One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic

No time to let up on our prayers...

Friday is what's called an "Ember Day."  That's a special day of prayer set aside by the Church for prayer and (optional) fasting.  Ember days come four times a year and consists of three days each (Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday).  Part I provided an introduction.  Here is the conclusion of the article. For the past week or so, I've been yammering about the need for prayer and fasting in preparation for the upcoming Amazon Synod.   Perhaps Ember Days are something that will have some broader interest to the readership.  It's a lovely devotion, and one that I hope to take up myself. ------------------- Part II of the article by Fr. Arnauld Devillers , FSSP: Why are they called “Ember Days”? The words have nothing to do with embers or ashes. It may be from the Anglo-Saxon ymbren , a circle or revolution; or more likely it may be a corruption of quatuor tempora through Dutch, Danish or German ( Quatember ). What are the dates of Ember Days?...

Wednesday, Friday and Saturday of this week are the September Ember Days. Occurring once in each of the four seasons, the Ember Days are three days traditionally set aside for prayer and penance, the intention being to thank God for the gifts of Creation and to ask His help in using them well.  This practice was largely abandoned after Vatican II, but in recent years we've seen an increase in this devotion, along with many other beautiful practices from our rich Catholic heritage.    Here's a good article on the what and why of Ember Days by Fr. Arnaud Devillers, FSSP . I'll be dividing it into a couple of segments for ease of reading. What are Ember Days? Ember Days are three days (Wednesday, Friday and Saturday) set apart in each of the four seasons for fasting, abstinence and prayer. Tied to the seasonal cycles of farming and harvesting, the purpose of Ember Days is to render thanks to God for the gifts of Creation and to ask His help in using them well. Sinc...

Are you praying about this? The Amazon Synod is something every Catholic should pay attention to...and pray about.

The forty days of prayer and fasting for the Pan-Amazon Synod have begun.  I'm curious to know: Are any of the readers/participants/casual browsers here at OHCA participating in this prayer event? To what extent (if any) were you aware of the recommendations and goals put forth in the synod's working paper (the Instrumentum Laboris )? Are there any particular provisions in the working paper which you find particularly disturbing, or any provisions which sound like good ideas which should be explored further and eventually adopted/implemented? Is the Pan-Amazon Synod, in your opinion, a big deal, or is it one of those things where the bishops and participants will do what's best for the Church, and everything will work out? I really would like to know your opinions on the matter.  If you think I'm being shrill and unnecessarily alarmist, tell me.   Take a few moments to think about this synod.   I implore you, my fellow Catholics and readers at OHCA, to join ...

“The rosary is the book of the blind, where souls see and there enact the greatest drama of love the world has ever known; it is the book of the simple, which initiates them into mysteries and knowledge more satisfying that the education of other men; it is the book of the aged, whose eyes close upon the shadow of this world, and open on the substance of the next. The power of the rosary is beyond description.” -- Fulton J. Sheen

Tomorrow, September 17, a forty day vigil of prayer and fasting begins .   The vigil will end on October 26, 2019, which is the day before the conclusion of the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazon.   As you may know, the Amazon Synod is proposing some radical changes to the Catholic Church.  We, as faithful Catholics, should pray for those attending the Synod that the Holy Spirit would preserve them from error, heresy, and just plain old bad judgement.   Information on the Prayer Vigil, as well as background information describing why this synod has the potential of being very injurious to our Church, can be found here: " Crusade of Prayer and Fasting to Implore God that Error and Heresy do not pervert the coming Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazon ." I hope you will join me and others, praying and fasting as you are able.