At the beginning of the four seasons of the Ecclesiastical Year, the Ember Days have been instituted by the Church to thank God for blessings obtained during the past year and to implore further graces for the new season. Furthermore, they are intended to consecrate to God the various seasons in Nature. Ordinations generally took place on the Ember days, and the faithful would pray especially on these days for good priests.

The Ember Fasts were formerly of great importance in the Church, and they were (until c. 1960) fast days of obligation. Sadly, they are presently all but forgotten.

The Ember Fasts are fixed on the Wednesday, Friday and Saturday after the Third Sunday of Advent in winter; after the First Sunday of Lent in spring; after Pentecost Sunday in summer; and after the Feast of the Exaltation in autumn.

This Pentecost, they will occur on Wednesday, May 14; Friday, May 16; and Saturday, May 17.