Ember Wednesday in Pentecost

This coming Wednesday, Friday and Saturday are Ember Days under the classical Roman Calendar. At the beginning of the four seasons of the year, the Church celebrated Ember Days to thank God for his blessings during the past year and to implore further graces for the new season. Ember Days were marked by fasting and abstaining from meat as one would do on Ash Wednesday or Good Friday. They are intended to consecrate to God the four seasons in nature, and to prepare by penance those who are about to be ordained. Ordinations were often conferred at this time, so it is traditional to pray for Vocations at this time!

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Wednesday 3 June 2009
FERIA IV QUATUOR TEMPORUM PENTECOSTES
Ember Wednesday in Pentecost
1st Class, Red
Gloria; Seq.; Credo; Preface of the Holy Ghost (hodierna die)
Proper Communicantes; Proper Hanc igitur
kneel at Veni Sancte Spiritus during Alleluia verse


Oremus.

Mentes nostras, quæsumus, Dómine, Paráclitus, qui a te procédit, illúminet : et indúcat in omnem, sicut tuus promísit Fílius, veritátem : Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte ejúsdem Spíritus Sancti Deus.

Let us pray.
We beseech thee, O Lord, that the Comforter which proceedeth from thee may enlighten our minds : and lead us, as thy Son hath promised, into all truth. Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Holy Ghost.

Links:

• Rorate Cæli: The Glow of the Ember Days
• Fr Goffine's The Church's Year
  

(image: breviary.net)