By Fr. Anthony Stephens, CPM

Introduction

The Church has always proposed spiritual practices of fasting and abstinence before a major feast of the Church. The idea of saying “no” to ourselves in small ways can bring great joy in our “yes” to feasting after the fast.  Many Catholics are rediscovering that the concept of “fast and feast” is suggested (though no longer mandated) throughout our entire liturgical year by observing a practice known as Ember Days.  These days are “mini-Lents” that come around four times a year, with the change of each of the four seasons.  These Ember Days were days of penance celebrated in addition to the forty days of Lent.

Ember Days

The title “Ember Days” is an alteration of the Latin phrase quatuor tempora, meaning “four seasons.”  The Ember Days are documented as being celebrated as early as the fifth century and are among the oldest traditions of the Church’s liturgical calendar.  Their original purpose was to thank God for the gifts of nature, notably the crops used to make bread and wine for the Eucharist.  In the early Church, communities were more agrarian – or focused on the cultivation of land – and the faithful were much more aware of their reliance on the gifts of the fruits of the earth given by God.   Prior to 1966, the Ember Days were observed four times a year.

Along with the gratitude to God for the fruits of the earth, pious tradition developed an additional sacramental symbolism with each set of Ember Days.

  1. Winter: In Winter, the Ember Days after the memorial of St. Lucy prompt the faithful to thank God for olives used in making olive oil used in the various anointings for the Sacraments (Baptism, Confirmation, Ordination and Anointing of the Sick).
  2. Spring: The Ember Days following Ash Wednesday in the springtime remind us to give thanks for the new growth of flowers.  The pollen from these flowers feed the bees, who make wax for the candles used at Mass (Many wax candles for liturgical use today are still 51% beeswax).
  3. Summer: The summer Ember Days after Pentecost are a time to thank God for the wheat used in making the bread for Mass, that when consecrated, becomes the Body of Christ.
  4. Fall: The autumn Ember Days following the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 14th) prompt us to thank God for the gift of the grape harvest. Grapes make the wine that is used in the Mass and becomes the Precious Blood.

In total, there are twelve Ember Days throughout the liturgical year.

In addition to the prayers of gratitude for the fruits of the earth, Ember Days became a time when the Catholic faithful prayed for vocations to the priesthood.  For many years, men were regularly ordained to the priesthood on an Ember Day during the year, since the priest is God’s minister who is the one who most often uses the bread, wine, oil, and wax for the administration of the Sacraments.

Why additional fasts through the year?

Quite simply, we are sinners in need of God’s great mercy.   Even before the Fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden, God asked that they “fast” from eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2).  The idea of saying “no” to ourselves is one that the Good God who loves us wanted us to learn early on.  Those who learn to say “no” freely open themselves to great delight in the “yes” to good things when the time comes.

Unfortunately, Adam and Eve did not “fast” well.  Their fall from grace left all of humanity marked with a weakened ability to say “yes” to God and “no” to the temptations we experience daily.  This is why prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are so important in the spiritual lives of Catholics.  Temptation to sin comes from one of three sources:  the world, the flesh, or the devil.  The three classic forms of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are three ways that we can open our hearts to God’s grace and spiritually combat the three sources of sin.

  • With prayer, we grow in our relationship with God by listening to Him and not the lies the devil tells us will make us happy.
  • With fasting, we work to bring the passions of our flesh under control, to choose freely, and to not be a slave to our appetites.
  • With almsgiving, we show mercy through generosity with our time, treasure, and talents, countering the temptation to greed that the world presents.

Catholics who observe the Ember Days are finding great spiritual benefit in employing the three classic forms of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving to aid their personal conversion from sin, not only during Lent.  Observing these days of penance throughout the liturgical year becomes a way of marking time on our pilgrimage through this life.  Because we are broken, fallen human beings in need of God’s grace, it is necessary for us to open our hearts, to put forward some effort for ongoing conversion at times other than just the springtime fast of Lent.

Prior to 1966, it was expected that people would fast (take one full meal, and two snacks not equaling one full meal) on the Ember Days.

  1. Wednesdays: Wednesday was chosen as a day to do penance since it was traditionally thought that Judas made his arrangements with the Pharisees to betray Jesus to them on a Wednesday (This is why Wednesday of Holy Week is also called “Spy Wednesday”).
  2. Fridays: Additionally, it was expected that on Ember Friday, the faithful would abstain from flesh meat.  Friday is the day Jesus died for us on the Cross.  The hope is that all Catholic faithful will abstain from flesh meat on all Fridays of the year, not only Fridays of Lent (Outside of Fridays of Lent, exceptions to the rules on abstinence can be made, with the understanding that Friday remains a day of some penance).
  3. Saturdays: Saturday was the day that Jesus was in the tomb, and His friends were denied the consolation of even seeing His Body.

Holy Mother Church offers to us the Ember Days as an aid in sanctifying the entire liturgical year.  After observing the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday “mini-Lent” during the four seasons, the “little Easter” of celebrating the Lord’s resurrection on Sunday brings joy to the faithful.

Action items

Though the culture has become more urban and less agrarian, the value of the Ember Days has not diminished. It would be most beneficial to reclaim them to regulate our spiritual routines.  Additionally, because of the Ember Days’ association with ordinations to the priesthood, the Ember Days are a great time to pray for and offer sacrifice for vocations to the priesthood.

The dates for the Ember Days change from year to year, but there is a simple system to remembering them.  They are always celebrated the Wednesday, Friday and Saturday following:

  • Ash Wednesday
  • Pentecost
  • The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 14)
  • The memorial of St. Lucy (December 13)

That means that for 2025, the Ember Days are March 12, 14, 15; June 11, 13, 14; September 17, 19, 20; and December 17, 19, 20.  Over the years, there have been a variety of sayings to help the Catholic faithful remember when the Ember Days are celebrated.  One simple way to recall when the Ember Days come is “Lenty, Penty, Crucy, and Lucy.”

As you discern observing the Ember Days into your spiritual routine, know that Our Lady is by your side, helping you to honor Our Lord in prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. May Our Lady of Champion continue to intercede for us! To learn more about Champion Shrine’s prayer resources, please visit championshrine.org/pray.