Does anyone here practice the Advent Fast?

[The_Reginator]

My basic question is the title of this thread. Or more generally, how many Catholics still treat Advent as "Little Lent"? My behaviour changes very little during Advent, other than refraining from any Christmas celebrations until the first day of Christmas, December 25th.

Quite a number of years ago I became aware that Catholic tradition included an Advent Fast. I have also become aware of the fact that traditionally all vigils for holy days were days of fasting and abstinence. Imagine fasting on Christmas Eve these days!

Next June I will have been a Catholic for 30 years. In all this time I have never REALLY tried any sort of Advent Fast. I do recognize the penitential nature of Advent. When we had room for a tree it only went up a few short days before Christmas Day, often on the 24th. I listen to Advent music until after Midnight Mass.
I found this video by Brian Holdsworth to be very helpful, beginning at the 7:00 minute mark (until, oh, about 8 1/2 minutes): The Big Christmas Lie.

Dominus vobiscum, Reg

 

[HomeschoolDad]

My basic question is the title of this thread. Or more generally, how many Catholics still treat Advent as "Little Lent"? My behaviour changes very little during Advent, other than refraining from any Christmas celebrations until the first day of Christmas, December 25th.

Quite a number of years ago I became aware that Catholic tradition included an Advent Fast. I have also become aware of the fact that traditionally all vigils for holy days were days of fasting and abstinence. Imagine fasting on Christmas Eve these days!

Next June I will have been a Catholic for 30 years. In all this time I have never REALLY tried any sort of Advent Fast. I do recognize the penitential nature of Advent. When we had room for a tree it only went up a few short days before Christmas Day, often on the 24th. I listen to Advent music until after Midnight Mass.
I found this video by Brian Holdsworth to be very helpful, beginning at the 7:00 minute mark (until, oh, about 8 1/2 minutes): The Big Christmas Lie.

Dominus vobiscum, Reg

I typically don't. Even in retirement, my life tends to be somewhat erratic for several reasons, and I have to keep things as simple as I can. I keep only Friday abstinence (not just during Lent) and, to the best of my ability (for medical reasons), the two fast days of Ash Wednesday and Good Friday (though I have aged out of the strict obligation). For the same reasons, I don't keep Ember Days. Keep in mind that all of these things, aside from Friday abstinence during Lent and fasting those two days, are merely private devotions (at least in the US, some countries retain year-round Friday abstinence).

Any penances imposed (or even suggested) by the Church are just a bare minimum. The more penance we can do in our lives, the better, and I find that if I don't seek out penance, penance seeks out me. Good thing, I need it.

(I have had to cheat on occasion on the two fast days, with nourishing liquid beverages such as milk-based drinks, between meals. It's not really "cheating" --- Jone in Moral Theology allows for this, and I would be surprised if the post-Vatican II Church has made this stricter --- but I try to take only water between meals, as a matter of private devotion.)