Lent Ember Days in 2023

The Ember days are four seasonal times of prayer and fasting, and an ancient part of the Ordinariate's spiritual patrimony. The word comes from “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 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 their discipleship with renewed vigor and bravely carry out the vocations Jesus has given them in the world.

In the Latin Church, the minimal fasting guidelines for persons between 18 - 59 are 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.

Unless health reasons determine otherwise, all Catholics in the Ordinariate ages 14 and up are required to abstain from meat on Ember Friday in Lent.


The Lent Ember Days in 2023 are Wed. Mar. 1; Fri. Mar. 3; and Sat. Mar. 4. 

Here are the collects to pray for each of the Ember Days in Lent:

EMBER WEDNESDAY IN LENT

WE beseech thee, O Lord, that thou wouldest graciously hear our
prayers: and stretch forth the right hand of thy majesty to be our
defence against all adversities; through Jesus Christ 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 LENT

WE beseech thee, O Lord, mercifully to have compassion on thy
people: that they, who by thee are enabled to serve thee in all
godliness, may ever be comforted by thy gracious and ready help;
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 LENT

WE beseech thee, O Lord: graciously to hear the prayers of thy
people, and of thy great goodness turn aside from them the
scourges of thine anger; 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.