Old Testament Readings Along with Epistle and Gospel

[FrAugustineFetter]

Fr. Aidan,

There are Old Testament readings, in addition to the Epistle, Graduale and Tract then Gospel, on all Ember Saturdays, Vigil of Nativity, and on Nativity.

I believe Ember Saturday in September would be an example:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/38585967/Ember-Saturday-Mass-in-September

Though, I suppose you are speaking in terms of every Sunday and such.

[WPM]

ehh I'm a little bit confused about Church feast days and celebrations and keeping with the calendar.

[FrAugustineFetter]

There are Four Sets of Ember Days, corresponding to Four Fasting periods, or generally so.  There are one set of Ember Days in Lent, another set in Summer, another set in the Fall, and another set in Advent/Winter.

St. Leo the Great of Rome talks about the four fasting periods. The Third set, falling in Fall, used to be associated with what was called the Michaelmas Fast; the Summer set fell in the week after Pentecost Week, or the Wednesday, Friday and Saturday after Trinity Sunday, and thus helped inaugurate the Apostles' Fast. However, Gregory VII began the process of moving the Ember Days in Summer into Pentecost week, which is a major conflict, since it meant that the Ember days lost their meaning, since not only is fasting prohibited in Pentecost week, but, even abstinence; thus, beginning a process of disrupting the purpose of the Ember Days and their point as inaugurating a Fasting season.

Fr. Augustine

[WPM]

I'm not sure how to keep those fasting rules without other Orthodox.

[FrAugustineFetter]

Just making an observation

[FrAugustineFetter]

For some people with isolated circumstance it is difficult.  We should always pray that God help us in these circumstances, and when we make mistakes, then we should try again.

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