Happy New Year!
Technically, yes. Last Sunday, the Catholic Church started a new liturgical year. We are now in ADVENT.
We all know what Advent looks like in our calendars:
- Parties.
- Simbang Gabi.
- More Parties.
- Lechon.
And that is great! Celebration is part of our culture. But if you look at the altar, the priests are wearing PURPLE.
That’s the same color as Lent. Why? Because historically, Advent is also a season of waiting and preparation. It involves Fasting, Prayer, and Almsgiving.
I’m not the Vatican, and this isn’t a church rule.
But I have a suggestion. What if you kept the parties, but added a “Plus One” from the purple season to balance things out?
Here is a radical idea to make your celebrations more meaningful:
1. The “Party Fast” (Fasting + Feasting)
We usually worry about overeating during the holidays. Here is a spiritual (and physical) hack to prepare for the feast.
The Strategy:
If you have a Christmas Party scheduled for the evening, treat the hours before it as a mini-Advent fast.
- The Plan: Skip breakfast and lunch on party day. Drink water or black coffee.
- The Feast: Break your fast at the party. Enjoy the food guilt-free!
- The Balance: Go back to light meals the next day.
This turns your hunger into preparation, and your eating into a true celebration.
2. The “Time Dilation” Technique (Prayer)
We all feel like we have “no time” during December. The traffic is bad and the malls are full.
Here is a counter-intuitive suggestion: Add more prayer.
- +1 Rosary
- +1 Divine Mercy Chaplet
- +1 Novena
Why add more when I’m busy?
Regular time management relies on your willpower. Prayer outsources the stress to God, Mary, and your Guardian Angels. It centers you.
When you pray with your family, you stop rushing. You find peace in the chaos. As the Bible says: “Ask, seek, knock.”
3. The Gift for the Celebrant (Almsgiving)
We spend December buying gifts for everyone else. But it’s Jesus’ birthday.
Consider a “Plus One” gift for the Church or the poor.
- Increase your tithe/donation.
- Volunteer your time directly to the poor (not just the institution).
This covers the “Almsgiving” part of the purple season.
The Bottom Line
Go to the parties. Eat the ham. Complete the Simbang Gabi.
But consider adding these “Purple Habits” as your Plus One. Don’t just shop for 2025—prepare your soul for it.
Invest in yourself this Advent.
It’s your turn to INCREASE!
Jomar Hilario