Mid-Week Mass
This Wednesday (and the Friday and Saturday following) is an Ember Day, one of the four sets of Ember Days throughout the year (jejunia quattuor temporum or the four seasonal fasts) celebrated in the historic Western Church. The Ember Days were set aside as days of special prayer and fasting nominally tied to Lent, Whitsunday, Holy Cross Day, and Advent. The Ember observance between Whitsunday and Pentecost was referred to as the summer fast (jejunium aestivum). Traditionally, the Ember weeks have been the time for ordination of new clergy.