Ember Saturday

A reminder to all readers that today is Ember Saturday.

The Ember Days are a distinctive practice of the Western Rite, without an exact counterpart in the East. At four times a year near the onset of the four seasons, the Western Church decreed that everyone must fast on the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday of the week. In Latin, the quarterly fasts were remembered as the "four times" (Quatuor Tempora). John Mason Neale recorded this couplet that describes their timing:

Fasting days and Emberings be
Lent, Whitsun, Holyrood, and Lucie

The latter two refer to Holy Cross Day (Sept. 14) and St. Lucy's Day (Dec. 13). Wikipedia notes, "According to the Julian calendar the night of Lucia was the longest night of the year." J.M. Neale adds the Roman practice is to observe the winter Ember Day during the third week of Advent.

The Ember Days add solemnity to the penitential seasons, while reminding us during the most joyous of feasts that fasting and mortification are an indispensable part of the Christian life. May we make the most of it.

O Lord, who for our sake didst fast forty days and forty nights; Give us grace to use such abstinence, that, our flesh being subdued to the Spirit we may ever obey thy godly motions in righteousness, and true holiness, to thy honour and glory, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

A WR Apologia for the Old Calendar

On the day our Western Rite brethren in ROCOR celebrate Christmas, I chose to post this for further elucidation. At this blog, we are occasionally asked what we think of the Old Calendar. Here are a few words from a Western Rite priest (and monk) who follows this calendar, Dom James M. Deschene of Christminster Monastery:

Q: Why does Christminster follow the Old (Julian) Calendar? And isn't this confusing? Doesn't this conflict with being western-rite?

A: It can be occasionally confusing, but not so much as people may think. A good liturgical calendar with dual dates obviates most confusion. (See our Calendar link.) We follow the Old Calendar because it is the tradition of the majority of Orthodox Christians throughout the world and throughout the centuries. Here in the United States one easily overlooks the fact that the vast majority of Orthodox outside the USA still follow the Julian Calendar. Thus our maintaining this tradition reflects our community and fellowship with the worldwide community of Orthodox Christians. This does not diminish, in our estimation, our respect for and fellowship with those Orthodox, in thiscountry and elsewhere, who follow the new calendar. We hope, in return, that we will be respected for our own observance. We do not see the Old Calendar as inappropriate for the western rite, since the western rite is simply the Orthodox rite of the west before the Great Schism, and the Old Calendar is the calendar of the Orthodox west. Naturally we regard the Gregorian/papal revision of the calendar as possessing no more validity than any other papal revisions of theology, liturgy or custom. Following the Old Calendar actually helps to distinguish western-rite Orthodox Christians from non-Orthodox western Christians. It can be a blessing to find ourselves out of step at times - especially at Christmas - with contemporary American life. This is especially beneficial in two ways. First, it reminds us that while we must live in our secular culture, we do not owe it our ultimate allegiance. This is an appropriate reminder not just for monastics, but for all Orthodox Christians. Secondly, it permits us to celebrate Christmas in a quieter atmosphere, unsullied by commercial and consumerist diversions.

Also, see my earlier post here. I wrote at the time, "Western Rite faithful generally are more traditional than most of their brethren (including some Byzantines). As a rule, they oppose changing 'the old ways' of any rite." This is proven by Fr. James, Fr. Michael, Fr. Barry, and all those in the Western Rite who observe Christmas today.

Merry Christmas to Those on the Old Calendar

I wanted to take this opportunity to wish a very Merry Christmas to all our Orthodox brethren who celebrate Christmas today. (How's that possible? Read this post.) Specifically, I'd like to send the warmest holiday greeings to Fr. James Deschene, Fr. Michael, Fr. Barry, Dr. John Ward, Ari Adams, and all those in ROCOR's Western Rite.

Are WR Anti-Old Calendar?

An interesting question from a reader: Are Western Rite Orthodox opposed to the Old Calendar?

For our friends in ROCOR -- especially Dom James Deschene, Fr. Michael, and Fr. Barry -- this is an open-and-shut question: they all celebrate the Old Calendar exclusively. I have never heard a negative rumbling from any of the group on the issue.

As for those not presently under ROCOR, like many other questions not officially defined, you may receive a diversity of answers: some may balk at the idea of using the Old Calendar, while others look favorably upon it.

For my two-cents: Western Rite faithful generally are more traditional than most of their brethren (including some Byzantines). As a rule, they oppose changing "the old ways" of any rite. Although most WRO find themselves detached from this argument, you would find few die-hard opponents of the Old Calendar, much sympathy for those perceived as their co-traditionalists, and an overrriding wish for our peace and unity.

...And Merry Christmas

A Merry Christmas to our friends who are under the Julian calendar ("Old Calendarists"), particularly our Western Rite friends: Fr. James Deschene of Christminster Monastery in Rhode Island and everyone associated with St. Petroc's Monastery and its attached missions in Tasmania.

How is today Christmas? Some Orthodox use the Julian calendar, which is now 13 days "behind" the Gregorian calendar. Hence, December 25 does not fall until our secular January 7. The Copts, too, maintain the old calendar for Christmas. Most Orthodox Churches in North America use the "Revised Julian" calendar, so they celebrate Christmas on our familiar December 25. (Here's an article on the topic by Holy Cross Orthodox School of Theology professor Dr. Lewis J. Patsavos.)

Whatever calendar you use, have a very Merry Christmas!