BEGINNING OF
THE CHRISTMAS FAST
Advent, which begins November 15th, is the 40-day period before Christmas which
is devoted to preparation for the coming of the Messiah. It is a period of
fasting, prayer, Scripture reading, church attendance and participation in the
sacraments to enable us to capture the full meaning of Christ's coming. Advent
became the symbol of the prayers and fasts of the Old Testament patriarchs and
prophets, who looked forward to the coming of the Messiah with great longing.
During Advent the Church remembers many of the Old Testament saints: Obadiah on
November 19th, Nahum on December 1st, Habakkuk on December 2nd, Zephaniah on
December 3rd, Haggai on December 16th and Daniel on December 17th. The two last
Sundays of December are dedicated to the Old Testament forefathers and Fathers.
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