In getting to know our Greek-Catholic faith better, it is important that we consider two important events that our Church celebrates during the month of November. The first is the beginning of the Nativity Fast, a period of abstinence and penance in preparation for two theophanic feasts: the Nativity of Christ (Christmas) and the Baptism of Christ (Theopany). It differs from Advent in two very significant respects: it runs for 40 days instead of four weeks and thematically focuses on the proclamation and glorification of the Incarnation of God. Advent focuses on the two comings (or advents) of Jesus, namely His birth and His Second Coming. It is called Philip’s Fast since it traditionally begins on the day following the feast of St. Philip the Apostle (November 14). So it is observed from November 15 to December 24 inclusively. While it is more difficult to observe because of Thanksgiving, I would encourage all who are reading this to make this period special in some way. This year I would like to offer a new program:

St. Philip the Apostle

A Prayer a Day for St. Philip’s Fast

I will be offering a prayer in the Bulletin for each day of the Fast to be included with any efforts you might make with abstinence or penance. You can think of abstinence as being the same as that of the Great Fast. I feel that this would be a minimal effort that can make the Nativity Fast special for us.

The second major event during November is the feast of the Entrance of Mary into the Temple. Our communal celebration will be on the weekend after the feast.

The Entrance of Mary

The chief aim of the Marian feasts is to set before us the majesty, dignity and the holiness of the Most pure Virgin Mary and her role in the redemption of the human race. This is done so that we might be inspired to imitate her.

This feast is one of the 12 major feasts of our Church. Allusions are made to this feast in the fifth century. It took, however, several hundred years before it was universally observed in the East. The Sinai Gospel of the eighth century mentions this feast. Tradition has it that she was presented to the Temple at the age of three because her parents, who were old and without children, offered thanks to God for granting them the gift of Mary

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We praise the Mother of God!