In ecclesiastical law. Those days which the ancient fathers called "quatuor tempora jejunii" are of great an-tiquity in the church. They are observed on wednesday, Friday, and Saturday next after Quadragesima Sunday, or the first Sunday in Lent, after whitsnntide, Holyrood Day, in September, and SL Lucy’s Day, about the middle of December. Brit c. 53. our alma-nacs call the weeks in which they fall the “Ember weeks,” and they are now chiefly noticed on account of the ordination of priests and deacons; because the canon appoints the Sundays next after tbe Ember weeks for the solemn times of ordination, though the bishops, if they please, may ordain on any Sun-day or holiday. Enc. Lond
Source: Black's Law Dictionary 2nd Ed (1910)
