www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology St. Phillip's Fast/Advent

What is the proper way to observe the Nativity Fast in the Eastern Catholic Churches in today's day and age?

Also how to the Western Catholic churches observe Advent?

I have read https://www.byzcath.org/index.php/faith-bottommenu-100/40-fasts-a-feasts/2019-philips-fast-advent , but it does not give the practice for today. Can someone please help me?

I am not sure about the Latin Church. For the Eastern Catholics, you would follow the obedience from your spiritual father.

Who would your spiritual father be? The Pastor of your parish?

Sometimes it is your pastor. Choosing a spiritual father is a matter of discernment. In my opinion, I think it is a good idea that your spiritual father is the same person as your confessor.

The Latin church has moved away from the penitential aspects of the season to one of "Joyful anticipation of the celebration of the Birth of our Lord". Traditionalist will abstain from meat on both Wednesdays and Fridays. Other than that there is not much done in the west. Each Sunday's liturgy has a unique theme to prepare for the Nativity of our Lord.

Week one = The Second Coming at the end of time.
Week two = John the Baptist's prepare the way.
Week three = "Gaudete Sunday" Rejoice in the Lord always. Based on the Itnroit of the day from St Paul's letter to the Philippians 4:4–6. (Rose vestments are warn instead of purple this Sunday. It is suppose to represent the illusion of the great light of Christ's coming feast bleaching the color from the purple vestments of penance to rose a color of joy. The same image happens on the forth Sunday in Western Lent.)
Week four = Is equivalent to our Sunday of the Fore Father.

I would like to clarify that, for the East, the Nativity Fast does not mean that we have somehow moved away from the joyful anticipation of the celebration of the Birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. On the contrary....it is a joyous fast in preparation for this great feast day. Here is a good explanation:

http://orthodoxwayoflife.blogspot.com/2011/11/nativity-fast.html

Thanks for the clarification. I was speaking only to the observance in the West. The mainline Western Christian Churches observe Advent more as a Liturgical Season. This is in addition to a time of fast. The actual liturgical rubrics change for this season along with how and what parts of the liturgy are observed. There is a very distinctive difference in the Latin Church between the Ordinary and Extra Ordinary Form of the liturgy during this season which has caused much confusion over how to observe this time of preparation. This is one area where the Latin Catholics who follow the Ordinary Form have moved closer to Eastern practices.