Advent Ember Days 2020

The Ember days are four seasonal times of prayer and fasting, and an ancient part of the Ordinariate's English 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 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 bravely their vocations 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 Advent Ember Days in 2020 are Wed. Dec. 2nd, Fri. Dec. 4th, and Sat. Dec. 5th. 

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


Ember Wednesday in Advent

GRANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God: that the coming
festival of our redemption may obtain for us the comfort
of thy succour in this life, and in the life to come the reward
of eternal felicity; 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 Advent

STIR up, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy power, and come among
us: that we, who put our trust and confidence in thy mercy,
may speedily be delivered from all our adversities; who livest and
reignest with the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, ever one
God, world without end.  Amen.

Ember Saturday in Advent

O GOD, who seest us to be sore afflicted by reason of the frailty
of our mortal nature: grant, we beseech thee, that we may be
relieved by thy gracious visitation; who livest and reignest with
the Father, 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.