September Ember Days

His Excellency, Most Reverend Alfred A. Schlert asks the clergy and faithful of the Diocese of Allentown to celebrate the Ember Days for the Season in support of the pro -life movement in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and in solidarity with those participating in the Pennsylvania March for Life on Monday, 21 September 2026.

Ember Days are quarterly observances with three days set aside (Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday) to pray in gratitude for the blessings of the season and human labor, and to thank God publicly.

There are twelve Ember Days in all. In particular, the “Holy Cross Ember Days” are a special time to thank God for the gifts of nature, to teach men to make use of them in moderation, and to assist the needy.”

Fasting and abstinence would follow the current laws of the Church, with abstinence being from all meat, and fasting would be one full meal a day, with the allowance of two smaller meals that do not equal the main meal, and no eating between meals.

The Holy Cross Ember Days for 2026 are as follows:
Wednesday, September 23, 2026,
Friday, September 25, 2026,
and Saturday, September 26, 2026.