We all have specific needs we must present to God in prayer. God wants us to ask. However, we must make sure we are asking for things in their proper order. Among the most important things we need to constantly beg God for is the amendment of our lives and true contrition for our sins. When we ask for the amendment of our lives and the grace to be truly contrite for our sins we must sincerely mean it. It is not enough to simply go through the motions and say the words. Unless we have a strong, sincere desire to change our lives, chances are God won't be answering the requests for the other things we are asking Him for.
If we do in fact find ourselves simply going through the motions we must beg God for the proper disposition. We must ask for the grace of contrition and conversion. This is a petition we should make to God every single day. Let us constantly ask God for contrition and the amendment of our lives.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Prayers at the Foot of the Altar
Monday, February 28, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
The Rosary Continued
In the words of Saint Louis Marie Grignion De Montfort:
From the time Saint Dominic established the devotion to the Holy Rosary up to the time when Blessed Alan de la Roche reestablished it in 1460, it has always been called the Psalter of Jesus and Mary. This is because it has the same number of Hail Marys as there are psalms in the Book of the Psalms of David. Since simple and uneducated people are not able to say the Psalms of David, the Rosary is held to be just as fruitful for them as David's Psalter is for others.
Ever since Blessed Alan de la Roche re-established this devotion, the voice of the people, which is the voice of God, gave it the name of the Rosary, which means "crown of roses." That is to say that every time people say the Rosary devoutly they place on the heads of Jesus and Mary 153 white roses and sixteen red roses. Being heavenly flowers, these roses will never fade or lose their beauty.
Our Lady has approved and confirmed this name of the Rosary; she has revealed to several people that each time they say a Hail Mary they are giving her a beautiful rose, and that each complete Rosary makes her a crown of roses. So the complete Rosary is a large crown of roses and each chaplet of five decades is a little wreath of flowers or a little crown of heavenly roses which we place on the heads of Jesus and Mary. The rose is the queen of flowers, and so the Rosary is the rose of devotions and the most important one.
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
From the time Saint Dominic established the devotion to the Holy Rosary up to the time when Blessed Alan de la Roche reestablished it in 1460, it has always been called the Psalter of Jesus and Mary. This is because it has the same number of Hail Marys as there are psalms in the Book of the Psalms of David. Since simple and uneducated people are not able to say the Psalms of David, the Rosary is held to be just as fruitful for them as David's Psalter is for others.
Ever since Blessed Alan de la Roche re-established this devotion, the voice of the people, which is the voice of God, gave it the name of the Rosary, which means "crown of roses." That is to say that every time people say the Rosary devoutly they place on the heads of Jesus and Mary 153 white roses and sixteen red roses. Being heavenly flowers, these roses will never fade or lose their beauty.
Our Lady has approved and confirmed this name of the Rosary; she has revealed to several people that each time they say a Hail Mary they are giving her a beautiful rose, and that each complete Rosary makes her a crown of roses. So the complete Rosary is a large crown of roses and each chaplet of five decades is a little wreath of flowers or a little crown of heavenly roses which we place on the heads of Jesus and Mary. The rose is the queen of flowers, and so the Rosary is the rose of devotions and the most important one.
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
The Rosary
The word Rosary means "Crown of Roses." Each time we say a sincere Hail Mary we are giving the Blessed Virgin Mary a beautiful rose. When we recite a complete rosary we make for Mary a crown of roses. Since the rose is the queen of all flowers, the Rosary is the rose of all devotions and therefore the most important one. The Rosary is the perfect prayer because it contains the tremendous story of our salvation and all the significant mysteries in the life of Jesus Christ. The Rosary is a simple, humble prayer much like the Blessed Virgin herself. The Rosary is a powerful weapon against evil in the world. It is also a tremendous means to bring about peace in our lives and in the world.
As a priest, I spend several hours each day praying the Holy Rosary. In fact, my spirituality revolves completely around it. If you are not in the habit of praying the Rosary, make a change today. If you would like to help bring about change and conversion in your own life and in the world, pray the Rosary.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
As a priest, I spend several hours each day praying the Holy Rosary. In fact, my spirituality revolves completely around it. If you are not in the habit of praying the Rosary, make a change today. If you would like to help bring about change and conversion in your own life and in the world, pray the Rosary.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Contrition
The Council of Trent defined contrition as: "a sorrow of soul and a hatred of sin committed, with a firm purpose of not sinning in the future." Contrition means a true detestation of sin. Saint Luke says: "Except you do penance you shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:5). The Council of Trent reminds us that contrition is absolutely necessary in order to obtain forgiveness of one's sins. The first words that Jesus Himself preached were to do penance, repent and obtain the forgiveness of one's sins.
What God is looking for a true, interior conversion. He wants a sincere, contrite heart. It is not enough to simply perform outward acts of penance without true contrition. The Council of Trent defined that real contrition includes "a firm purpose of not sinning in the future;" consequently he who repents must resolve to avoid all sin. Christ commands us to love God with our whole heart, mind and soul.
When we petition God in prayer, contrition is one of the most important graces that we must beg God to grant us. Amendment of our lives and true contrition for our sins are in fact among the highest in the order of things that we must petition God for. When we meditate upon the Sorrowful Agony in the Garden we ask God for a truly contrite heart.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
What God is looking for a true, interior conversion. He wants a sincere, contrite heart. It is not enough to simply perform outward acts of penance without true contrition. The Council of Trent defined that real contrition includes "a firm purpose of not sinning in the future;" consequently he who repents must resolve to avoid all sin. Christ commands us to love God with our whole heart, mind and soul.
When we petition God in prayer, contrition is one of the most important graces that we must beg God to grant us. Amendment of our lives and true contrition for our sins are in fact among the highest in the order of things that we must petition God for. When we meditate upon the Sorrowful Agony in the Garden we ask God for a truly contrite heart.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Purity
Purity is living a life free from immorality, which is unlawful or improper sexual relations. God commands us to live pure lives. Like the other virtures, purity can always be attained by those who desire it. "Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body" (1 Cor 6:18). "But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints" (Eph. 5:3).
Jesus commanded purity of thought when he said, "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Matthew 5:27-28).
Purity makes us like God. Purity is associated with holiness. Holiness is something that God demands of us. We are called to be conformed to God's image and to thus be pure in thought and deed. God never requires from a person what he is incapable of achieving. Since He calls us all to embrace purity, there is no excuse for not living it out.
When we meditate upon the Sorrowful Scourging at the Pillar, purity is the virtue we beg God for. Let us always pray that we live pure lives.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Jesus commanded purity of thought when he said, "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Matthew 5:27-28).
Purity makes us like God. Purity is associated with holiness. Holiness is something that God demands of us. We are called to be conformed to God's image and to thus be pure in thought and deed. God never requires from a person what he is incapable of achieving. Since He calls us all to embrace purity, there is no excuse for not living it out.
When we meditate upon the Sorrowful Scourging at the Pillar, purity is the virtue we beg God for. Let us always pray that we live pure lives.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Courage
The Scriptures demand that we be bold and courageous. Saint Thomas Aquinas defines courage as follows: "To remove any obstacle that withdraws the will from following the reason." Courage allows us to take risks and make sacrifices. God takes courage and its lack thereof very seriously. Are you a courageous person? Many people actually walk away from their God-given faith because they lack courage. The parable of the sower from last Sunday's Gospel gives us a great example. Some people experience initial joy with their faith, but they lack staying power. When trials or persecution come their way they fall away. Christ tells us in the Scriptures that many people fall away from their faith because they are cowards.
We are all born with the capacity to exercise courage. In fact, we are capable of exercising every virtue, but we must pray. When we meditate on Christ's Sorrowful Crowning with Thorns courage is the virtue we beg God for. Christ showed courage often in the Scriptures, particulary when He had to withstand the criticism of the Scribes and Pharisees who hated Him. Let us ask Christ for courage. Let us never stop asking.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
We are all born with the capacity to exercise courage. In fact, we are capable of exercising every virtue, but we must pray. When we meditate on Christ's Sorrowful Crowning with Thorns courage is the virtue we beg God for. Christ showed courage often in the Scriptures, particulary when He had to withstand the criticism of the Scribes and Pharisees who hated Him. Let us ask Christ for courage. Let us never stop asking.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Friday, February 11, 2011
Patience
Saint Paul repeatedly commanded his followers to exercise patience amongst themselves. True Christian character is seen in authentic patience. In the New Testament, Saint Paul instructed the Ephesians to "walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (Eph.4:1-3)
Patience is both a command and a gift from God. It is one of the fruits of the Holy Ghost. We demonstrate patience by our absolute trust in God and His ability to brings all things to completion. We live in patience by cooperating with the grace of God. As a genuine virtue, patience is only found in those who have been redeemed in Christ and have an understanding of themselves as sinners. We must be aware of our own weaknesses and faults. This is how we are humbly able to deal patiently with the faults of others.
Furthermore, we must patiently understand that God may very well be at work within those who may be our opponents. Saint Paul instructed young Timothy to be kind to everyone and to be patient in correcting opponents because "God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will." (2 Tim. 2:24-26). We must realize that God may be at work within those with whom we experience disagreement or conflict.
When we meditate upon the Sorrowful Carrying of the Cross, we acknowledge the long-suffering patience of Christ. Today let us pray for the heroic patience of a saint in all things. Let us pray for the patience of Christ Himself.
Sincerley in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Patience is both a command and a gift from God. It is one of the fruits of the Holy Ghost. We demonstrate patience by our absolute trust in God and His ability to brings all things to completion. We live in patience by cooperating with the grace of God. As a genuine virtue, patience is only found in those who have been redeemed in Christ and have an understanding of themselves as sinners. We must be aware of our own weaknesses and faults. This is how we are humbly able to deal patiently with the faults of others.
Furthermore, we must patiently understand that God may very well be at work within those who may be our opponents. Saint Paul instructed young Timothy to be kind to everyone and to be patient in correcting opponents because "God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will." (2 Tim. 2:24-26). We must realize that God may be at work within those with whom we experience disagreement or conflict.
When we meditate upon the Sorrowful Carrying of the Cross, we acknowledge the long-suffering patience of Christ. Today let us pray for the heroic patience of a saint in all things. Let us pray for the patience of Christ Himself.
Sincerley in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Mortification
Saint Paul writes: "For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live." Mortification of the flesh means "putting the flesh to death." Jesus Himself preached repentance from the slavery to fleshly desires when He said: "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes."
Mortification can mean simply denying oneself pleasures such as meat or alcohol. More severe forms of mortification include self inflicted pain such as scourging. When we meditate on the sorrowful Crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray for the grace to be mortified. Mortification obtains for us union with God and in some cases a higher place in heaven. When we mortify ourselves we can obtain the conversion of sinners and expiate our sins as well as the sins of others.
The redemptive value of mortification allows us to grow in virtue. It keeps us from becoming soft and lukewarm which is what our Lord despises. Let us pray today for a true spirit of mortification.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Mortification can mean simply denying oneself pleasures such as meat or alcohol. More severe forms of mortification include self inflicted pain such as scourging. When we meditate on the sorrowful Crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray for the grace to be mortified. Mortification obtains for us union with God and in some cases a higher place in heaven. When we mortify ourselves we can obtain the conversion of sinners and expiate our sins as well as the sins of others.
The redemptive value of mortification allows us to grow in virtue. It keeps us from becoming soft and lukewarm which is what our Lord despises. Let us pray today for a true spirit of mortification.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
The Word of God Continued
I believe many of us have really never understood what a tremendous and precious gift the word of God is to us. If we understood it correctly, we would want to receive it with much more reverence. When we hear the word of God it will either bear within us good fruit or bad fruit. It will bear good fruit within us if we are well-disposed to receiving it and we have a sincere desire to take heed to it. On the other hand, it will be bad if we hear it with indifference, distaste, or without our full attention. The word of God is meant to enlighten us and to show us how to fulfill our duties. For many, however, it is blinding and causes them to be cold and indifferent.
The word of God is so important that with the exception of Christ’s death on Mount Calvary and Baptism, our Catholic faith offers nothing else that can even be compared with the word of God. Consider the countless number of people in heaven who have never received the Sacrament of Penance. Consider the countless number of people in heaven who never received the Blessed Sacrament, Confirmation or the last rites. But when it comes to the word of God, it is extremely difficult for us to get to heaven without instruction. On judgment day we will see that most Christians who were lost were damned because they did not know their Catholic faith.
The Gospel shows us that of all the people who hear the word of God, only few profit from it. Many hear it but refuse to change their lives or make the sacrifices which God asks of them, so that they might become good and pleasing to Him. They refuse to extricate themselves from toxic and sinful relationships. They won’t abandon people or places that are an occasion of sin for them.
Some people hear God’s word with joy but are not willing to do what it commands. Still others have hard and stubborn hearts. They find fault with God’s word and abuse it. Finally, however, there are those who ardently desire to hear God’s word. They embrace every opportunity God gives them to profit by it. It is in these people that God’s word bears fruit and to whom Saint Matthew refers to as the “wheat.”
Let us carefully listen to the word of God. Let us stop sinning. Let us turn away from worldly pleasures, inordinate desires and passions. Let us embrace every opportunity to bear fruit for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ!
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
The word of God is so important that with the exception of Christ’s death on Mount Calvary and Baptism, our Catholic faith offers nothing else that can even be compared with the word of God. Consider the countless number of people in heaven who have never received the Sacrament of Penance. Consider the countless number of people in heaven who never received the Blessed Sacrament, Confirmation or the last rites. But when it comes to the word of God, it is extremely difficult for us to get to heaven without instruction. On judgment day we will see that most Christians who were lost were damned because they did not know their Catholic faith.
The Gospel shows us that of all the people who hear the word of God, only few profit from it. Many hear it but refuse to change their lives or make the sacrifices which God asks of them, so that they might become good and pleasing to Him. They refuse to extricate themselves from toxic and sinful relationships. They won’t abandon people or places that are an occasion of sin for them.
Some people hear God’s word with joy but are not willing to do what it commands. Still others have hard and stubborn hearts. They find fault with God’s word and abuse it. Finally, however, there are those who ardently desire to hear God’s word. They embrace every opportunity God gives them to profit by it. It is in these people that God’s word bears fruit and to whom Saint Matthew refers to as the “wheat.”
Let us carefully listen to the word of God. Let us stop sinning. Let us turn away from worldly pleasures, inordinate desires and passions. Let us embrace every opportunity to bear fruit for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ!
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Sunday, February 6, 2011
The Word of God II
Saint Paul says in his epistle for today's Mass: "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you abundantly, in all wisdom: teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual canticles, singing in grace in your hearts to God. All whatsoever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God and the Father by Jesus Christ our Lord."
The Word of God describes to us the greatness and majesty of our God. He is the end for which we were created. Our whole purpose in this life is to be one with Him. The infinite goodness of God, His infinite love for us, the value of our soul and the great and indescribable reward which is promised to us is described in today's Gospel by Saint Matthew. On the other hand, God's Word clearly depicts for us the seriousness and reality of sin. Matthew's Gospel reminds us of the judgment which threatens sinners and the reality of Satan and hell. "Gather up first the cockle and bind it into bundles to burn," he says.
Today let us renew our dedication to the Word of God. Let us find a new respect and reverence for God's Word. Let us dispose ourselves to hearing it and putting it into practice more diligently .
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
The Word of God describes to us the greatness and majesty of our God. He is the end for which we were created. Our whole purpose in this life is to be one with Him. The infinite goodness of God, His infinite love for us, the value of our soul and the great and indescribable reward which is promised to us is described in today's Gospel by Saint Matthew. On the other hand, God's Word clearly depicts for us the seriousness and reality of sin. Matthew's Gospel reminds us of the judgment which threatens sinners and the reality of Satan and hell. "Gather up first the cockle and bind it into bundles to burn," he says.
Today let us renew our dedication to the Word of God. Let us find a new respect and reverence for God's Word. Let us dispose ourselves to hearing it and putting it into practice more diligently .
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Friday, February 4, 2011
The Cross is our Glory
Christ is glorified in everything He has accomplished, but His supreme glory is of course His Cross. In the words of Saint Paul: "God forbid that I glory in anything but the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ!"
Christ performed countless miracles throughout His public ministry, but the Cross is by far His greatest work. Through the Cross we are freed from the bondage of sin and Satan's power. Through the Cross we have found redemption.
As Catholic Christians we can never be ashamed of the Cross of Christ. Christ freely laid down His life for our sake. He was a willing sacrifice. Nobody took His life from Him. "I have the power to lay down my life and to take it up again." Christ took great joy in His suffering and willingly submitted to His passion. The Cross is how He saved the world.
We must maintain the joy of the Cross in good times and in bad. Christ was crucified for us, yet He never sinned. We must allow oursleves to be crucified for Him by taking up our crosses. This is how we show our love for Him
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Christ performed countless miracles throughout His public ministry, but the Cross is by far His greatest work. Through the Cross we are freed from the bondage of sin and Satan's power. Through the Cross we have found redemption.
As Catholic Christians we can never be ashamed of the Cross of Christ. Christ freely laid down His life for our sake. He was a willing sacrifice. Nobody took His life from Him. "I have the power to lay down my life and to take it up again." Christ took great joy in His suffering and willingly submitted to His passion. The Cross is how He saved the world.
We must maintain the joy of the Cross in good times and in bad. Christ was crucified for us, yet He never sinned. We must allow oursleves to be crucified for Him by taking up our crosses. This is how we show our love for Him
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
The Presentation in the Temple
Today's Feast commemorates the obedience of the Blessed Virgin Mary to the Mosaic Law in going to Jerusalem forty days after the birth of Jesus and making the prescribed offerings. It also commemorates the Presentation of our Lord in the Temple, and the meeting of Christ with Simeon the prophet. Jesus is taken to the Temple "to present Him to the Lord."
The true Light has come. This is the Light that enlightens every man who is born into this world. Just as Simeon's eyes have seen the salvation of our God, so too have we. God has prepared this salvation for all the nations and revealed it as the glory of the new Israel, which is ourselves. We are thus freed from our old state of sinfulness.
As we embrace Christ with faith, we have joyfully become people of God. We have come to know God incarnate. We have Christ our Light shining in us always. We must therefore never stifle the Spirit by our sin. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of goodness and purity. We must not grieve the Holy Spirit by our evil thoughts and actions. When we do this, we deprive ourselves of Christ our Light.
Let up keep our minds strong and free from undo anxiety. Let us embrace the love that is Christ our Light.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
The true Light has come. This is the Light that enlightens every man who is born into this world. Just as Simeon's eyes have seen the salvation of our God, so too have we. God has prepared this salvation for all the nations and revealed it as the glory of the new Israel, which is ourselves. We are thus freed from our old state of sinfulness.
As we embrace Christ with faith, we have joyfully become people of God. We have come to know God incarnate. We have Christ our Light shining in us always. We must therefore never stifle the Spirit by our sin. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of goodness and purity. We must not grieve the Holy Spirit by our evil thoughts and actions. When we do this, we deprive ourselves of Christ our Light.
Let up keep our minds strong and free from undo anxiety. Let us embrace the love that is Christ our Light.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Mary, Mother of God II
From Saint Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop:
"Mother of God we salute you. Precious vessel, worthy of the whole world's reverence, you are an evershining light, the crown of virginity, the symbol of orthodoxy...We salute you, for in your holy womb he, who is beyond all limitation, was confined. Because of you the holy Trinity is glorified and adored; the cross is called precious and is venerated throughout the world; the heavens exult; the angels and archangels make merry; demons are put to flight; the devil, that tempter, is thrust down from heaven; the fallen race of man is taken up on high; all creatures possessed by the madness of of idolotry have attained knowledge of the truth; believers receive holy baptism; the oil of gladness is poured out; the Church is established throughout the world; pagans are brought to repentance..."
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
"Mother of God we salute you. Precious vessel, worthy of the whole world's reverence, you are an evershining light, the crown of virginity, the symbol of orthodoxy...We salute you, for in your holy womb he, who is beyond all limitation, was confined. Because of you the holy Trinity is glorified and adored; the cross is called precious and is venerated throughout the world; the heavens exult; the angels and archangels make merry; demons are put to flight; the devil, that tempter, is thrust down from heaven; the fallen race of man is taken up on high; all creatures possessed by the madness of of idolotry have attained knowledge of the truth; believers receive holy baptism; the oil of gladness is poured out; the Church is established throughout the world; pagans are brought to repentance..."
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
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