First Ember Days of Advent

Just as the First Advent Sunday of the season marked the beginning of a new year within the church, this first Ember Days of Advent is the first Ember Days of that same new year. The whole of the Universal Church once acknowledged each set of Ember Days as an obligation. While much of Europe still does, the United States conference of Bishops did away with the observance.

Some Latin Traditionalists still acknowledge Ember Days as a group, just as some individual Catholics have either returned to the observances or are discovering them for the first time. The point of Ember Days is very simple. It acknowledges the changing of the seasons, recognizes God as the creator of all, and gives Him thanks for the rain that falls, the crops that grow, the springtime with new life and the winter’s sleep. The idea of Ember Days came from the Romans. When Christians began to convert Romans to the faith, they saw the pagan festivals of the seasons as a way to convert their hearts to the one true God.

While the General Calendar of the church no longer holds an official place within the liturgy for Ember Days, priests are still allowed to offer a mass if requested. In an age when so many are turning back to nature and our stewardship of the planet, revisiting Ember Days might be worthwhile. After all, God is the Creator of all, and He is worthy of our endless praise.

Originally, Ember Days were days of fasting and penance. Today such a fast would consist of two small meals, and a third meal that combined is less than a typical meal. No between meal eating, and if practicing Abstinence on Fridays, Ember Days may also be a day of abstinence. Since observing Ember Days is strictly voluntary within the Roman Rite, there are not steadfast rules.

Six-Can Dump Vegetable Soup
1 (15 oz) can mixed vegetables, undrained
1 (15 1/4 oz.) can whole kernel corn, drained
1 (15 oz.) can ready to serve Minestrone soup
1 (14 1/2 oz.) can diced tomatoes, with liquid
1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
8 oz can V-8 Vegetable Juice
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
Tabasco Sauce, a few drops to taste

Open the cans of mixed vegetables, corn, Minestrone soup diced vegetables and black beans. Dump the black beans into a strainer. Rinse well under cold water. Sit strainer over the empty can to continue to drain.

Dump the mixed vegetables into a pot. Drain the corn, dump into the pot with the mixed vegetables. Dump the Minestrone soup and the diced tomatoes into the pot.

Add beans to the pot. Give everything a good stir. Open the V-8, pour into the pot. Give everything a nice stir. Season with salt, pepper and a little Tabasco Sauce to taste. Heat over medium heat until everything is nice and hot, about 10 to 15 minutes.

Serve, give thanks and enjoy!

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Let the Lord enter; He is the king of glory.