Ember Tide

 

III SUNDAY OF SEPTEMBER: Before Ember Tide: I Nocturn:  From the Book of Tobias, c. 1, 1 - 15 II Nocturn: Sermon of St. Leo, Pope

I know well enough, dearly beloved, that many among you are so careful in those things which pertain to the observance of the Christian Faith that they do not have to be encouraged by our exhortations. This fact tradition has for a long time upheld and custom has established; neither is our zeal unaware of it, nor does our love overlook it. Yet, because it is the duty of the priestly once to have a common concern for all the children of the Church, we arouse one and all to that which is of profit both to the ignorant and to the learned, whom we love equally, so that, by chastisement of soul and body, we may celebrate with a lively faith the fast which the return of this seventh month points out to us.

Now, then, this observance of continence is assigned to the four seasons in order that in the passing course of the whole year wo might realize that we are constantly in need of purification and must be always taking care, since we are cast about in the changing ways of this life, that the sin which is contracted through the weakness of our flesh and the corruption of our desires may be blotted out by fasts and alms-giving.

Let us go hungry for a while, dearly beloved, and take from our usual fare some small thing that may be of service to the poor who are in need of help. Let the conscience of the benevolent be delighted with the fruits of their own generosity, and in spreading joy you will receive that by which you yourself will gladdened. The love of neighbor is the love of God, which, in the unity of this double charity, constitutes the fullness of the Law and of the Prophets, so that no one is to doubt that he has offered to God that which he has bestowed on his neighbor, since the Lord, our Savior, declared when He was speaking of feeding and aiding the poor: "That which you did to one of these, you did unto me."

So let us fast on Wednesday and Friday; then on Saturday let us celebrate the Vigil at the tomb of the blessed Apostle Peter, by whose merits and prayers we believe we shall be helped to please our merciful God through our fast and devotion.