Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 20, 16 May 1907, Page 3

Friends at Court

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR

May 19, Sunday.— Pentecost Sunday/ „ 20, Monday.— Whit Monday. „ 21, Tuesday.— Whit Tuesday. „ 22, Wednesday.— Of the Octave." Ember Day. - „ 23, Thursday.— Of the "Octave. • „ 24, Friday.— Of the Octave. Ember Day. „ 25, Saturday.— Of the Octave. Ember Day. Ember Days. The Ember Days are* the first Wednesday, Friday, . and Saturday of each of the four- seasons of the year, set a>parE as fast days by the Church. ' According to the testimony of Pope Leo, they originated in the time of the Apostles, who were inspired by the Holy Ghost to dedicate each . season of the year - to God by a few days of penance ; or, as it were, to pay three days' interest, every three months, on the graces received from Gad. The Church also commanded the faithful to fast at the beginning of each of the four seasons of the year, because it is at this 'tame that she ordains the priests and other servants of the Church, which even the Apostles didiwith much prayer and fasting. Thus she desires that during the "Ember Days Christians should fervently ask ' of God by prayer, fastong, a/n-d other good " works, for worthy ,past|ors and .^servants, on whom depends the welfare of the whole Christian" flock ; she also desired that in) the spring Ember Days we should ask God's blessing for the fertility ot the earth ; in summer for the preservation of the fruits' of the field ; i n autumn when the harviest is ripe, and in winter when it is sheltered that we should offer to God, by fasting and prayer, a saorifice of thanks, petitioning Him to assist us, that* we < may ' not use His gifts for our soul's detriment, 'but refer all praise to. Him, the fountain of all good; and assist our neighbor according to our means. r