CatéGPT

December 18

Liturgical colour : Purple

Ember Friday of Advent

2nd class

Ember Friday of Advent is part of the Ember Days, which are observed four times a year as periods of prayer, fasting, and penance following the ancient tradition of the Church. The Ember Days serve as a way to sanctify the changing seasons and to implore God’s blessings on the fruits of the earth, as well as to cultivate a spirit of gratitude and penitence among the faithful. During Advent, Ember Friday is marked by particular solemnity, given the penitential nature of the season as the Church prepares for the coming of Christ at Christmas. Historically, these Ember Days were also occasions for ordinations, which were performed on the Saturday following the week’s fast and prayer.

The liturgy of Ember Friday in Advent is distinctive for its multiple scripture readings, which provide profound meditations on God’s promise of redemption and the coming of the Savior. This day calls the faithful to deepen their repentance, purify their lives, and await with joyful hope the advent of the Lord. The use of violet vestments reflects the penitential character of the day. By observing this feast, the Church links together Old Testament expectation, Christian watchfulness, and the sanctification of cyclical time, thus preserving a rich spiritual heritage handed down from the earliest centuries.

Permanent link

Ask a question about today’s feast

Questions about Ember Friday of Advent (Vetus Ordo Missae)

The liturgical day

IntroitPs 118:151-152

Latin


Ps 118:151-152
Prope es tu, Dómine, et omnes viæ tuæ véritas: inítio cognóvi de testimóniis tuis, quia in ætérnum tu es.
Ps 118:1
Beati immaculáti in via: qui ámbulant in lege Dómini.
℣. Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
℟. Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.
Prope es tu, Dómine, et omnes viæ tuæ véritas: inítio cognóvi de testimóniis tuis, quia in ætérnum tu es.

English


Ps 118:151-152
You, O Lord, are near, and all Your ways are truth. Of old I know from Your decrees that You are forever.
Ps 118:1
Happy are they whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord.
℣. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
℟. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
You, O Lord, are near, and all Your ways are truth. Of old I know from Your decrees that You are forever.
Collect

Latin

Orémus.
Excita, quǽsumus, Dómine, poténtiam tuam, et veni: ut hi, qui in tua pietáte confídunt, ab omni cítius adversitáte liberéntur:
Qui vivis et regnas cum Deo Patre, in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.

English

Let us pray.
Put forth Your power, O Lord, we beseech You, and come; that those who trust in Your goodness may soon be delivered from all harm.
Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen
LessonIs 11:1-5

Latin


Léctio Isaíæ Prophétæ
Is 11:1-5
Hæc dicit Dóminus Deus: Egrediétur virga de radíce Iesse, et flos de radíce eius ascéndet. Et requiéscet super eum spíritus Dómini: spíritus sapiéntiæ et intelléctus, spíritus consílii et fortitúdinis, spíritus sciéntiæ et pietátis; et replébit eum spíritus timóris Dómini. Non secundum visiónem oculórum iudicábit: neque secúndum audítum áurium árguet: sed iudicábit in iustítia páuperes, et árguet in æquitáte pro mansuétis terræ: et percútiet terram virga oris sui, et spíritu labiórum suórum interfíciet ímpium. Et erit iustítia cíngulum lumbórum eius: et fides cinctórium renum eius.
℟. Deo grátias.

English


Lesson from the book of Isaias
Isa 11:1-5
Thus says the Lord God: A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of knowledge and of piety, and His delight shall be the fear of the Lord. Not by appearance shall He judge, nor by hearsay shall He decide, but He shall judge the poor with justice, and decide aright for the land’s afflicted. He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. Justice shall be the band around His waist, and faithfulness a belt upon His hips.
℟. Thanks be to God.
GradualPs 84:8

Latin


Ps 84:8; 84:2
Osténde nobis, Dómine, misericórdiam tuam: et salutáre tuum da nobis.
℣. Benedixísti, Dómine, terram tuam: avertísti captivitátem Iacob.

English


Ps 84:8, 2
Show us, O Lord, Your kindness, and grant us Your salvation.
℣. You have favored, O Lord, Your land; You have restored the well-being of Jacob.
GospelLuc 1:39-47

Latin

Sequéntia + sancti Evangélii secúndum Lucam
℟. Glória tibi, Dómine.
Luc 1:39-47
In illo témpore: Exsúrgens María ábiit in montána cum festinatióne in civitátem Iuda: et intrávit in domum Zacharíæ et salutávit Elísabeth. Et factum est, ut audivit salutatiónem Maríæ Elísabeth, exsultávit infans in útero eius: et repléta est Spíritu Sancto Elísabeth, et exclamávit voce magna et dixit: Benedícta tu inter mulíeres, et benedíctus fructus ventris tui. Et unde hoc mihi, ut véniat Mater Dómini mei ad me? Ecce enim, ut facta est vox salutatiónis tuæ in áuribus meis, exsultávit in gáudio infans in útero meo. Et beáta, quæ credidísti, quóniam perficiéntur ea, quæ dicta sunt tibi a Dómino. Et ait María: Magníficat ánima mea Dóminum: et exsultávit spíritus meus in Deo, salutári meo.

English

Continuation ✠ of the Holy Gospel according to Luke
℟. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
Luke 1:39-47
At that time, Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town of Juda. And she entered the house of Zachary and saluted Elizabeth. And it came to pass, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe in her womb leapt. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and cried out with a loud voice, saying, Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And how have I deserved that the Mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, the moment that the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leapt for joy. And blessed is she who has believed, because the things promised her by the Lord shall be accomplished. And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.
OffertoryPs 84:7-8

Latin

Orémus.
Ps 84:7-8
Deus, tu convérsus vivificábis nos, et plebs tua lætábitur in te: osténde nobis, Dómine, misericórdiam tuam, et salutáre tuum da nobis.

English

Let us pray.
Ps 84: 7-8.
Will You not, O God, give us life; and shall not Your people rejoice in You? Show us, O Lord, Your kindness, and grant us Your salvation.
Secret

Latin

Munéribus nostris, quaesumus, Dómine, precibúsque suscéptis: et caeléstibus nos munda mystériis, et cleménter exáudi.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.

English

Munéribus nostris, quaesumus, Dómine, precibúsque suscéptis: et caeléstibus nos munda mystériis, et cleménter exáudi.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.
CommunionZach 14:5-6

Latin


Zach 14:5-6
Ecce, Dóminus véniet et omnes Sancti eius cum eo: et erit in die illa lux magna.

English


Zach 14:5-6
Behold, the Lord shall come, and all His holy ones with Him: and there shall be in that day a great light.
Post Communion

Latin

Orémus.
Tui nos, Dómine, sacraménti libátio sancta restáuret: et a vetustáte purgátos, in mystérii salutáris fáciat transíre consórtium.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.

English

Let us pray.
May the devout reception of Your sacrament, O Lord, give us new strength, purge us of our old selves and let us come to share in the mystery of salvation.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.

Vetus Ordo texts: Divinum Officium

Share this feast — Novus Ordo Missae

Share this feast — Vetus Ordo Missae

See today's feast →View the liturgical calendar →