That is, lost paragraphs of a post presumably because I didn't allow the 'saving' to occur before I clicked away, tsk. Perhaps I will re-construct this more concisely, ahem. I avoided the rain when I was out for my walk earlier-- ha, that was about six sentences in the original version.
It is the first of the Advent (more properly, of the December) Ember Days, quattuor tempora Decembris, which are traditionally observed by fasting and abstinence and are very ancient. The Mass, streamed from Saint-Eugène at 1000 PT (CE, Introibo, Wiki), is Rorate caeli (in large part as on the Fourth Advent Sunday although the offertory is Confortamini rather than Ave Maria, and since there are two lessons-- both from Isaias-- ante evangelium there is a second gradual, Tollite portas principes vestras).
Father Mershman, author of the Catholic Encyclopedia article linked supra, begins by noting that 'ember days' is a corruption of 'quattuor tempora', which wasn't evident to me but I consulted the Dictionary; will plunder its riches here as it's been a while since I've committed that crime upon their copyright.
The Old English ymbren (apparently neuter: plural ymbren), perhaps a corruption (due to attributive use) of Old English ymbryne (masculine), period, revolution of time, < ymb about, round + ryne course, running.
It seems however not wholly impossible that the word may have been due to popular etymology working upon some Vulgar Latin corruption of quatuor tempora; compare German quatember Ember-tide; for the possibility of Old English mb for Latin mp, and for the suffix, compare Old English ęmbren from Latin amp(h)ora. The Old Norse imbru(-dagar), Old Swedish ymber(-dagar) appear to be < English; Old Swedish had also tamper-dagar < tempora.
Dr Hélène Derieux looks at the Prophet's book in today's 'Advent calendar' video from Neumz.
Time for Terce and a bit of baking.
Post Tertiam. The coffeecake is out of the oven (it's after 0900) and I'm eating my breakfast-- omelette with parsley, shallot, and an ounce of white cheddar, and then fried potatoes. This will be my meal of the day; probably a bagel later on, and one for supper.
Klassikaraadio is streaming Beethoven all day long and through the night. It is his 250th anniversary year and so the world has enjoyed a surfeit of his works performed in every conceivable location and by every ensemble. I figured that today's constant Beethoven must indicate the day itself: and indeed 17 December 1770 was the date of his baptism. It is not uncommon that the baptismal record is the only surviving documentation of someone's (well, some one blessed enough to have Christian parents, anyway) birth back in those days before a burgeoning civil service and so forth.
Ante Sextam. Dame Mitsuko Uchida was to have begun her recital at Wigmore Hall in London at 1130 and hasn't: I hope this is down to 'technical glitches' and that she herself hasn't suffered an accident or fallen otherwise unwell. The plumbers are back in the kitchen in force.... Later. It did happen, the recital, and there's a recording at the WH site to prove it so who knows why nothing streamed, here at any rate. Eh.
Post Nonam. Am going to try out the giving of the first letter of a new item the larger font, and give up using the 'wavy line' to mark the end. Hmm.
I believe that today saw the season's first use of Our Lord's title Emmanuel in the Office. Where did I see this.... After the third of Matin's three lessons, in the place where the Te Deum would be sung were the day of sufficiently festal character, the third responsorium.
R. Modo véniet Dominátor Dóminus:
* Et nomen ejus Emmánuel vocábitur.
V. Oriétur in diébus ejus justítia, et abundántia pacis.
R. Et nomen ejus Emmánuel vocábitur.
V. Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.
R. Et nomen ejus Emmánuel vocábitur.
'The Lord, the sovereign and mighty Lord, shall come quickly and His name shall be called Emmanuel: in His days shall justice, righteousness flourish and an abundance of peace-- Glory be to the Father' etc etc.
LDVM
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