The September ("Holy Cross") Ember days have a penitential character and ought to be marked by intentional prayers for vocations. On the recommendation of the Governing Council, the Bishop has decreed that Ember Friday in September is to be kept as an obligatory day of abstinence. While Ember Saturday, September 21st is the Feast of St. Matthew, the Apostle.

Ember Days follow an ancient practice of the church to pray for vocations to the priesthood. May 22, 24 and 25 are Pentecost Ember Days this year. Please pray for all of our seminarians as they continue to respond to God's call and for those men who will be beginning formation this fall. The prayer flyer below is provided for your use throughout the year. 

Prayer for Embertide

O ALMIGHTY God, look mercifully upon the world, redeemed by the blood of thy dear Son, and incline the hearts of all whom thou dost call to offer themselves for the sacred ministry of thy Church; that there may never be wanting a supply of fit persons to preach thy Word, and dispense thy holy Sacraments; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Summer [Pentecost] Embers

The Ember Friday abstinence from meat is dispensed for the Summer Embers, since it always falls during the celebratory Octave of Pentecost.

The Ember days date back to the early Church. Pope Callistus (217-222) ordered the observance of a thrice annual fast over against the pagan Roman seasonal rituals of the time. By the time of Pope Gelasius, (492-496), there were four such times in the liturgical year, which harkens to the Old Testament practice of fasting four times a year: “Thus says the Lord of hosts: The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be seasons of joy and gladness, and cheerful festivals for the house of Judah: therefore love truth and peace.” ~ Zachariah 8:19

It was Pope Gelasius, too, who seems to have begun the practice of conferring Holy Orders on the Saturdays of Embertide. Thus, these became times of prayer not only for the physical harvest of the fields, but also for a plentiful spiritual harvest of vocations.

Collects for Vocations on Saturday Embers:

For those to be ordained:

ALMIGHTY God, the giver of all good gifts, who of thy divine providence hast appointed divers Orders in thy Church: give thy grace, we humbly beseech thee, to all who are (now) called to any office and ministry for thy people; and so fill them with the truth of thy doctrine and clothe them with holiness of life, that they may faithfully serve before thee, to the glory of thy great Name and for the benefit of thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

For the choice of fit persons for the ordained ministry:

O GOD, who didst lead thy holy Apostles to ordain ministers in every place: grant that thy Church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, may choose suitable men for the ministry of Word and Sacrament, and may uphold them in their work for the extension of thy kingdom; through him who is the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls, Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

For all Christians in their vocation:

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of thy faithful people is governed and sanctified: receive our supplications and prayers, which we offer before thee for all members of thy holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and godly serve thee; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

As hurricane season approaches, and as summer’s heat affects us all, here are some prayers for fair weather from the Divine Worship: Daily Office 

For Seasonable Weather 

O GOD, heavenly Father, who through thy Son Jesus Christ hast promised to them that seek first thy kingdom and righteousness all things necessary to their bodily sustenance: Send us, we beseech thee, such seasonable weather that we may receive the fruits of the earth to our comfort and to thy honour; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

In Time of Excessive Rain and Floods 

ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech thee, of thy great goodness, to restrain those immoderate rains, wherewith thou hast afflicted us. And we pray thee to send us such seasonable weather, that the earth may, in due time, yield her increase for our use and benefit; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Thanksgiving For Deliverance from Peril 

ALMIGHTY God, who art a strong tower of defence unto thy servants in the time of trouble: We yield thee praise and hearty thanks for our deliverance from the dangers which lately encompassed us (and for thy gracious gift of peace). We confess that it is thy goodness alone that hath preserved us; and we beseech thee still to continue thy mercies towards us, that we may always acknowledge thee as our Saviour and mighty Deliverer; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Thanksgiving For Favourable Weather 

O LORD God, who hast in thy mercy relieved and comforted thy servants by a seasonable change of weather: We yield thee hearty thanks for this thy goodness towards us, beseeching thee to give us grace to use all thy mercies to the honour and glory of thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

For Rain 

O GOD, heavenly Father, who by thy Son Jesus Christ hast promised to all those who seek thy kingdom, and the righteousness thereof, all things necessary to their bodily sustenance: Send us, we beseech thee, in this our necessity, such moderate rain and showers, that we may receive the fruits of the earth to our comfort, and to thy honour; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Thanksgiving For Rain 

O GOD, our heavenly Father, by whose gracious providence the former and the latter rain descend upon the earth, that it may bring forth fruit for the use of man: We give thee humble thanks that it hath pleased thee to send us rain to our great comfort, and to the glory of thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.