In a recent message to his priests, our Archbishop has encouraged the return to the devout practice of Friday penance throughout the year. Advent 2025 When I was only two years of age, the American Bishops removed the requirement that Catholics abstain from meat on the Fridays outside the Lenten season. At the time, the Bishops reminded the faithful that Fridays remained a penitential day and that if the faithful should choose not to abstain, they should nonetheless adopt some form of penitential practice. Unfortunately, that element of the bishops' message was not widely received. I would like to propose that we together use the Season of Advent to catechize the faithful of Boston to the penitential aspect of all Fridays and that we encourage them to observe the day of the Lord's own sacrifice with some element of penance such as abstaining from some food or activity, fasting, doing some work or act of charity, or spending time in prayer. This call to the faithful would be far more powerful if we ourselves as ministers of the Gospel were to pledge that we would chose voluntarily to abstain from meat on the Fridays of this coming year of grace. I am prepared to make such a pledge myself, but it would be a more powerful witness if we made such a commitment together. I am imagining that we use church bulletins, pastors columns, and homilies to highlight penance and sacrifice during the season of advent as a way of preparing our hearts for the coming of the Lord. I would address the matter to the faithful as well. If you look at the readings for the First Sunday of Advent, they provide opportunities to speak about penance and the summons to master our appetites and do the will of God.