Thinking Ahead To Advent

[Immanuel]

My intension this year is to try to keep Advent as a time for preparation (it so often devolves into a secular pre-Christmas frenzy that I always regret). I often feel like I have not spent wisely, the time that the Church has given us to prepare my heart for Christ.
I have been considering some kind of fasting during Advent.
I wondered if Pholks could detail for me the fasts that different orders embrace during Advent.
What do the Carmelites or Poor Clares do during this season to keep it as a time of preparation?
I need inspiration. How will you spend Advent this year? Thanks for your help.

[Rosa immaculata]

Ave Maria!

Dear Immanuel, I just can tell you that the Franciscan already fast since the 1st November (Emmaberry, sorry if I am wrong!) and the Carmelites (in certain convents, of course) since the 14st September: their Advent is very LONG! and I can't really give you some advice about fasting, but it is a godd idea! Personnaly, I think I will fast only on Fridays, it will be good for me and I don't want to do "excesses" for the moment, because it is the first time I will try to [b]live the Advent and not to waste it[/b]; and on this point, I totally understand what you say, because I also feel each year that I don't prepare my heart for Christmas, and I almost forget that this is Advent; Venite, Emmanuel!
I will read the book by Mother Mary Francis: [b]Come, Lord Jesus[/b], which includes daily meditations for Advent.

Sorry for my answer which is not very useful for your question about the fast (one complete meal, and two collations...) . I wish you and all the phamily a good preparation for the beginning of the Advent and a Holy Advent!

[OnlySunshine]

[quote name='Rosa immaculata' timestamp='1353787700' post='2516034']
I will read the book by Mother Mary Francis: [b]Come, Lord Jesus[/b], which includes daily meditations for Advent.

[/quote]

Thank you for posting this! I'm looking for a book with daily meditations for Advent. I found one by TAN books with Sermons by St. Francis de Sales on Advent and Christmas but I'm afraid it will be a little too complicated. I LOVED Mother Mary Francis' book called, "A Right to Be Merry" so I know I'll love her other works.

[mantellata]

Maginificat always publishes lovely meditations.

My personal favorite is to haul out "the Reed of God" by Caryll Houselander. It's a book... but chunks over Advent is totally doable and "mediatable".

[Eowyn]

[quote name='MaterMisericordiae' timestamp='1353798966' post='2516096']

Thank you for posting this! I'm looking for a book with daily meditations for Advent. I found one by TAN books with Sermons by St. Francis de Sales on Advent and Christmas but I'm afraid it will be a little too complicated. I LOVED Mother Mary Francis' book called, "A Right to Be Merry" so I know I'll love her other works.
[/quote]

I bought Come, Lord Jesus maybe a month or so ago. I started it, but am going to use it for my devotional during Advent -it's based on the readings for Advent from the LOTH. Mother Mary Francis is quickly becoming a favorite author.

[AccountDeleted]

In Carmel, we start our fast on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (and it goes until Easter) but during Advent we fast from communication with the outside world - no letters to or from the sisters. If letters or cards come for a sister, the Prioress keeps them until Christmas, when each sister receives all the mail that has come for her during Advent. We also don't make our usual allowed phone calls etc until Christmas. It is similar to a mini-Lent and the focus is very much on preparing ourselves interiorly for the Lord's coming.

[somethingfishy]

I read [i]The Screwtape Letters [/i]by C.S. Lewis every year, generally during Advent (though it could definitely work for Lent as well). It's great for revealing to yourself your own weaknesses and temptations, but it's clever and interesting rather than harsh.

[emmaberry101]

[quote name='Rosa immaculata' timestamp='1353787700' post='2516034']
Ave Maria!

Dear Immanuel, I just can tell you that the Franciscan already fast since the 1st November (Emmaberry, sorry if I am wrong!) and the Carmelites (in certain convents, of course) since the 14st September: their Advent is very LONG! and I can't really give you some advice about fasting, but it is a godd idea! Personnaly, I think I will fast only on Fridays, it will be good for me and I don't want to do "excesses" for the moment, because it is the first time I will try to [b]live the Advent and not to waste it[/b]; and on this point, I totally understand what you say, because I also feel each year that I don't prepare my heart for Christmas, and I almost forget that this is Advent; Venite, Emmanuel!
I will read the book by Mother Mary Francis: [b]Come, Lord Jesus[/b], which includes daily meditations for Advent.

Sorry for my answer which is not very useful for your question about the fast (one complete meal, and two collations...) . I wish you and all the phamily a good preparation for the beginning of the Advent and a Holy Advent!
[/quote]

Don't worry, I won't bite, even if you hadn't been right, Rosa. I THINK (key word) that is very true about Franciscans. Poor Clare Colettines fast every day except Christmas, though the abstinence from meat is never ordinarily lifted.

For Advent, (which begins November 1st for Franciscans) the Poor Clares do not receive visitors (though I am breaking that rule right now) and mail is withheld until Christmas Day. Extensive decorating goes on, which is true for most communities. Here is an article about the Cleveland PCC's Christmas celebrations that nunsense, if I remember correctly, posted on VS a while ago: http://www.cleveland.com/living/index.ssf/2010/12/poor_clare_nuns_in_cleveland_e.html?mobRedir=false

Come Lord Jesus by Mother Francis is great for Advent and anybody who is waiting, which includes all of us, really!

Edit: As soon as I posted I remembered that Poor Clares have all sorts of preparations for the weeks immediately before Christmas. There is a lot of build up with different pieces of the manger scene appearing in the choir as Christmas gets closer. When the Infant Jesus figure appears you would think He was there for real from the excitement of the nuns! Also, the novitiate rehearses ballets (not liturgical dances!) for Christmas because, "If anyone should dance at Christmas, contemplatives should!" -Mother Francis. Also, Mother Francis wrote an extensive amount of Advent poetry, which I hear she wrote during retreats, so I assume the PCCs have more retreats during Advent.

Mother Francis said that, if you think you are anxious and eager for Christmas to come NOW, just wait until you are experiencing it inside a contemplative Monastery! Since it is the contemplative's job to mold her life, with all its hopes, sorrows, and joys to the liturgical calendar, she said that during Advent the waiting and anticipation becomes part of your very bones. I probably won't ever forget the picture she painted in A Right to Be Merry when she spoke of every nun trembling while singing the Great O's as Christmas approached. (O Key, O King, O...)

OP, I think it is wonderful that you want to prepare more fully for the wonder of Christmas! I wish we were all more like you. Christmas is my favorite time of year and least favorite as well.. So many people forget to acknowledge Christ as the source of our joy in this season, but that's Jesus for ya-making others joyful even when they don't realize He is the source! Amazing.

Edited November 25, 2012 by emmaberry101

[OnlySunshine]

[quote name='emmaberry101' timestamp='1353817192' post='2516188']
For Advent, (which begins November 1st for Franciscans) [b]the Poor Clares do not receive visitors [/b](though I am breaking that rule right now) and mail is withheld until Christmas Day. Extensive decorating goes on, which is true for most communities. Here is an article about the Cleveland PCC's Christmas celebrations that nunsense, if I remember correctly, posted on VS a while ago: [url="http://www.cleveland.com/living/index.ssf/2010/12/poor_clare_nuns_in_cleveland_e.html?mobRedir=false"]http://www.cleveland...?mobRedir=false[/url]

Come Lord Jesus by Mother Francis is great for Advent and anybody who is waiting, which includes all of us, really!
[/quote]

I hardly think you would be viewed as a visitor since you are now a candidate for entrance. Perhaps this is why they are allowing you when they normally don't have guests.

[mantellata]

If you have the Divine Office - I find the Office of readings particularly good for meditation during this season.

Also - spending a couple of days on each of the "O Antiphons"

Edited November 25, 2012 by mantellata

[JMJ/M&M]

The "O Antiphons" are part of the Divine Office & are sung during the final run-up days before Christmas....But they take a lot of practice to get them perfect (Gregorian
Chant).

[OnlySunshine]

I bought the Magnificat Advent Companion for $2 at the gift shop today after Mass. I'm attending a retreat next weekend, but I'm coming back on Sunday night which will give my family the opportunity to do the Advent wreath in our home. I need to find some suitable prayers. We didn't do it last year but this year I really want to make sure to focus on the coming of Christ.

Edited November 25, 2012 by MaterMisericordiae

[AnneLine]

This is a good time to really focus on re-connecting with the Church Year... and Advent is the start!

In my Secular Order community, the Novices and Temp Professed and I have a custom of doing an on-line Cyber-novena during Advent. We used to do it during the traditional 'Christmas Novena' (think O-Antiphon period 17th - 24th), but last year the novices made a request of me (I'm their Formation Director) -- and while I was startled at first, I decided they were making a really good request! They asked if we could do it EARLIER during Advent, specifically between Dec 7 and Dec 15.... because they felt that as lay people, they had more time and NEEDED to become recollected BEFORE the rush just before Christmas. We tried it, and it worked SO WELL we will be doing it that way again.

That also means that while we have a bit of prep EARLIER in the season, we can also do our own personal Christmas Novena during the traditional Dec 17-24... a 2-fer!!!!

If there is interest, I'd be happy to do it for the PhatMass people too.... let me know if you are interested. We had a short video or two for each day, and each person was assigned a particular day when we would pray for that person's intentions. I don't want to share all the surprises for each day (that's part of the fun!) but if there is interest, let me know.... I'll probably offer it to those who don't frequent VS as well....

[mantellata]

I think it is a fabulous idea -- perhaps a blogger post as well.... I'd love to recommend it to some of my friends and family who would enjoy it but perhaps not frequent phatmass.

[beatitude]

It may sound strange, but this Advent I have decided that I will make all my own meals (even if I'm just preparing a sandwich) as opposed to buying stuff. Normally I stop at the campus cafe for soup or a sandwich at lunchtime, but I think it might be help me to live more simply and to become more grateful for the food I'm blessed with if I take a little extra time and make everything myself.