This week, starting Wednesday, December 15th, we have the opportunity to observe an ancient Roman practice that goes back to the apostles themselves, and we can offer God something special in a united, communal way. In the traditional Roman calendar, the third week of Advent is called Ember Week, and the days of this week are traditionally the days called the Ember Days.
00:02:35.320And for this reason, he says that we need to have periods of fasting at the times most appropriate to penance and to raising our minds to God.
00:03:04.080The whole of Lent was a time of fasting because that's, of course, the supreme time of penance and preparation for Easter, the Feast of Feasts.
00:03:12.280And it was like that also for vigils, the days before certain major feasts were also days of fast, so preparing us to celebrate and raising our minds to God.
00:03:23.780But the last group of these four sets of, were these four sets of Ember Days, which divide the year into quarters.
00:03:32.500These Ember Days go very far back indeed.
00:03:36.140In fact, they're traditionally linked with the stages of the agricultural cycle.
00:03:40.560The ancient Romans had religious ceremonies based around their agriculture.
00:03:45.400They had June rites for a good harvest.
00:04:54.440See to it, therefore, brethren, that you walk with care, not as unwise, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
00:05:04.760Therefore do not become foolish, but understand what is the will of God, and be not drunk with wine, for in that is debauchery.
00:05:12.860But ye be ye filled with the Holy Spirit.
00:05:17.020Those are powerful words for us today, both in the run-up to Christmas, of course, with all the parties and excess, and also in this terrible crisis in the world.
00:05:28.960Redeeming the times because the days are evil, said St. Paul.
00:05:35.300Well, St. Thomas tells us to see each of the three Ember Days, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, as relating to the three months in each season.
00:05:46.160Many businesses, in fact, have quarterly reviews, where they look back over how things have gone, and then look forward forecasting for the next quarter.
00:05:55.920And we could see the Ember Days like this.
00:05:58.260We, too, can do our quarterly review, this time examining our own spiritual progress in October, November, and December.
00:06:06.520And then we could do penance for the sins of each month, or we could gratefully call to mind the graces and good things God's done for us in each of those months.
00:06:17.240An Ember Week quarterly review is an opportunity for us to look back over the last season.
00:06:23.100It is exactly what successful businesses do.
00:06:26.880And so we can go on in the future as well and ask ourselves what we can do in the next three months, praying for the graces that we need in January, February, March.
00:06:38.560Who knows what we will need in those times, what God might think to grant us in those times.
00:06:46.180We need to know what to ask for, but we don't, because we don't know the future, but God does.
00:06:52.420God alone knows what's coming in these next few months, what they hold for us, what the world, in fact, has in store for us.
00:07:00.600But it would be wise, therefore, for us to do penance and ask for what we need to persevere in the time ahead.
00:07:08.900The saints and fathers of the Church often tell us that we cannot overcome serious struggles without serious prayer and fasting.
00:07:17.220This is because, in the words of St. Augustine, fasting cleanses the soul, raises the mind, subjects one's flesh to the spirit, renders the heart contrite and humble, scatters the clouds of concupiscence, quenches the fire of lust, and kindles the true light of chastity.
00:08:11.880But in addition to our own self-control, there are other things that need cures too, not the least of which the evils afflicting our society currently.
00:08:22.580In the Gospels, there's the story of the man who fell at Jesus' feet and begged for help.
00:08:33.160His son was afflicted by an evil spirit and he tried to make the son hurt himself, throw himself in the fire, cut himself, even kill himself.
00:08:41.160And the man says to Jesus, I brought him to your disciples.
00:08:45.260But the distraught father adds, and they could not cure him.
00:08:48.220Now, the Lord, of course, cures his son with a word, but afterwards his disciples come to him and ask him why they weren't able to cure the son.
00:08:57.820And Jesus' reply is this, because of your unbelief, he said, if you have faith, nothing shall be impossible to you.
00:09:06.200But he added this, this kind, speaking of this kind of demon, is not cast out except by prayer and fasting.
00:09:15.320Now, here's something very interesting.