An Advent Suggestion from Fr. Tom Collins: Postpone Gratification

Can you wait a few minutes before
enjoying your adult beverage?

The secularization of Christmas has tended to suppress the spirit of mortification, as various premature “holiday celebrations” are routinely held.

In order to be in the world, but not of the world, Catholics are able to navigate through the secularist expectations by practicing vigilant fasting. So many of these celebrations offer an abundance of delicious foods and beverages. Thus a Catholic can do little acts of penance by postponing
postponing gratification. 

For example, when tempted to take another delicious hors d’oeuvre or libation at a “holiday celebration”, wait two or three minutes before doing so as a tangible reminder that our true fulfillment is found only through Christ. 

Postponing gratification during Advent can be spiritually efficacious, just as completely renouncing such gratification during Lent can help us to break from the tragic tendency of fallen humanity to become addicted to fleshly gratifications.

Fr. Tom Collins