Advent as a penitential season

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I know as the two penitential seasons go, Advent is never given the emphasis that Lent is given.

I’m in my early 40s and attended Catholic elementary school. Beyond the lessons about the Advent Wreath and the Jesse Tree, we never really learned much about Advent.

I’d like to observe it this year. What do you do for Advent? Is it like Lent where you fast, pray, do alms, give up stuff?
 
PacoG said:
I know as the two penitential seasons go, Advent is never given the emphasis that Lent is given.

I’m in my early 40s and attended Catholic elementary school. Beyond the lessons about the Advent Wreath and the Jesse Tree, we never really learned much about Advent.

I’d like to observe it this year. What do you do for Advent? Is it like Lent where you fast, pray, do alms, give up stuff?
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While I don’t believe it’s required by the Church…I plan on giving something up…not as tough as Lent but still. I am also considering choosing a day for fasting and abstinence…it would only be 4 days total. Just a personal thing…
 
I add the Liturgy of the Hours to my my regular prayer rountine during Advent.
I always pray the Office of Readings, Morning, Evening & Night prayer.
The OOR is my favorite- so much beautiful wisdom from our Church Fathers!

I also try to spend a little more time with the O Aniphons.

Advent is my favorite season of the Church, and I try to spend it by making time to contemplate the great gift of the Incarnation. It casues me to slow down, and really think about what this gift means for me, and how I cna best live out this gift in the coming year.
 
Greetings PacoG,

I treat Advent as Lent. Before I undertake any fasting or abstinence for long periods of time I always get the blessing of my spiritual director. I pretty much abtain and fast every day excepting Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation. I also try to incoporate an additional spiritual practice, more prayer, maybe choose a particular vice and work on it as well.

However, I like the emphasis of Lent and Advent, and am trying to live year round with Lent in mind.

God Bless.
Anathama Sit
 
Oneofthewomen said:
I add the Liturgy of the Hours to my my regular prayer rountine during Advent.
I always pray the Office of Readings, Morning, Evening & Night prayer.
The OOR is my favorite- so much beautiful wisdom from our Church Fathers!

I also try to spend a little more time with the O Aniphons.

Advent is my favorite season of the Church, and I try to spend it by making time to contemplate the great gift of the Incarnation. It casues me to slow down, and really think about what this gift means for me, and how I cna best live out this gift in the coming year.
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Greetings Oneofthewomen,

I like the Advent and the Lent readings. I am always glad to get to them in the LOTH.

You gave me a good idea about thinking more about the O Antiphons. Thank you.

God Bless.
Anathama Sit
 
I always try to make it to the abbey for Vespers on Dec. 17 to hear the first “O” antiphon intoned by the abbot as the abbey bells peal. At our abbey St-Benoit-du-Lac, Vespers is in Latin Gregorian chant daily.
 
I think it should have some penitence tied to it too. If we do a lot of things to prepare for the death and Resurrection of Jesus, why can’t we do the same to prepare for the day of His birth? I do try to do charitable works and go to confession to prepare for Xmas, but people need to remember the true reason for the season.
 
Lenten penance has three aspects - fasting, prayer and alms giving.

For Advent, I must admit I don’t really fast but I do strive to increase prayer and focus on almsgiving.
 
Advent has historically been a time of penance, which is why it’s liturgical colors and Lent’s are the same.

That it’s not done as such anymore seems to me to have 3 factors: it’s much shorter; it doesn’t begin with a mournful fast day as Lent does; and, in North America, it conflicts with the Xmas commercial season.

But there’s absolutely no reason not to do penance, if the Spirit is guiding you.

ICXC NIKA
 
GEddie said:
Advent has historically been a time of penance, which is why it’s liturgical colors and Lent’s are the same.

That it’s not done as such anymore seems to me to have 3 factors: it’s much shorter; it doesn’t begin with a mournful fast day as Lent does; and, in North America, it conflicts with the Xmas commercial season.

But there’s absolutely no reason not to do penance, if the Spirit is guiding you.

ICXC NIKA
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I think in addition, the Church herself indicates that Advent while a time of penitence, is also one of hope and not as severe as Lent. The liturgy itself indicates this; “alleluia” is permitted during Advent, the Te Deum is permitted on Sundays of Advent. Advent is leading up to the birth of our Saviour, Lent is leading up to our killing Him on the Cross.
 
OraLabora said:
I think in addition, the Church herself indicates that Advent while a time of penitence, is also one of hope and not as severe as Lent. The liturgy itself indicates this; “alleluia” is permitted during Advent, the Te Deum is permitted on Sundays of Advent. Advent is leading up to the birth of our Saviour, Lent is leading up to our killing Him on the Cross.
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Greetings OraLabora,

Wow I have been Catholic for several years and I did not know that. Ooops. Thanks for bringing that to my attention.

God Bless.
Anathama Sit
 
GEddie said:
Advent has historically been a time of penance, which is why it’s liturgical colors and Lent’s are the same.

That it’s not done as such anymore seems to me to have 3 factors: it’s much shorter; it doesn’t begin with a mournful fast day as Lent does; and, in North America, it conflicts with the Xmas commercial season.

But there’s absolutely no reason not to do penance, if the Spirit is guiding you.

ICXC NIKA
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Greetings GEddie,

I agree. Everyday is a good day for penance.

God Bless.
Anathama Sit
 
PacoG said:
I
I’d like to observe it this year. What do you do for Advent? Is it like Lent where you fast, pray, do alms, give up stuff?
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the main penitential practice of Advent is the waiting itself
primarily with the Advent scriptures which detail the long wait of the chosen People for their Messiah, and our wait for the Second Coming of Our Lord. The scriptures should be the primarily basis for our spiritual preparation. The Jesse Tree is a great way to do that with children, for instance, as is an Advent wreath or calendar with daily prayers and meditations based on the scripture.

Waiting to celebrate until Christmas, not before
waiting to exchange gifts
waiting to decorate and enter into a celebratory mode

waiting is one of the least practiced spiritual disciplines these days and one of the most beneficial, because it leads to fasting, the more formal and rigorous form of waiting we practice in Lent.
 
I am not sure what the protocol is for posting links on the forums so I’ll not post one here - but I check out bustedhalo.com which is a website geared toward youth/young adults - but truly anyone seeking enlightenment on our faith would benefit from checking it out. They posted today a short video (2mins) that very neatly sums up what Advent is. That it is a time of joyful anticipation - reflection and getting ready - for the celebration of the gift of God’s love to the world - for when Jesus comes again - and a reminder that until then - he is with us always.
 
In the Byzantine Rite, its 40 days of fasting (today is an exemption because its the Great Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple).

But in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese here, there are Confessions services in all parishes during Advent.
 
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