One way I embrace festive discomfort is by limiting myself to purchasing one non-essential item a day, but I prioritize all holiday gifts and necessities over my personal shopping list. I do this all year round but come this time of year I have so many things to buy for other people that I end up buying very little for myself and it's nice to put myself on the back burner for a couple of months. ❤️
Oh, I loved this. Mansfield Park is probably my favourite Austen novel and the main lady, Fanny Price, is the picture of temperance. Unsurprisingly, people usually rag on her as being the most boring of Austen's ladies.
As for Advent...as we've moved into the Orthodox Church, I've really learned to appreciate the fasting-before-feasting liturgical cycle. I almost never think I'm teetering towards gluttony until a fast reveals to me that, yes, yes I am. I love to hide in creaturely comforts and numb the prompting of the Holy Spirit. I always come out of a fast which such awareness and gratitude for the many good gifts around me!
I think it's interesting the Church historic maintained such regular fasts throughout the whole year like they knew we needed the habit of temperance...
Right, and that's what I love about the cyclical nature of the liturgical calendar. At Mass yesterday I was reminded, once again, that we begin with Advent. And we will repeat the lessons we need to hear again, and again, and again until our deathbed. It's almost like the virtues it demands we lean into throughout the year are good for us.
Eastern Catholic here, so our fasting cycle is similar... Your experience with fasting sounds familiar! I especially appreciate the Nativity Fast, as it comes at a time of year where we are especially tempted to so much excess in every area.
Thank you, Tsh. I like the phrase "festive discomfort." The whole Christmas story is about laboring and birthing before the angels sing. But then it is us mothers who must be reminders that there is lots of discomfort involved before the Hallelujah choirs! What a long and aching process where we must practice temperance and patience and hope on yet another path untrodden which comes with walking pregnant and birthing new life. How much we can't even eat and drink! What better image could there be for the Divine searching for its dwelling place?
My personal "festive discomfort" is to write myself through The 12 Days of Christmas, a contemplative writing practice which I send out to the world, raw and tender, while walking the walk to Bethlehem with-in. I think "festive discomfort" described quite well how I feel during these days! Thank you!
We have a long standing tradition to give up sweets during Advent. It has always served as a reminder of the season! This year I'm also (painfully) getting up earlier (for no other reason except to sit in the silence).
And perhaps not a festive discomfort, but our family commits to finishing Christmas shopping before advent...I know that might make me sound crazy... but it has given Advent so much more space in my mind and heart.
That is a goal I have every stinking year (to finish shopping before Advent), and every year I find myself spending the first week of December (so, right now) trying to manically finish shopping so I can revel in Advent. Must. Remember. Next. Year.
In full disclosure, I always find at least one or two gifts that I've forgotten about! For the rest...I use the "Christmas in July" to remind myself to make my list. :)
There are four excellent YouTube lectures given by Father Chad Ripperger called Four Cardinal Virtues on the Sensus Fidelium channel. I highly recommend them.
Thank you, Tsh. It is crucial to differentiate between temperance and abstinence, indeed. I think the American diet is a good example where it fails. It is always either / or. Lots of sugar or sugar free. Lots of fat or fat free. Healthy or unhealthy.
Also, I had to smile reading your words: "If temperance is indeed cardinal, then we should want as much of it as possible."
Because I guess if temperance is moderation we even need to moderate our wanting it ;-) Thanks God!
One way I embrace festive discomfort is by limiting myself to purchasing one non-essential item a day, but I prioritize all holiday gifts and necessities over my personal shopping list. I do this all year round but come this time of year I have so many things to buy for other people that I end up buying very little for myself and it's nice to put myself on the back burner for a couple of months. ❤️
It's a good and useful one!
Oh, I loved this. Mansfield Park is probably my favourite Austen novel and the main lady, Fanny Price, is the picture of temperance. Unsurprisingly, people usually rag on her as being the most boring of Austen's ladies.
As for Advent...as we've moved into the Orthodox Church, I've really learned to appreciate the fasting-before-feasting liturgical cycle. I almost never think I'm teetering towards gluttony until a fast reveals to me that, yes, yes I am. I love to hide in creaturely comforts and numb the prompting of the Holy Spirit. I always come out of a fast which such awareness and gratitude for the many good gifts around me!
I think it's interesting the Church historic maintained such regular fasts throughout the whole year like they knew we needed the habit of temperance...
Right, and that's what I love about the cyclical nature of the liturgical calendar. At Mass yesterday I was reminded, once again, that we begin with Advent. And we will repeat the lessons we need to hear again, and again, and again until our deathbed. It's almost like the virtues it demands we lean into throughout the year are good for us.
Eastern Catholic here, so our fasting cycle is similar... Your experience with fasting sounds familiar! I especially appreciate the Nativity Fast, as it comes at a time of year where we are especially tempted to so much excess in every area.
Thank you, Tsh. I like the phrase "festive discomfort." The whole Christmas story is about laboring and birthing before the angels sing. But then it is us mothers who must be reminders that there is lots of discomfort involved before the Hallelujah choirs! What a long and aching process where we must practice temperance and patience and hope on yet another path untrodden which comes with walking pregnant and birthing new life. How much we can't even eat and drink! What better image could there be for the Divine searching for its dwelling place?
My personal "festive discomfort" is to write myself through The 12 Days of Christmas, a contemplative writing practice which I send out to the world, raw and tender, while walking the walk to Bethlehem with-in. I think "festive discomfort" described quite well how I feel during these days! Thank you!
Oh, interesting! I like the idea of writing in a particular way through Christmastide.
Thank you. I call it The 12 Days of Christmas Contemplations. I will try this retreat out the first time on substack this year :-)
Well said, Tsh!
We have a long standing tradition to give up sweets during Advent. It has always served as a reminder of the season! This year I'm also (painfully) getting up earlier (for no other reason except to sit in the silence).
And perhaps not a festive discomfort, but our family commits to finishing Christmas shopping before advent...I know that might make me sound crazy... but it has given Advent so much more space in my mind and heart.
That is a goal I have every stinking year (to finish shopping before Advent), and every year I find myself spending the first week of December (so, right now) trying to manically finish shopping so I can revel in Advent. Must. Remember. Next. Year.
In full disclosure, I always find at least one or two gifts that I've forgotten about! For the rest...I use the "Christmas in July" to remind myself to make my list. :)
We also finish our shopping before advent. It has been a game changer for our family.
It really is such a solid, doable idea.
There are four excellent YouTube lectures given by Father Chad Ripperger called Four Cardinal Virtues on the Sensus Fidelium channel. I highly recommend them.
Thanks for the rec!
Thank you, Tsh. It is crucial to differentiate between temperance and abstinence, indeed. I think the American diet is a good example where it fails. It is always either / or. Lots of sugar or sugar free. Lots of fat or fat free. Healthy or unhealthy.
Also, I had to smile reading your words: "If temperance is indeed cardinal, then we should want as much of it as possible."
Because I guess if temperance is moderation we even need to moderate our wanting it ;-) Thanks God!
Much blessings, Almut