by
year devotedly keep this holy ordinance of abstinence, may
serve thee acceptably both in body and soul; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
EMBER SATURDAY IN SEPTEMBER
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who through godly continency
bestowest healing both of body and soul: we humbly beseech thy majesty graciously to look upon the devout prayers and abstinence of thy people, granting us in this world the succour of thy grace, and in the world to come life everlasting; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Or, for those to be ordained:
ALMIGHTY God, the giver of all good gifts, who of thy divine
providence hast appointed divers Orders in thy Church: give thy grace, we humbly beseech thee, to all who are (now) called to any office and ministry for thy people; and so fill them with the truth of thy doctrine and clothe them with holiness of life, that they may faithfully serve before thee, to the glory of thy great Name and for the benefit of thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Or, for the choice of fit persons for the ordained ministry:
O GOD, who didst lead thy holy Apostles to ordain ministers in
every place: grant that thy Church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, may choose suitable men for the ministry of Word and Sacrament, and may uphold them in their work for the extension of thy kingdom; through him who is the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls, Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Or, for all Christians in their vocation:
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of thy faithful people is governed and sanctified: receive our supplications and prayers, which we offer before thee for all members of thy holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and godly serve thee; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Adapted and republished at the ACS with permission from St. Alban's Catholic Church (stalbanscatholic.com).
