Those Were the Days of Giants! A Brief Reflection on the Fasting and Abstinence that were once common in Advent and LentBy: Msgr. Charles Pope I was explaining to a new Catholic recently that the color purple (violet) used in advent is akin to its use in Lent, in that both are considered penitential seasons. Hence we are to give special attention to our sins and our need for salvation. Traditionally we would also take part in penitential practices of fasting and abstinence.Of course, in recent decades Advent has almost wholly lost any real penitential practices. There is no...
