Seek the Good of Others

From a letter to the Corinthians by Saint Clement, pope:

The command has been written: Cling to the saints, for those who cling to them will be sanctified. There is a passage in Scripture as well which states: "With the innocent man you will be innocent, and with the chosen you will be chosen also; likewise with the perverse you will deal perversely..."

Why are there strife and passion, schisms and even war among you? Do we not possess the same Spirit of grace which was given to us and the same calling in Christ? Why do we tear apart and divide the body of Christ? Why do we revolt against our own body...?

We should put an end to this division immediately...


Father Angelo Vanderputten, FSSP, has volunteered to offer Mass in the Extraordinary Form at Saint Agnes Cathedral on July 15th at 2:30pm. There will be Mass on July 15th at 2:30pm at Saint Agnes Cathedral.

In Christ,

Father Jeff Fasching

Lent

Every person is subject to temptation. The greatest characters in the Old Testament all underwent temptation, from Adam and Eve to Moses. We cannot allow ourselves to be troubled too much when temptation comes our way. It is inevitable. There is no tribulation or temptation whose limits God has not appointed so as to serve not for our destruction but for our salvation.

God never permits us to be tempted (or afflicted) beyond our strength. It is only through temptation that we can enter into the kingdom of God. We must trust in God and His divine providence. Nothing happens to us in this life unless God wills it so. We owe our lives entirely to God.

In fact, God is the only person we can blame for the wrong we may suffer. Although God is not the cause of the sin when a person mistreats us, He is the cause of the suffering that person inflicts upon us while sinning. God did not inspire your enemy with the desire and will to harm you, but He did give him the power to do so!

We have only to look to the life and suffering of Jesus Christ Himself and learn from His own example. Christ was unjustly persecuted and put to death, and this was by the hand of God Himself. Christ allowed Himself to be tempted by satan, yet He showed us by His example how to always overcome the enemy.

This lent let us pray and fast and unite ourselves to Christ's sufferings. Let us draw our strength from our Lord and Saviour who gives us courage to do battle.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

The Priest and Prayer

We live in a world where God’s Church and its Commandments are despised. The preaching of His Word and the observance of His precepts are hindered. Religion is driven from the school, justice from the workplace, morality from the home and from society. The banishment of religion means the banishment of both peace and prosperity. In the wake of this disaster come only revolution and war.

It is still not too late to restore the Church to its proper place, and the role of the priest is to prepare for her in the hearts and minds of men the way of return. Your role is to pray for your priests! The salvation of souls is the exclusive work of Christ! He entrusts it to whom He wishes. He calls to His vineyard laborers chosen by the Father. Pray that your priests will learn obedience to the Church and to her laws. Pray that your priests will foster a greater love for the Eucharist! Pray that your priests will learn to offer sacrifice as if it is the last thing they do on this earth!

In Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

The Soul and Christ

The soul that is darkened with sin and does not possess Christ has had its desires degraded. It knows nothing but shame. In the words of Saint Macarius: "Woe to the soul if the Lord does not walk within it to banish with His voice the spiritual beasts of sin...Woe to the soul without Christ as its true pilot; drifting in the darkness, buffeted by the waves of passion, storm-tossed at the mercy of evil spirits, its end is destruction. Woe to the soul that does not have Christ to cultivate it with care to produce the good fruit of the Holy Spirit...Woe to the soul that does not have Christ dwelling in it; deserted and foul with the filth of the passions, it becomes a haven for all the vices."

Christ our King offers His grace to save us from the power of sin. He has prepared our souls to be fitting temples of the Holy Spirit by dying on the Cross. We must always remember our responsibility to glorify God in our bodies.

In Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching