Sacred Calendar
The Roman year ordered for memory, penance, feasts, saints, and the daily pilgrimage of the faithful.
Calendar standard
Pre-1955 Roman usage
The calendar follows the universal Roman year under the rubrics of Pope St. Pius X, with the Roman Martyrology preserved as a distinct daily witness.
The day is presented for prayer, recollection, study, and perseverance in the City.
Daily observance
Today in the City of God
The Church keeps this day in holy time. The Pilgrim's Companion gathers the feast, daily quote, Martyrology, meditation, prayer, and related chapters into one daily path through the City.
Choose a date
Daily observance
Advent Ember Day
Friday, December 18, 2026
Season: Advent
The day is set within the Roman year so its feast, Martyrology, daily quote, prayer, and reading path may be received together without blurring their proper sources.
Today's pilgrimage
Advent Ember Day
Rank: Non-privileged Feria
Color: violet
Quote for the day
St. Vincent of Lerins
“In the Catholic Church every care must be taken that we may hold fast to that which has been believed everywhere, always, and by all.”
Commonitorium
Roman Martyrology
Roman Martyrology - December 18
At Philippi, in Macedonia, the birthday of the holy martyrs Ruf us and Zosimus,who were of the number of the disciples, by whom the primitive church was founded among the Jews and the Greeks. Their happy martyrdom is mentioned by St. Polycarp, in his epistle to the Philippians. — At Laodicea, in Syria, the martyrdom of the Saints Theotimus and Basilian. — In Africa, the holy martyrs Quinctus, Simplicius, and others, who suffered in the persecution of Decius and Valerian. — In the same country, St. Moysetes, martyr. — Also, in Africa, the holy martyrs Victurus, Victor, Victorinus, Adjutor, Quartus, and thirty others. — At Mopsuestia, in Cilicia, St. Auxentius, bishop, who, while he was a soldier under Licinius, preferred to surrender his military insignia rather than to offer grapes to Bacchus. Having been made bishop, he was renowned for merit, and rested in peace. — At Tours, St. Gratian, consecrated first bishop of that city by pope St. Fabrian. Celebrated for many miracles, he calmly went to his repose in the Lord.
Highlighted saint
The Advent Ember Day
The winter fast of expectation and ordination prayer.
The Advent Ember Days sanctify the season of expectation with fasting, prayer, and supplication for the Church's ministers.
They teach that preparation for Christmas must include purification. The Church asks the Lord of the harvest for holy laborers and asks that her own children be made ready for the coming King.
Virtue to practice
Purified expectation and prayer for the Church.
Error to resist
The Advent that becomes noise and consumption instead of fasting, prayer, and longing for Christ.
For the pilgrim in exile
Let the Ember fast make Advent serious without making it gloomy. The King is near, and the Church prepares with prayer.
Imitate today
- Pray for priests and clerics.
- Offer a small fast or restraint in Advent.
- Ask Our Lady to teach expectant purity.
Sources
- St. Andrew Daily Missal, Advent Ember Days.
- Luke 1:26-38, Douay-Rheims.
Breviary Witness
The fast of expectation.
Matins - Advent Ember Day
Breviary witness
- The Advent Ember Days sanctify the season of waiting with fasting and prayer for the Church and her ministers.
- Their witness joins Our Lady's expectant purity to the Church's supplication, asking that Christ find His people ready.
For the pilgrim in exile
Prepare for Christmas by prayer that costs something. The King is near, and the Church fasts while she waits.
Sources
- Roman Breviary, Advent Ember Days.
- St. Andrew Daily Missal, Advent Ember Days.
Meditation
The Coming of the King
The mystery of the coming of Christ teaches the pilgrim to wait without surrender, to recognize divine humility, and to adore the King where He truly appears. Sacred time trains hope, but hope must remain disciplined by doctrine and worship.
Related paths
Walk the day through the City.
Today's chapters
Read with the feast.
Prayer
The day should become prayer.
O Lord, keep me near Thy Cross when comfort, acceptance, and ease invite me elsewhere. Let fidelity be stronger than the desire to belong.
Thought for the pilgrim
The faithful remain at the Cross when the multitude walks past it.
Practice
The day should become obedience.
Stand with one difficult truth today even if silence would be easier.
Source notes
Universal Roman Calendar under the rubrics of Pope St. Pius X
Fasting and abstinence according to the laws observed in 1952
Daily quotations and pilgrimage excerpts should come from Scripture, Fathers, Doctors, saints, traditional popes before 1958, traditional catechisms, approved devotional works, or received liturgical texts.
The Roman Martyrology, Baltimore, 1916, published by John Murphy Company; the local 1916 text is displayed and traceable to its source lines.
- St. Andrew Daily Missal, Liturgical Calendar, pp. xiii and xv: Ember Days occur in Advent, Lent, Whitsuntide, and after September 14.
- St. Andrew Daily Missal, Division of the Ecclesiastical Year, p. x: Ember Days are non-privileged ferias; their commemoration remains distinct from the feast and from the separate 1952 fasting layer.