Ember Days of September ~ Dom Prosper Guéranger

About this sermon

Why did the Catholic Church set aside the September Ember Days for fasting, abstinence, prayer, thanksgiving, and ordinations? In this reading from The Liturgical Year, Dom Prosper Guéranger explains the ancient purpose of the Ember Days: to consecrate the changing seasons, thank God for the fruits of the earth, practice penance in union with the entire Church, and pray for the priests and sacred ministers about to be ordained. September brings the harvest, but Christians must not imitate the rich man in the Gospel who placed his confidence in barns filled with earthly goods. Every harvest should turn our hearts toward the God who provides it—and remind us to store up treasures for eternity. Drawing upon the sermons of Pope Saint Leo the Great, Dom Guéranger emphasizes that public penance undertaken with the Church possesses a special unity and efficacy. Private prayer, fasting, and mortification remain valuable, but the Christian soldier fights more securely when standing within the ranks of the Church under Christ, the unconquerable King. The September Ember Days also direct our prayers toward new priests. As faith weakens, charity grows cold, error spreads, and the world drifts further from Christ, holy and courageous shepherds become increasingly necessary. The faithful are therefore called to fast and pray that God will give His priests divine prudence, untiring zeal, perseverance, courage, and fidelity to the fullness of Catholic truth. Although this historical reading reflects the fasting and abstinence legislation in force during Dom Guéranger’s time, its spiritual message remains urgent: penance is more powerful when Catholics undertake it together in union with the Church. 00:00 The September Ember Days 00:19 Penance consecrating the seasons 00:27 The history and intentions of the Ember Days 00:42 Sanctifying the changing seasons 00:58 Thanksgiving for the autumn harvest 01:14 The wheat entrusted to the earth 01:30 Easter, Pentecost, and the growing harvest 01:55 September calls man to remember God 02:04 The warning of the rich man 02:29 Becoming truly rich before God 02:46 The penitential exercises of the Church 03:13 The necessity of personal penance 03:22 Private devotion and public worship 03:37 The exceptional power of the Church’s penance 03:53 St. Leo the Great on the seventh-month fast 04:10 Personal mortification and the general fast 04:26 The whole Church acting with one soul 04:34 Why public works surpass private works 04:51 The Christian’s private spiritual combat 05:07 The soldier within the Church’s ranks 05:23 Christ, the King who cannot be conquered 05:39 The fellowship of mutual assistance 05:48 St. Leo’s warning to future generations 06:04 The danger of individualistic spirituality 06:30 The September Ember Days and public law 06:47 Personal restraint and common purification 07:02 The power of united Catholic obedience 07:20 The invincible strength of holy unity 07:28 Turning from worldly occupations 07:45 The whole Church united in prayer 08:16 A precious sight in the eyes of God 08:33 Departing from evil and doing good 08:41 Charity toward the poor, sick, and suffering 08:58 A common fruit and a common merit 09:15 One Mystical Body without division 09:30 Embracing the unity of the solemn fast 09:39 Prayer for priests and sacred ministers 09:56 The September ordinations 10:12 A world declining toward spiritual ruin 10:25 The setting sun and approaching winter 11:07 The world’s declining faith and charity 11:22 Revolution, error, and lost Catholic treasures 11:48 Will the Son of Man find faith on earth? 11:55 Lift up your heads—redemption is near 12:19 The urgent need for faithful shepherds 12:26 Fast and pray without losing courage 12:41 Gather closely around the Church 12:51 Prayer for prudence and priestly zeal 13:08 Perseverance without compromise 13:17 Fidelity to the fullness of Catholic truth https://sensusfidelium.com/the-liturgical-year-dom-prosper-gueranger/september/ember-days-of-september/ #EmberDays #CatholicTradition #LiturgicalYear #CatholicFaith #CatholicHistory #FastingAndPrayer #CatholicChurch 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ SUPPORT THE MISSION 🙏 Donate https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 📬 Free Catholic Newsletter https://sensusfidelium.com/newsletter/ 📰 Read on Substack https://sensusfidelium.substack.com/ ──────────────────── 📺 WATCH & READ 📺 Sensus Fidelium App https://sensusfidelium.tv/ 📚 Sensus Fidelium Press https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ 👕 Official Merchandise https://sensusfidelium.com/merchandise/ ──────────────────── 🤝 PARTNER WITH US 📣 Advertise on Sensus Fidelium https://sensusfidelium.com/advertise-with-sensus-fidelium/ 🎤 Invite Steve Cunningham to Speak https://sensusfidelium.com/speaking/ ⛪ Parish Formation & Consultation https://sensusfidelium.com/for-parishes/ ──────────────────── 🌎 CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ✝️ Trusted Catholic Businesses https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ 🔴🔴🔴