Ember Saturday in September

Ember Saturday in September

Station at St. Peter's

On the fifteenth day of the seventh month of the year, the Jews used to celebrate at the conclusion of the harvest, the feast of Tabernacles and lived during eight days under tents or huts made of foliage in remembrance of the nomadic life of the Israelites in the desert (Second Lesson). This feast was preceded, on the tenth of the month, by the very solemn Day of Expiation, called Holy (First Lesson). On this day the High Priest purified himself in the basin which stood before the Sanctuary [The holy water stoups in our churches recall the basin known as the brazen sea], then taking the blood of the victims, he entered the Holy of Holies and prayed near the mercy-seat (Epistle).

The Saturday in the September Ember week, formerly the seventh month of the year, recalls this feast both of penance and joy.

The Prophets Micheas, Zacharias and Daniel, whose writings were read through during the night or vigil preceding the Sunday, speak in similar terms of the salvation brought by God to those who atone for their sins and implore His protection amid the dangers that threaten them. The Epistle shows the new alliance which Jesus Christ has established between our repentant souls and God y offering to Him in the real Holy of Holies, which is heaven, the blood which He shed upon the Cross to atone for our sins. [Formerly Mass was not said on Saturday morning; but after a night passed in prayer and reading the Scriptures, the Holy Sacrifice was offered at dawn. Hence the large number of Collects and lessons which characterize the Mass of the Saturday in Ember Week.]

In the same way that Jesus delivered the woman whom Satan had bound for eighteen years, and like the gardener mentioned in the Gospel, the priests heal our souls and by their prayers and their untiring zeal ward off from souls the rigours of divine justice, making them produce the sweet fruits of penance and good works ; this Mass is therefore eminently suited for an ordination.

After the Kyrie, the Tonsure is conferred; after the First Lesson are ordained the Door-keepers ; after the Second, the Readers ; after the Third, the Exorcists; after the Fourth, the Acolytes; after the Fifth, the Sub-deacons ; after the Epistle, the Deacons, and before the last verse of the Tract, the Priests.

Venite, adoremus Deum, et procidamus ante Dominum, ploremus ante eum, qui fecit nos: quia ipse est Dominus, Deus noster. * Venite, exsultemus Domino: jubilemus Deo salutari nostro.

Come, let us adore God, and fall down before the Lord : let us weep before Him who made us ; for He is the Lord our God. * Come, let us praise the Lord with joy; let us joyfully sing to God our Saviour. f. Glory be to the Father.

(Psalm 94:6-7,1 from the Introit of Mass)

Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, qui per continentiam salutarem corporibus mederis et mentibus: majestatem tuam supplices exoramus; ut pia jejunantium deprecatione placatus, et praesentia nobis subsidia tribuas, et futura.

Almighty and everlasting God, who, by salutary abstinence, dost heal us both in soul and body; we humbly beseech Thy Majesty that appeased by the fervent devotion of those who fast, Thou wouldst grant us help now and in the time to come.

(First Collect)

The Catholic Encyclopaedia on Ember Days: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05399b.htm