Category: Book of Common Prayer

Ember Days

I am somewhat obsessed with the Ember Days. In the Book of Common Prayer (1662), the Advent ember days are the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after S. Lucy Day (13 December). These are listed as days of fasting and abstinence. And:

Then the Curate shall declare unto the people what Holy-days, or Fasting-days, are in the week following to be observed. And then also (if occasion be) shall notice be given of the Communion; and Briefs, Citations, and Excommunications read.

Excommunications! Wow! That would be interesting. Anyway, here is the Collect from the Book of Divine Worship (which, I think, is also the Collect in The English Missal)::

Ember Wednesday in Advent

GRANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God: that the coming festival of our redemption may obtain for us the comfort of thy succour in this life, and in the life to come the reward of eternal felicity; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

fasts and abstinence

I was thinking about the table of fasts and abstinence in the 1662 Prayer Book. Since nothing like it exists in modern Prayer Books, I assume that it still stands. So, I was wondering what the Prayer Book required of me. I found these PRECEPTS OF THE CHURCH by Bishop John Cosin:

  1. To observe the Festivals and Holy Days appointed.
  2. To keep the Fasting Days with devotion and abstinence.
  3. To observe the ecclesiastical customs and ceremonies established, and that without frowardness or contradiction.
  4. To repair unto the public service of the Church for Matins and Evensong, with other holy offices at times appointed, unless there be a just and unfeigned cause to the contrary.
  5. To receive the Blessed Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ with frequent devotion, and three times a year at least, of which Easter to be always one. And for better preparation thereunto, as occasion is, to disburthan and quit your consciences of those sins that may grieve us, or scruples that may trouble us, to a learned and discreet priest, and from him to receive advice, and the benefit of Absolution.

It needs a little re-jigging but I think it is a workable Rule of Life. What thinkest thou?