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Ember Week Update

Laudetur Iesus Christus and blessed feast of St. Matthew! Today in the traditional calendar begins the autumn Embertide, the 3-day penitential period during the change of seasons where the faithful offer thanks to God for his creation and gifts, and to pray for sanctification in the upcoming season.

Traditionally, the Ember Days, which fall on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday after the feast of the Holy Cross, are days of fasting and partial abstinence (meat at only one meal, except Friday which is full abstinence) – though the fasting is now voluntary. Please consider offering your Ember day penances for the restoration of the Traditional Latin Mass, and especially for full sacramental and parochial life in the Traditional Rite here in Charlotte. The autumn Ember Days fall on today Wednesday September 21, Friday September 23, and Saturday September 24.

  • Wednesday September 21: St. Ann, 6pm – Ember Wednesday and feast of St. Matthew
  • Thursday September 22: St. Thomas Aquinas, 7pm – St. Thomas of Villanova
  • Friday September 23: St. Ann (7am) and St. Mark (12:30pm) – Ember Friday (and commemoration of St. Linus)
  • Saturday September 24: St. Ann 8am – Ember Saturday/Our Lady of Ransom & Respect Life Latin Mass (followed by prayers at Planned Parenthood and/or a Holy Hour in the Church); St. Margaret Mary Parish, Swannanoa, 10am High Mass (located 20 minutes east of Asheville – 102 Andrews Place, Swannanoa, NC)

Symbolism and Meaning of Ember Days

As noted in our weekend update, we include some helpful articles to learn more about this important period in the liturgical calendar. We especially recommend the superb article by Fr. William Rock FSSP, as he draws the connection between honoring the temporal seasons, the Old Testament Jewish feast days, and the autumn Ember Days which alludes to Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) in the Ember week readings.

Feast of Pope St. Linus – Friday September 23: This Friday is not just Ember Friday, but it is also the commemoration of Pope St. Linus, the second pontiff. He is also one of two other Popes (besides St. Peter) mentioned in sacred scripture, specifically he was mentioned by St. Paul in 2 Timothy 4:21 (before he assumed his office). Pope St. Clement is the other Pope mentioned in Philippians 4:3. The Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) has an excellent article on the upcoming feasts of a few of the early Pope-martyrs: https://fssp.com/near-the-apostles-the-feasts-of-the-first-popes/  

Catholic Homesteading Conference – November 4-5: Lastly, as we shared on Monday, there is a Catholic homesteading conference in early November near Tryon, and will feature a Latin Mass that afternoon. The event is being supported by a couple of the Latin Mass families in Tryon and includes training various homesteading topics. To learn more visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/homestead-weekend-workshop-tickets-398890441047