Gospel 12-18-24. Luke 1:26-38. Ember Wednesday in Advent.
26 And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth,
In mense autem sexto, missus est angelus Gabriel a Deo in civitatem Galilaeae, cui nomen Nazareth,
27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
ad virginem desponsatam viro, cui nomen erat Joseph, de domo David : et nomen virginis Maria.
28 And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
Et ingressus angelus ad eam dixit : Ave gratia plena : Dominus tecum : benedicta tu in mulieribus.
29 Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be.
Quae cum audisset, turbata est in sermone ejus, et cogitabat qualis esset ista salutatio.
30 And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.
Et ait angelus ei : Ne timeas, Maria : invenisti enim gratiam apud Deum.
31 Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus.
Ecce concipies in utero, et paries filium, et vocabis nomen ejus Jesum :
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the most High; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father; and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever.
hic erit magnus, et Filius Altissimi vocabitur, et dabit illi Dominus Deus sedem David patris ejus : et regnabit in domo Jacob in aeternum,
33 And of his kingdom there shall be no end.
et regni ejus non erit finis.
34 And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man?
Dixit autem Maria ad angelum : Quomodo fiet istud, quoniam virum non cognosco?
35 And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
Et respondens angelus dixit ei : Spiritus Sanctus superveniet in te, et virtus Altissimi obumbrabit tibi. Ideoque et quod nascetur ex te sanctum, vocabitur Filius Dei.
36 And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren:
Et ecce Elisabeth cognata tua, et ipsa concepit filium in senectute sua : et hic mensis sextus est illi, quae vocatur sterilis :
37 Because no word shall be impossible with God.
quia non erit impossibile apud Deum omne verbum.
38 And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Dixit autem Maria : Ecce ancilla Domini : fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum. Et discessit ab illa angelus.
At the beginning of the four seasons in the Ecclesiastical Year, the Ember Days have been instituted by the Church to thank God for blessings obtained in the past year and to implore further graces for the new season. Their importance in the Church was formerly very great. They are fixed on the Wednesday, Friday and Saturday: after the First Sunday of Lent for Spring, after Whit-sunday for Summer, after the Feast of the Elevation of the Cross (14th September) for Autumn, and after the Third Sunday of Advent for Winter. They are intended also to consecrate to God the various seasons in nature, and to prepare by penance those who are about to be ordained. Ordinations generally take place on the Ember Days. The faithful ought to pray on these days for good Priests. The Ember Days were once fast days of obligation.
