tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14300599.post113309838676258262..comments2023-10-09T07:56:32.564-05:00Comments on Sacramentum Vitae: My Advent rantMike Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09060404905348849140noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14300599.post-1133396999228495672005-11-30T19:29:00.000-05:002005-11-30T19:29:00.000-05:00Yes, the Orthodox, and the Eastern Catholics, have...Yes, the Orthodox, and the Eastern Catholics, have retained the penitent aspects of this time, in keeping with the custom of the early Church.<BR/><BR/>For Greek and Arab Orthodox, the Nativity fast begins with the feast of St. Philip (November 15th) and for Slavic Orthodox (Russians, Ukrainians, etc), with the colder climate, it begins today, on the Feast of St. Andrew (November 30th).<BR/><BR/>The fast involves abstaining from meat, eggs, and dairy products. (I'm given to understand that it is less strenuous than the fast for Great and Holy Lent, and that wine, oil and fish are permitted, at least for Slavs). It is a part of the greater trinity of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, which we do to commemorate Christ's <I>kenosis</I>, or self-emptying, and the great gift of His incarnation into the world.<BR/><BR/>The fast continues until at least December 24th, when the faithful go to the services, which include Great Compline. Then, many of the faithful go home for the Holy Dinner (or in slavic, Sviatii Vyecher), where twelve courses of a meatless dinner (often with fish and dairy) are served, with a song or a carol or two sung with each course. <BR/><BR/>I am given to understand that faithful Catholics among French, Italians and Irish keep much the same custom, including the fast and the Holy Supper. I believe it would be a custom worth further cultivation among modern faithful Catholics.Bernard Brandthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00159541603126407072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14300599.post-1133369468574352872005-11-30T11:51:00.000-05:002005-11-30T11:51:00.000-05:00I find that fully observing the Phillip's Fast put...I find that fully observing the Phillip's Fast puts a damper on much of the secular "Holiday Season"--it's hard to attend "holiday celebrations" when fasting. More importantly, I find that I am almost unaware of the whole "Christmas Shopping Season" because I am focused on keeping up with the fast, making sure the cat doesn't destroy the Jesse tree, preparing for St. Nicholas Day, etc. Living the Catholic culture fully (both East and West) just doesn't leave time for all the secular stuff.<BR/><BR/>Oh, I do like your "<I>God does not make life better by zapping all the bad stuff; he makes it better by being fully present to us amidst the bad stuff. </I>" At this point in my life I find that "working out my salvation with fear and trembling" is to focus very intently on God being fully present (I guess that is an operative definition of contemplation, no) because the "bad stuff" is usually not real anyway and God is.joshbraidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04179719065607442415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14300599.post-1133209278019636482005-11-28T15:21:00.000-05:002005-11-28T15:21:00.000-05:00I believe the Orthodox have retained more of the p...I believe the Orthodox have retained more of the penitent aspects of the season.kkollwitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17691145638703824456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14300599.post-1133143573554087302005-11-27T21:06:00.000-05:002005-11-27T21:06:00.000-05:00BRAVO!!! BRAVO!!! BRAVO!!!I am so glad to hear tha...BRAVO!!! BRAVO!!! BRAVO!!!<BR/>I am so glad to hear that someone has the right idea and remembers what this season is all about!!!<BR/>Great articleGinnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06590610167017627438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14300599.post-1133115796579722042005-11-27T13:23:00.000-05:002005-11-27T13:23:00.000-05:00"Upon your walls, O Jerusalem, I have posted senti..."Upon your walls, O Jerusalem, <BR/>I have posted sentinels; <BR/>all day and all night <BR/>they shall never be silent. <BR/>You who remind the LORD, <BR/>take no rest, <BR/>and give him no rest <BR/>until he establishes Jerusalem <BR/>and makes it renowned throughout the earth".<BR/><BR/>I think of Advent as a time to "give the Lord no rest", to ask Him with all insistence to re-establish Jerusalem.<BR/><BR/>"If we spent more time praying and thinking about that, and less time buying and drinking, perhaps this wouldn't be called the crazy season".<BR/>Thanks for posting this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com