We are followers of Jesus Christ living in joyful, loving fellowship within his Catholic Church through the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter.
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The Ember days are four seasonal times of prayer and fasting, and an ancient part of the Ordinariate's Catholic patrimony. The word comes from “Quattember” or “the four times of the year” as the Ember days take place in Advent, Lent, Whitsuntide (the season of Pentecost), and September following Holy Cross Day.
The Catholic Church invites us 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 Latin Catholic 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 are asked to maintain their health, particularly if they choose to make a more demanding fast.
Catholics in the Ordinariate are required to abstain from meat on Ember Friday (unless health reasons demand otherwise).
This year's Fall Ember Days are Wed., Sept. 18; Fri. Sept. 20, and Sat. Sept. 21. 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.
