Ember days are seasonal days of fasting and prayer 4 times a year, roughly corresponding with the 4 seasons. The Lent or Spring Ember Days are the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after the First Sunday of Lent.
Traditionally this time of fasting and prayer was used for special intentions especially asking God's blessing for a fruitful harvest or in thanksgiving for the harvest, for vocations, especially to the priesthood. This time also serves as a way to focus us back to God, with a sort of quarterly check-in. Are we praying daily? Are we hopeful? Are we trusting God? Are we loving those around us? Now's the time to refocus and redouble our efforts.
Here's a prayer you can pray each day of the Ember Days:
Almighty God, source of all goodness and love, hear the prayers of your people and in your tender compassion grant us all that is necessary for our physical and spiritual well-being. Renew your Church with a surge of holy priests, strengthen the bond of unity between the faithful and your ministers, together with Pope Francis and all Bishops, that in a world torn by strife your people may shine forth as a prophetic sign of unity and concord. Open our eyes to the needs of our brothers and sisters. Inspire in us words and actions to comfort those who labor and are burdened. Make us serve them truly, after the example of Christ and at his command. And may your Church stand as a living witness to truth, freedom, peace and justice, that all people may be raised up to a new hope. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
You can add a scripture reading to contemplate throughout the day.
Below is a suggested daily schedule.
Wednesday: Matthew 5:1-16, 43-48
Friday: Matthew 6:1-18
Saturday: Matthew 7:1-12
As a reminder: Fasting means eating only one meal a day. Additionally, Fridays of the Ember Days are also days of abstaining from meat.
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