Course 4, Chapter 27: Christianity visible. — The Ember Days and Vigils

1. What are the Ember days?

The Ember days are three days of fast, which occur at the close of each of the four seasons of the year; and the origin of which dates from the time of the apostles. In preserving this practice, which was in force among the Jews, the church has given a proof of her great wisdom and of her great solicitude for our happiness.

2. How so?

By fixing the time and the manner of fulfilling this precept of our Lord; Unless you do penance, you shall all likewise perish; a precept to which we are obliged, as men, as sinners, and as Christians.

3. What would have happened without this?

Without this the greater part of men would have neglected the divine precept of doing penance, and would have appeared before the throne of justice 82 •

378 CATECHISM OF PERSEVERANCE.

loaded with debt, and condemned to hell, or at least to a rigorous purgatory.

4. What works does the church command?

She commands fasting, prayer and alms, as opposed to the three great passions of the heart, love of pleasures, love of honors, and love of riches.

5. Why has the church particularly established the Ember days?

1 st, to ask pardon of God for the sins committed during the past season; 2d, to thank God for the favors he has granted us; 3d, to bring down the bless ings of heaven on the ordinations; 4th, to aid us in spending in a more Christian manner the coming season.

6. What are vigils?

The word vigil signifies watching. The vigils are the days of abstinence and fast which precede the great festivals of the year. There are five; those of Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, Assumption and All Saints. In some diocesses the feast of St. Peter aod St. Paul is also preceded by a vigil.

7. How should we spend the vigils?

A Whatever be our age, we should spend those days in a more holy manner than other days, in order to prepare for the celebration of the festival and to receive the graces which God always gives more abundantly at that time.