Ember Saturday

Ember Saturday of Advent is the day that the Catholic Church traditionally (since the 5th century) ordained priests, deacons and other religious, in preparation for the Christ Mass.

The painting on the left is by Fra Angelico, and depicts the ordination of St. Lawrence by Pope Sixtus II. It was painted on the walls of the Nicholas V chapel in the Vatican Palace, and is one in a series of paintings depicting the life of St. Lawrence, a famous Roman Deacon.

In the Traditional Latin Mass, there are five sets of readings on Ember Saturday, and in the past different levels of religious were ordained between each set. Porters were installed after the first lesson, Lectors after the second, Exorcists after the third, Acolytes after the fourth and Subdeacons after the fifth. Deacons were ordained after the Epistle and Priests after its Responsorial Psalm.

I'm sorry I posted this so late, as Ember Saturday would be a good day to pray for priests and for vocations. But better late than never. Please pray now, and every day, for your priest and all others.

Prayer for Priests
by St. Therese of Lisieux

O Jesus, eternal Priest,
keep your priests within the shelter of Your Sacred Heart,
where none may touch them.

Keep unstained their anointed hands,
which daily touch Your Sacred Body.

Keep unsullied their lips,
daily purpled with your Precious Blood.

Keep pure and unearthly their hearts,
sealed with the sublime mark of the priesthood.

Let Your holy love surround them and
shield them from the world's contagion.

Bless their labors with abundant fruit and
may the souls to whom they minister
be their joy and consolation here
and in heaven, their beautiful and
everlasting crown.
Amen.