“Wednesday, Friday and Saturday after the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, September 14th, are known as ‘Michaelmas Embertide’, and they come near the beginning of Autumn (September, October, November). The Lessons focus on the Old Covenant’s Day of Atonement and the fast of the seventh month…”
The Australian Bishops’ Conference (ACBC) decided, in accordance with paragraph 394 of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (2002), that the First Fridays of Autumn and Spring should be reserved as special days of prayer and penance. While all Fridays are days of penance with fast and abstinence, the ACBC has substituted other penitential practices such as prayer, self-denial and helping others.