Hi Everybody! Fr. Alex and I hope this message finds you well, ready for a blessed and happy Thanksgiving celebration in a couple of weeks! As we prepare for our national holiday of gratitude and before we get into the full swing of the commercial holiday frenzy, it is good for us to also remember that we are entering into the forty day fast period before Christmas, Nativity!
Click this link for an engaging, short and thoughtful Be The Bee video on the Nativity Fast. It offers a fresh perspective on how and WHY we fast.
The Nativity Fast is a little less known than Great Lent, but as we enter into the Christmas season and the many distractions that can come with it, this is a great opportunity to set our minds and our hearts on the real message of Christmas: the Birth of our Savior and our relationship with Him. Christmas is really about the fact that God is with us, and that we can know Him intimately, being saved by His grace.
The Nativity Fast begins on this Saturday, November 15th. This fast period is a little less rigorous than some of the others, and it is the the accepted practice in our Archdiocese to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving feast on Thanksgiving Day, so don’t be afraid to enjoy your turkey dinner. That said, there is a great benefit to our spiritual lives when we observe the Nativity Fast, so be encouraged and give it a try this year! The Nativity Fast can

• Keep our focus on the true spirit of Christmas
• Cultivate gratitude and generosity of heart
• Heighten our awareness of God’s love and presence in the world
• Make it easier to forgive and seek forgiveness
• Encourage us to help those in need, and
• Increase our sense of compassion and empathy

Basically, It can help to keep us spiritually grounded. It is the perfect conterweight to the overwhelming comercialism and materialism of the seculuar holiday season.
If you are not sure how to fast, or if you would like to discuss how to implement fasting in your life, alway feel free to reach out to me, to Father Alex, or any of the clergy of our Archdiocese. We would be happy to talk it over and provide you with resources to make your fasting a more fruitful experience.
Wishing you a blessed Nativity season, and every happiness!