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As Christmas nears, it’s time to ‘reclaim’ the season of Advent, says South Carolina faith leader

Source image: https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/christmas-time-reclaim-season-advent-south-carolina-faith-leader

The 2022 season of Advent begins on Sunday, November 27, and lasts four weeks until Saturday, December 24.

“In the Church worship, Advent is the four-Sunday season before Christmas that invites us to three spiritual realizations,” Fr. Jeffrey Kirby, pastor of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Indian Land, South Carolina, and cohost of the EWTN miniseries “Living the Christian Way” told Fox News Digital. 

“It refreshes our memory of the Nativity of Jesus Christ two millennia ago,” he said.

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“It also honors his continuing presence among us today in the sacraments and raises a joyful expectation of his Second Coming.”

While the Advent season is observed today with the anticipation of Christ’s birth, which is celebrated on Christmas Day, it wasn’t always so. In centuries past, it had a different focus.

On the first Sunday of Advent, the first candle is lit — signifying hope as we await the arrival of Jesus and the prophecies he will fulfill. 

On the first Sunday of Advent, the first candle is lit — signifying hope as we await the arrival of Jesus and the prophecies he will fulfill. 
(iStock)

The word “Advent” is derived from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming,” which translates to the Greek word parousia, according to Christianity.com.

“Scholars believe that during the 4th and 5th centuries in Spain and Gaul,” the website notes, “Advent was a season of preparation for the baptism of new Christians at the January feast of Epiphany.”

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During those centuries, Advent also celebrated God’s incarnation represented by the visit of the three kings to the baby Jesus, his later baptism by John the Baptist and his first miracle — turning water into wine — at the wedding in Cana, they add.

Christians would spend 40 days in penance, prayer and fasting to prepare for this celebration. “Originally, there was little connection between Advent and Christmas,” the site also notes.

“Regrettably, Advent is pretty much ignored by many believers today. Many have fallen prey to a very aggressive pre-observance of a secular Christmas.”

By the 6th century, Roman Christians had linked Advent to the coming of Christ — not his birth in a manger, but his second coming as the “judge of the world,” the website continues.

Advent will provide the "lessons and graces" that believers need to "grow in holiness," said Fr. Kirby of South Carolina.

Advent will provide the “lessons and graces” that believers need to “grow in holiness,” said Fr. Kirby of South Carolina.
(iStock)

It was not until later in the Middle Ages that the Advent season was explicitly linked to Christ’s birth.

Fr. Kirby believes Christians need to reinvigorate the Advent season in hearts and souls to prepare for Christmas.

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“Regrettably, Advent is pretty much ignored by many believers today,” he said. 

“Many have fallen prey to a very aggressive pre-observance of a secular Christmas, which is a far cry from anything relating to Jesus Christ.”

“Hope summons us to raise our eyes above our state of affairs … Hope offers us salvation in Jesus Christ.” 

It is time to “reclaim” Advent, he said.

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If believers hear this call and “pick up the mantle” of Advent, then Advent will provide the “lessons and graces” we need to “allow our lives to grow in holiness,” he said.

"A hope in God is not just ‘optimism’ or taking a positive view of things, but a purifying fire," Fr. Kirby shared with Fox News Digital about Advent.

“A hope in God is not just ‘optimism’ or taking a positive view of things, but a purifying fire,” Fr. Kirby shared with Fox News Digital about Advent.
(Fr. Jeffrey Kirby/iStock)

“Advent can give us hope,” Fr. Kirby added. “A hope in God is not just ‘optimism’ or taking a positive view of things, but a purifying fire.”

He said as well, “Hope can be a demanding teacher. It summons us to raise our eyes above our state of affairs. It calls us to trust in God’s power and providence. Hope offers us salvation in Jesus Christ.” 

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All the hopes of this life — financial security, good health, a happy family and a reformed Church, he said — are “offered up” and placed within this one greater hope of eternal life and happiness with God.

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Advent is here, the “perennial season of hope,” he continued.

“Advent reminds us that God has already overcome the world and is actively working to bring grace and peace into our lives.”

Source: https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/christmas-time-reclaim-season-advent-south-carolina-faith-leader

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Dave Portnoy blisters WaPo ‘hit piece’ with viral statement announcing the ‘death of honest’ journalism

Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy released a press release blasting a recent Washington Post “hit piece” against him.

Portnoy’s statement accusing the outlet of causing the “death of honest and fair journalism” in attacking him with “untrue narratives” went viral on X Friday, receiving millions of views in hours and prompting a social media pile on of the Washington Post.

In the statement he posted to X, Portnoy explained his side of a recent feud between him and the outlet over a story the Post published. The piece reported on criticism advertisers and pizzerias got for working with the mogul for his upcoming “One Bite Pizza Festival” in New York City.

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dave portnoy and the washington post

Bartstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy responded to a Washington Post hit piece on him with a press release he published to X Friday. ((Fox News/Getty Images))

The piece, published by Post reporters Tim Carmen and Emily Heil Friday, described Portnoy as someone who “has been no stranger to controversy.” It mentioned his history of “sexist” and other insensitive comments, as well as allegations of sexual impropriety. 

The statement from “Team Portnoy” opened, stating, “Today marks the official death of honest and fair journalism in America. Emily ‘Caught Red Handed’ Heil and Tim ‘Probably An Ugly Loser’ Carman of the Washington Post put the final nail in the coffin with their weak and dishonest hit piece against David S. Portnoy and his One Bite pizzafest.”

The letter continued, explaining how Portnoy “caught wind of this hit piece” before it was published. It claimed he noticed that “Heil started reaching out to advertisers and pizzerias to try and shame them for participating in what will be the greatest day in the history of pizza.”

Portnoy’s feud with the outlet went public when he called Heil and argued with her over her intentions in publishing it.

Taunting the reporters, Portnoy’s letter continued, “It had already been a rough week for Portnoy, who’s been having trouble finding his coffee in his colossal new Miami mansion. And now he had to deal with this.”

Mentioning the phone call, the statement added, “So he called up Heil to confront her and caught her red-handed in a lie where she denied saying anything negative about Portnoy in emails. (She would later clarify that she only tells negative lies about people as a reporting tactic. As if that was supposed to help her case somehow.)”

Returning to the piece itself, the statement read, “It was mostly the same old tired, reused, and untrue narratives about Portnoy. Although they did make the groundbreaking investigative discovery that he sometimes takes more than one bite in his pizza reviews.”

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The text added, “no pizzerias or advertisers decided to pull out of Pizzafest.” 

X users weighed in on Portnoy’s post, with many siding with the Barstool owner. 

The Federalist senior contributor Rich Cromwell read the post and declared, “This is art.”

Publicist and conservative Beth Baumann posted, “This is the best press release I’ve ever read and I’m a publicist. Lol.”

Neither The Washington Post nor the two reporters who wrote the piece about Portnoy immediately responded to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. 

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Strawberry Jell-O pie that’s simply delicious: Try the easy recipe

For the strawberry lovers who are on the hunt for an easy-to-make dessert, this simple strawberry pie is just the thing.

Besides simplicity, Cara Lanz of midwesternhomelife.com says this pie is a delicious dessert dish.

“The only hard part about making it is waiting for it to set up in the fridge,” said Lanz, Minnesota.

This recipe takes mere minutes of prep time and, to Lanz’s point, the fridge does the work.

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Grab that pint of strawberries and attempt this amazingly easy dessert.

No Bake Strawberry Jell-O Pie by Cara Lanz of midwesternhomelife.com

Makes 8 servings

Prep time: 10 minutes

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Chill/set time: 2 hours, 10 minutes

whole strawberry jello pie

Sink your teeth into this soft and delicious strawberry pie made with Jell-O. (Cara Lanz, midwesternhomelife.com)

Ingredients

  • 1 cup water
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 3 oz. box strawberry Jell-O

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  • 4 cups sliced strawberries, plus more for serving, optional
  • 9″ graham cracker crust (store-bought or homemade)
  • Whipped cream for serving (optional)
Cara Lanz, midwesternhomelife.com

Plop a dollop of whipped cream on top of this sweet, strawberry after-dinner treat. (Cara Lanz, midwesternhomelife.com)

Directions

1. Mix water, sugar and cornstarch together in a saucepan. Heat to a boil over medium heat. Stir for one minute. Remove from the heat.

2. Add the strawberry gelatin and stir until it has dissolved, about 2 minutes.

3. Let the mixture cool at room temperature for about 10 minutes.

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4. Stir in the strawberries. Pour the mixture into the graham cracker crust.

5. Chill in the refrigerator until set, about 2 hours.

6. Serve with whipped cream and fresh strawberries.

This original recipe is owned by midwesternhomelife.com and was shared with Fox News Digital.

For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle.

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Lifestyle

Pumpkin tiramisu, turkey pot pies and more: Here are delicious fall recipes to celebrate the season

Celebrity chef George Duran kicked off the first day of fall on “Fox & Friends Weekend” with some autumnal-themed recipes on Saturday, Sept. 23. 

Duran joined the “Fox & Friends Weekend” crew to reveal three recipes that feature fall ingredients. 

“Kids love sweets during the fall,” said Duran. 

He enlisted the help of special guest Rex Hegseth – son of co-host Pete Hegseth – to create the first dish, an “out of this world” variation on tiramisu. 

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Instead of using ladyfingers, as in a traditional tiramisu recipe, Duran substituted Nilla Wafers for a more kid-friendly option. 

For a fall twist, Duran mixed coffee with coffee creamers flavored with pumpkin spice and apple crumble.

Fox & Friends team, plus Rex Hegseth, an 8 year old boy, with George Duran

Chef George Duran joined “Fox & Friends Weekend” (including special guest, birthday boy Rex Hegseth) to show off some fall recipes. (Fox News)

“Because of the pumpkin purée or apple crumble flavor, it kind of adds more of a dimension to it, and kids can really help with that,” he said. 

Shifting to appetizers, Duran explained that “fall to me is about the taste of potatoes.” 

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Little Potato Company, he said, has pre-packaged small potatoes that are ready to eat after a quick trip to the microwave or air fryer.

“I like to spend more time with my family and less time cooking,” said Duran. 

“In five minutes, you take these bags, you can microwave them and you have cooked little potatoes.”

bags of Little Potato Co. potatoes

Little Potato Co. sells potatoes that are easy to prepare for a hearty fall meal, said Chef George Duran during a “Fox & Friends Weekend” appearance. (Fox News)

“You don’t have to peel them,” he said. 

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The Little Potato Company also sells pre-seasoned, microwaveable potatoes. 

“It’s the big thing — it’s a hardy fall thing.” 

“Instantly, you have these herbed potatoes you can actually serve to your family,” said Duran. 

George Duran and the Fox & Friends weekend hosts with pot pies

In addition to the first day of fall, Saturday, Sept. 23, is also “National Great American Pot Pie Day.”  (Fox News)

Turning to a main dish, Duran noted that in addition to the first day of fall, Sept. 23 is also “National Great American Pot Pie Day.” 

To mark the occasion, Duran made mini pot pies — with a fall twist, of course. 

“It’s the big thing — it’s a hardy fall thing,” he said. 

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Instead of using the oven, as is traditional, Duran cooked his pot pies in the air fryer using a puff pastry crust. 

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“Taste this fall vegetable pot pie,” he said.

“You don’t have to just use chicken. I’ve used turkey, because it’s the holiday.” 

For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle.

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