Relation of Catholic Church With Other Christian Churches

The Catholic Church recognizes that she is joined with all those separated Christian brothers who are baptized and profess faith in Christ, but she regrets that they do not preserve the fullness of Christian faith and are not united with her in the one visible community of love which Christ founded on Blessed Peter and which He wills for all His disciples.

The Church knows that in many ways she is joined with those who, being baptized, are honored with the name of Christian, though they do not profess the faith in its entirety or do not preserve unity of communion with the successor of Peter... (LG 15-Fl 366)

...Our separated brethren, whether considered as individuals or as communities and Churches, are not blessed with that unity which Jesus Christ wished to bestow on all those to whom He has given new birth into one body, and whom He has quickened to newness of life--that unity which the Holy Scriptures and the ancient Tradition of the Church proclaim...(UR 3b-Fl 455f)

Continue to pray for Christian unity!

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

The Fullness of Christ's Church

The Catholic Church has always acknowledged that Eastern orthodox churches have valid priesthood, episcopacy, and sacraments. Although the fullness of Christ's Church is found only in the Catholic Church, many genuine elements or endowments of Christ's Church can be found in varying degrees outside the visible structure of the Catholic Church. For example, Holy Scripture, faith in Christ, Baptism, Christ inspired hope and love, preaching of the Gospel, etc.

Although Vatican II did not wish to identify the Church of Christ exclusively with the Roman Catholic Church, it did make it clear that Christ entrusted His entire Church to Peter's pastoral care and that it is in His Catholic Church alone that all the means of salvation can be found.

It is through Christ's Catholic Church alone, which is the all-embracing means of salvation, that the fullness of the means of salvation can be obtained. It was to the apostolic college alone, of which Peter is the head that we believe our Lord entrusted all the blessings of the New Covenant, in order to establish on earth the one Body of Christ into which all those should be fully incorporated who already belong in any way to God's people. UR 3e-456)


Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

More on Church Unity

The visible unity of the Church arises from the presence and activity of the Holy Ghost in the Church, and from the interior bonds that the Holy Ghost fashions among all living members of the Church. By His presence in the hearts of the faithful, the Holy Ghost imparts the life of grace to those who will receive it, and inspires in them one faith, hope and love. All are united by:

--the same Holy Ghost living in each one, making all one,

--the same life of grace,

--the same faith, hope, and love.

The interior bonds of grace, faith, hope, and love, given by the Holy Ghost, manifest themselves outwardly in the visible bonds of unity mentioned above: the same professed faith, sacraments, ecclesiastical government, and communion of love.

We must continue to pray for all those who have separated themselves from the true faith.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Faschig

Visible Bonds of Unity

Vatican II's Constitution on the Church (#146) mentions some of the more important visible bonds by which the faithful are united to the Church:

They are fully incorporated into the society of the Church who, possessing the Spirit of Christ, accept her entire system and all the means of salvation given to her, and through union with her visible structure are joined to Christ, who rules her through the Supreme Pontiff and the bishops. This joining is effected by the bonds of professed faith, of the sacraments, of ecclesiastical government, and of communion.

Note the visible bonds mentiond here:

-professed faith,

-sacraments,

-ecclesiastical govermnent,

-cummunion (sharing) of love and support (Acts 2.42).

These visible bonds permit a certain pluralism in their expression according to the particular traditions and practices of different cultures.

There must be unity in essentials, but beyond that, following the principles of Saint Augustine, freedom and love should prevail: "In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity" ("In essentialibus unitas, in contingentibus libertas, in omnibus caritas").

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Christian Unity

The New Testament places strong emphases on the unity of the Church. The Church is:

• one People of God (1 Pet 2.9f)

• one Body of Christ (1 Cor 12.2; Eph 4.4)

• one Temple of the Holy Ghost (Eph 2.21)

• one household of God (Eph 2.19)

• one flock of Christ (Jn 10.16)

• one bride of Christ (Eph 5.25-32).

Last Sunday, when Christ described Himself as the Good Shepherd, He spoke of His desire to unite all His sheep so that there will be but one flock and one shepherd:

“I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me…I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must lead them, too, and they shall hear my voice. There shall be one flock then, one shepherd.” (Jn 10. 14-16)

Jesus Christ also prayed at the Last Supper for unity when He said:

“I do not pray for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their word, that all may be one, as you, Father, are in me, and I in you; I pray that they may be one in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. I have given them the glory you gave me, that they may be one, as we are one—I living in them, you living in me—that their unity may be complete.” (Jn 17.20-23)

Finally, the Epistle to the Ephesians speaks emphatically about the unity which Christians are to preserve and the many bonds that make them one:

“Make every effort to preserve the unity which has the Spirit as its origin and peace as its binding force. There is but one body and one Spirit, just as there is but one hope given all of you by your call. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all, and works through all, and is in all.” (Eph 4.1-5)

Note: one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all! Pray for Christian unity!

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

The Paschal Mystery

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806

EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)

CELEBRANT Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

April 22nd, 2012 Second Sunday After Easter

Epistle: 1 Pet. 2:21-25—Gospel: Jn. 10:11-16

Mass Schedule April 23rd through April 27th

Monday-Feria of Paschaltide-NO LATIN MASS

Tuesday-Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen, Martyr

Wednesday-Saint Mark, Evangelist

Thursday-SS. Cletus & Marcellinus, Popes & Martyrs

Friday-Saint Peter Canisius, Confessor & Doctor

Christ came to re-establish peace and unity. He founded one Church with one visible head, namely Saint Peter. It should be our constant prayer and desire that everyone should be united with the true Church. Just as Jesus Christ was sent by the Father, so He in turn sent His apostles who were filled with the Holy Ghost. Their mission was to proclaim that mankind had been freed from Satan’s power through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Since the day of Pentecost Christ’s Church has always gathered together to celebrate the paschal mystery. In so doing, we proclaim Christ’s death until He comes again. We proclaim Christ’s victory over death and thank God for His gift of Jesus Christ.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Divine Mercy

“He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me” (Lk 10:16). The Apostles are ambassadors of Christ just as Christ is the ambassador of the Father. The bishops are successors of the Apostles. Christ commands that the teaching of the Apostles should be religiously accepted and kept as if it were His very own. Vatican II, in its document Presbyterorum ordinis, states that “The function of the bishop’s ministry was handed over in a subordinate degree to priests so that they might be appointed in the order of the priesthood and be co-workers of the episcopal order for the proper fulfillment of the apostolic mission that had been entrusted to it by Christ.”

One key part of this mission is to continue to encourage Penance for the forgiveness of sins. The Church has always understood that Jesus Christ Himself conferred upon the Apostles authority to forgive sins. This power is exercised is the sacrament of Penance.

The sacrament of Penance is the most sublime expression of God’s love and mercy towards men. Christ waits for us and invites us to repentance. The Popes have always encouraged regular use of the sacrament of Penance. It is a means to grow in knowledge of ourselves and in Christian humility. Through confession we root out our vices and maintain spiritual fervor. Let us implore the mercy of God on ourselves and upon all mankind.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Easter Joy

Christ's death on the Cross has brought spiritual health to mankind. Death entered the world through Adam's sin, but we have been given life once again through Jesus Christ. We are saved through the passion of Christ.

The highlight of the entire church year reminds us that God's grace from heaven is bestowed upon men of earth. God gives us the sacraments as our spiritual nourishment. We must receive them fervently and devoutly.

It was absolutely necessary that Christ should suffer. Saint Paul reminds us that "the author of life Himself was made perfect through suffering." Christ's glorification is His death on the Cross.

Now Christ is risen and will never die again! This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad!

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Easter Sunday

The Catholic Church has designated Sunday as the day especially consecrated to the Lord. It is meant to be a day of rest on which we are commanded to attend Holy Mass. “Dies Domini” means the Lord’s Day. Jesus Christ was crucified, but now we rejoice in His glorious victory of the resurrection! The resurrection is the central mystery of our faith. Saint Paul says “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain” (1Cor 15:14). The Resurrection means that Jesus Christ has overcome death, sin, pain and the power of hell.

St. Pius X writes the following: “…just as Jesus Christ through His resurrection began a new immortal and heavenly life, so we must begin a new life according to the Spirit, once and for all renouncing sin and everything that leads to sin, loving God and everything that leads to God.”

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching