[Two brief sermons from the September Ember Days.]
(1) The prayer, penance and fasting of the Ember Days is meant to give us a purer knowledge of God and of self. In thus seeking the Lord ever more we are strengthened in all trials and tribulations. (2) The Ember Days are saturated with the truth of who God is. There is a great concentration on the majesty of God, reminding us that our reference point is always God. The great temptation which faces man is to make himself (man) the reference point for all things.