Ember Days

There aren't too many people outside of the Extraordinary Form (TLM) community who are aware of the Ember Days anymore.  This is a Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, four times a year; in which we are invited to pray, fast, and give alms in thanksgiving for the harvest.  These follow the agricultural rhythm of those places along the northern Mediterranean coast.  They came to the universal calendar of the Church for all places because it was recognized that even if these times didn't follow along the local agricultural rhythm, they do bring about a spiritual rhythm all their own; a rhythm in which we are given the opportunity to give thanks for the harvest of the spirit; a harvest which comes about as we reap the fruits coming from our cultivation of that grace which is continuously showered upon us by our loving God and Father.  These days fall after the Feast of the Triumph of the Holy Cross (Sept.14), the Feast of St. Lucy (Dec.13), Ash Wednesday, and the Feast of Pentecost.  An old rhyme helps to remember these: "Crucy, Lucy, Lenty, Penty".

These days become a time in which we are able to give thanks to God for this bounty.  It is also a time in which we are called to do an examination of conscience regarding our cultivation of these gifts of grace as well as our sharing of them, especially to the vulnerable and those most in need.  This is follows in tandem with the expectation that upon the gathering in of a bountiful harvest the farmer would give of the first fruits to God and share of his bounty with those in need.

In our own day it is good to be reminded from time to time of how much God has blessed us and of the proper use of those blessings which give glory to God and charity to our neighbor.  This is why I have promoted the observance of these days the past many years.  Unlike some practices, this was never abolished by the Church, it's observance was merely passed on to the many conferences of bishops to apply them in a way that makes most sense in their particular jurisdiction.  Unfortunately, the bishops in America have never chosen to promote them as a conference.  Happily, there have been some individual bishops who have.

In my own Diocese of La Crosse (WI) we have had a celebration of Rural Life Day for 43 years now.  This celebration is taking place today (September 18) in Lone Rock, at the Randy & Shelly Schmidt and Ryan & Chrissy Schmidt Farm.  Bishop Battersby will carry on the tradition of celebrating Mass and then presiding over our annual celebration of rural life and the blessings that come to all of us through this life of love and service to God, humanity, and all creation.

So, fast, pray, and give alms!  "God loves a cheerful giver." (cf. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7)  What's more, we also often discover the truth: "For to him who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away." 

(cf. Matthew 13:11–12)

Below is the image of St. Mary's Ridge, Wisconsin which represents the State of Wisconsin in First Lady, "Ladybird" Johnson's "America the Beautiful Campaign".  The Church in the foreground is the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church from which the ridge gets its name.  St. Mary's Ridge is west  of Cashton, WI.