“EMBER DAYS” IN ADVENT
By Alex Hill, Director of Music and Liturgy
During most of her history, the Church has taught her faithful the principle of “fasting before feasting.” We see this at work most clearly in Advent and Lent, penitential periods which precede the great feasts of Christmas and Easter, respectively. These are long periods of penitence, several weeks during which we may voluntarily fast from food or luxuries like meat and alcohol, as well as adopt additional disciplines of prayer and almsgiving. The subdued character of these penitential seasons is reflected in the color violet which we see in liturgical vestments and decorations during these two important religious “seasons.”
However, human societies have also marked “natural seasons” which articulate divisions in the solar year: the lengthening of days before summer and shortening before winter; the harvest time of the fall, and the planting time of the spring. Where a natural season culminated in a “festival” of its own, these would be preceded by a short period of “fasting before the feast.”
This is the context of the Catholic Church’s ancient practice of “Ember Days” four times per year, a brief penitential observance which, though no longer required, is nonetheless encouraged by the Church. They occur during each of the four “natural seasons” but are marked by familiar religious observances of fasting, prayer, and confession.
The “Ember Days” occur on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday at specific points in the year according to the following calendar (with dates for 2022):
– SPRING: following the First Sunday of Lent (March 9, 11, 12)
– SUMMER: following Pentecost Sunday (June 8, 10, 11)
– FALL: after the 3rd Sunday of September, near the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross (September 21, 23, 24)
– WINTER: after the Memorial of St. Lucy (December 14, 16, 17)
To remember these times, a clever mnemonic developed – “Lenty, Penty, Cruci, Luci” – to highlight those Church events which mark the season.
The final “Ember Days” of 2021 are Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday December 15, 17, and 18. Why those days? Wednesday is traditionally considered the day of Christ’s betrayal; Friday the day of His Crucifixion; Saturday the day of His entombment. Thursday is not considered “penitential” as it was the day of the Last Supper and institution of the Holy Eucharist.
On December 15, 17, and 18, you may voluntarily choose to adopt practices such as increased prayer or scripture reading, abstaining from meat or alcohol, fasting, almsgiving, Saturday confession, or any other penances you prefer. It is a beautiful and traditional way to increase your awareness of Christ’s suffering and self-offering, and a nice way to prepare for the joy of Christmas!