Days of Prayer and formerly also of fasting instituted by the Church to appease God's anger at man's transgressions, to ask protectin in calamities, and to obtain a good and bountiful harvest.

The Rogation Days are April 25 called Major, and the three days before the Feast of the Ascension, called Minor.

Rogations were introduced by St Mamertus, Bishop of Vienne, and were afterwards ordered by the Fifth Council of Orleans.

Ember Days are the days at the beginning of the seasons ordered by the Church as days of fast and abstinence. They were definitely arranged and prescribed for the entire Church by Pope Gregory VII (1073-1085 AD) for the Wednesday, Friday and Saturday after December 13 (St Lucia's Day), after Ash Wednesday, Pentecost and after September 14 (Exaltation of the Cross). The purppose of their introduction, besides the general one intended by all prayer and fasting, was to thank God for the gifts of nature, to teach men to make use of them in moderation, and to assist the needy.

Collect: Send, we beseeech Thee, O Lord, labourers into Thy vineyard, in order that both the precepts of Thy only-begotten Son may be perpetually observed and that the sacrifice may be everywhere renewed.

Secret: Make perfect the tribute we offer, as a sacrament for the vitality of Thy people, so that ministers, having been increased, in the circling of Thine altar, may bring together prayers and sacrifices to Thee.

Post-Communion: Having been filled with the heavenly mysteries, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that Thou wouldst deign to increase Thy ministers in both number and sanctifying charity.