The Christmas Season

After all of our Advent preparations we once again find ourselves well into the Christmas season. Now is the time of year when we focus particularly on the Incarnation, the greatest event in the whole history of mankind. Our omnipotent God chose at a particular moment in time to reveal Himself in the flesh. This is how God chose from all eternity to redeem us and save us from our slavery to sin and satan.

Although God could have saved us in any way He wished, He nevertheless chose to do so by becoming a man. God did not consider it beneath His dignity to take on our human nature. What a great joy for us! What a great message of hope! What a great lesson in humility! The Christmas message should help us to realize our great dignity as Christians. God created us in His own image! When we look at Christ we acknowledge that He is the image of the invisible God, as Saint Paul says. When we see Christ we see the nature of our God.

If we are in fact made in God's image than we must strive to imitate our God. We must embrace humility in all aspects of our lives. We must strive to learn to submit to one another out of love for Christ. When we meditate upon the Incarnation we must beg God for the humility that allowed the Blessed Virgin Mary to say yes to God at this unprecedented event and every moment of her life.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

The Word Made Flesh

Christ began to be flesh in the Virgin Mary's womb, but we know that He did not begin to exist at that moment. Saint John says: "What existed from the beginning." Remember the words of Saint John's Gospel that we proclaim at the end of every Mass: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God."

This "Word" that Saint John refers to is Christ's physical body. At a predetermined point in time, God chose to reveal this Word that existed from the beginning. Saint John therefore writes: "...life itself was revealed." Life itself (Christ) was revealed in the flesh. The Word was made flesh so that mankind could see and touch it.

Saint John goes on to say: "And we are witnesses and we proclaim to you that eternal life which was with the Father and has been revealed among us...We proclaim to you what we have heard and seen." The disciples had the privilege of seeing the Lord face to face and hearing the words He spoke. We have also heard, although we have not seen. However, we are no less privileged than the disciples because we share the exact same faith!

"And our fellowship is with God the Father and Jesus Christ His Son. And we write this to you to make your joy complete."

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

All Souls' Day

Today we recommend to God the souls in purgatory in order that we may help alleviate their terrible suffering. We pray that God in His mercy may quickly bring them to His glory. When the poor souls finally do enter into heaven, they will certainly pray for those who have prayed for them.

Let us today recommend to Jesus Christ and to the Blessed Virgin Mary all the souls in purgatory, but especially the souls of our relatives, benefactors and friends. We must also remember to pray for our enemies.

Jn. 6: 51-55

At that time Jesus said to the multitudes of the Jews: I am the living bread, which came down from heaven. If any man eat of this bread he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give, is My Flesh for the life of the world. The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying: How can this Man give us His Flesh to eat? Then Jesus said to them: Amen, Amen, I say unto you, except you eat the Flesh of the Son of man, and drink His Blood, you shall not have life in you. He that eateth My Flesh, and drinketh My Blood, hath everlasting life; and I will raise him up in the last day.

In Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Jesus Christ's Words are to be Taken Literally

The Catholic response is that Jesus’ words are to be taken literally and not merely in a metaphorical sense. Why? Whenever Jesus speaks figuratively, the use of metaphor can be easily recognized from the content or context of the saying; but there is nothing in the content or context of the Eucharistic words to suggest that He was speaking metaphorically.

Jesus Himself gives us a key for interpreting His Eucharistic words in the Bread of Life discourse recorded by John (6.52-69), in which He clearly states that His “flesh is real food” and His “blood real drink”, given as nourishment for eternal life. When some of His disciples murmured at the unreasonableness of His words, Jesus did not retract or try to explain away His words, but allowed the unbelieving disciples to walk away from Him.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

The Real Presence Continued

When some of those present heard these words they were shocked and murmured among themselves, “This kind of talk is hard to endure. How can anyone take it seriously? Eat this man’s body? Drink His blood? Does He think we are cannibals?” Seeing their reaction, Jesus cautioned them that His words are not to be taken in a crudely carnal sense. Does this shock you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before? It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. In other words, when they see Him ascend into heaven, they will not find it so difficult to believe that He gives His Body and Blood in a spiritual way that they cannot now imagine.

Even with this explanation, many of Jesus’ disciples found His words too much to believe; they “broke away and would not remain in His company any longer” (6.66). But instead of retracting His words or explaining them away, Jesus let the unbelieving disciples depart. He is even prepared to let the Twelve leave Him if they will not believe: “Do you also want to leave me?” Speaking in the name of the others, Peter replied, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Peter and the other disciples do not understand how Jesus will give His body as real food and His blood as real drink, but they believe in Him, and that is all that Jesus requires of them.

In Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Christ's Real Presence in the Eucharist

Christ is Present in the Eucharistic Species. Christ is really present in the Eucharist, in the proper reality of His humanity and divinity, under the appearances of bread and wine.

The day before Jesus multiplied the loaves and fish to feed the multitudes, reminding them how God had fed the Israelites in the desert. When Jesus returned to Capernaum on the following day, the people asked Him what sign He would perform so that they might believe in Him. Would He give them bread from heaven as Moses had done? Jesus responded by saying that He Himself is the true bread come down from heaven; those who believe in Him shall have everlasting life.

Jesus says that the bread that He will give is His flesh for the life of the world. His flesh is real food and His blood real drink. Those who eat His flesh and drink His blood will have everlasting life! Let me solemnly assure you, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has life eternal and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood real drink. The one who feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. (Jn 6.53-56)

In Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Happiness is Found in God Alone

Man was created to love God; therefore we can only find happiness in God alone. We have only to look at those who choose to live without loving God. Look at the people who neglect prayer and the Sacraments. They’re unhappy. Look at the people who are addicted to drugs or alcohol. They’re unhappy. The proud are never at rest. They are always afraid of losing their wealth or status. Look at those who choose to live unchaste lives. They look for happiness in sins of the flesh.

Why can we not find happiness in all these things which appear to satisfy us? It is because we were created only for God. God alone is capable of satisfying us and making us truly happy. We are often so blind. We cling to life, to the world and its goods and pleasures. We cling to the very things which make us unhappy. The Saints despised all these things and clung to God alone!

If we are not in the habit of asking God for Charity we must begin today. If we are not asking God for Charity we shouldn’t be surprised that we are so worldly. We must love our neighbor as ourselves if we want to show our love for God. Who is our neighbor? Absolutely everybody! Those who have wronged us, those who have injured our good name and even those who wish to do harm to us. We must love all of them as ourselves. We must rejoice when our enemies are successful. We must be sad when they suffer loss. If we do not do this and we do not believe it we are bad Christians!

In Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Pentecost

We know we are a child of the Holy Ghost if we avoid grievous sin. The Holy Ghost can only dwell in a soul who has no part of serious sin. Every sin is an abomination to the Holy Ghost. Saint Paul writes: “Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God.” In other words, do not sin! Sin turns the dwelling place of the Holy Ghost into the dwelling place of Satan! Saint Gregory says: “The sinner’s heart is the devil’s workshop, but not the dwelling of the Holy Ghost.” It is most notably the sins of impurity-unchaste thoughts, words, and actions which drive the Holy Ghost out of our hearts. The sensual man cannot receive the grace of the Holy Ghost. The book of Genesis tells us: “My spirit shall not remain in man forever, because he is flesh;” in other words, because he is addicted to the lust of the flesh.

If you have lost the Holy Ghost through leading a sinful life now is the time to repent! You must do penance to purify your soul and receive the Holy Ghost once again into your heart. Saint Peter says: “Do penance, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”


In Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Holy Saturday

The whole earth is silent and still on this day. Christ our Lord is asleep in the tomb. Our Lord has died in the flesh and hell trembles with fear. Christ descends into hell with the mission of freeing those who live in darkness and the shadow of death. Christ bears His Cross, the weapon He used to win the victory over satan and death. Christ commands all those who are asleep to rise from the dead and promises to give each person His light. Christ did not create humanity to be prisoners in hell. He therefore orders all to come forth to receive His light.

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

Mary, Mother of God

From a homily of Blessed Simon of Cascia, priest:

Imagine how reverently the angel stood before this glorious village girl, knowing that she was to be the mother of the Son of God! See and contemplate how humbly and modestly she listened and gave answer to the angel who had come as ambassador and was awaiting her reply.

What would you have done if you had been at the door of this room or cell and had heard this holy, pleasing dialogue between this blessed girl and the angel? Would not your heart have been sweetly riven by great joy and boundless consolation? Harder than stone and steel is the heart that is not riven as it reads or hears or thinks about the words the virgin spoke to the angel and the angel to the virgin. Would you not have cried aloud, humbly but very fervently and from a full heart: "Sweet Madonna, kindest of women, I beg you, agree quickly to what the angel says, so that your Son may deliver us from the damnation in which our first mother has put us!"

What would you have said and done, Christian soul, when you heard the Virgin Mary say to the angel: "I am the servant and handmaiden of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word?" At that moment, the power of the Holy Spirit immediately formed and generated the body of Christ form the pure blood of the Virgin, infused and newly created soul into that body, and united the divinity inseparably with that soul and body. We must therefore firmly believe that Christ is true God and true man, the Son of Mary who was a virgin before, during, and after his birth. Those who do not belive this will be damned, unless they are converted to the true faith.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

The Incarnation

From a sermon by Saint Augustine, bishop

Awake, mankind! For your sake God has become man. Awake, you who sleep rise up from the dead and Christ will enlighten you. I tell you again: for your sake, God became man.

You would have suffered eternal death, had He not been born in time. Never would you have been freed from sinful flesh, had He not taken on Himself the likeness of sinful flesh. You would have suffered everlasting unhappiness, had it not been for this mercy. You would never have returned to life, had He not shared your death. You would have been lost if He had not hastened to your aid. You would have perished, had He not come.

Let us then joyfully celebrate the coming of our salvation and redemption. Let us celebrate the festive day on which He who is the great and eternal day came from the great and endless day of eternity into our own short day of time.

He who glories, let him glory, not in himself, but in the Lord. For this reason, when our Lord was born of the Virgin, the message of the angelic voices was: Glory to God in the highest, and peace to His people on earth.

Let us then rejoice in this grace, so that our glorying may bear witness to our good conscience by which we glory, not in ourselves, but in the Lord. That is why Scripture says: “He is my glory, the one who lifts up my head.” For what greater grace could God have made to dawn on us than to make His only Son become the son of man, so that a son of man might in His turn become Son of God?

Ask if this were merited; ask for its reason, for its justification, and see whether you will find any other answer but sheer grace.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Christian Chastity

Blessed Saint Paul the Apostle in his epistle to the Corinthians writes: "I tell you, brothers, the time is short. From now on those with wives should live as though they had none; those who weep should live as though they were not weeping, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing; buyers should conduct themselves as though they owned nothing, and those who make use of the world as though they were not using it, for the world as we know it is passing away."

Saint Cyprian writes the following regarding chastity: "They have dedicated themselves to Christ, and, renouncing the pleasures of the flesh, have consecrated themselves body and soul to God, in order to finish a task that is destined to win a great prize; they should not strive to adorn themselves or give pleasure to anyone but the Lord, from whom they hope to receive the reward for their chastity."

Listen again to the words of the Apostle Paul: "The first man was made of the dust of the earth; the second is from heaven. Those who are made from earth are like him who was on the earth. Those who are of heaven are like him who is from heaven. As we have borne the image of the man who is of the earth, so let us bear the image of the man who is from heaven. This image is shown forth in virginity, purity, holiness and truth."

Finally, listen to the words of the Second Vatican Council regarding chastity: "Chastity for the sake of the kingdom of heaven, professed by religious, is to be valued as an outstanding gift of grace. In a unique way it sets free man's heart, so that it may be the more inflamed with love for God and for all mankind. It is therefore a special sign of the blessings of heaven, and a most fitting means by which religious dedicate themselves eagerly to the service of God and the works of the apostolate. In this way they bring to the minds of all the faithful that wonderful marriage between the Church and Christ, its only spouse: a marriage that has been established by God, and will be fully revealed in the world to come."

Let us all embrace the evangelical council of chastity. It is a fruit of the Holy Spirit that our Lord wishes us to embrace.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Gratitude

We should daily express our gratitude towards God for all His benefits. The Advent season gives us an opportunity to anticipate with joy the birth of Christ. The Incarnation was by far the greatest event in the whole history of the world. We have been redeemed by the blood of the Word made Flesh.

God comes to us in the person of Christ. He will come again in glory to be our judge. He comes to us through grace whenever we are willing to open our hearts and accept his bountiful gifts. What more could we possibly ask for?

God gave us absolutely everything when He gave us His Son. We now have the sacraments through which we encounter Christ in a concrete manner. We may receive our Lord in the Eucharist as often as we wish. How can we remain indifferent or ungrateful for the favors God bestows upon us?

Today let us give thanks to God.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

The Christian and the World

Saint John says: "Never give your love to the world, or to anything in it. A man cannot love the Father and love the world at the same time. All that the world offers is the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and earthly ambition. The world and its allurements will pass away, but the man who has done the will of God shall live for ever."

We have a responsibility to discern and carry out the will of God at all times. It is not for us to do our own will. I reluctantly accepted the office of priesthood because it was not my own will for my life, but the will of the Father. Once we have accepted God's will in our lives, we must, according to the words of Saint Cyprian, "be single-minded, firm in faith, and steadfast in courage, ready for God's will, whatever it may be."

We must constantly remind ourselves as baptized Christians how we have renounced the world. As Christians we live in it, but are not of it. We are aliens in this world. We should never fear death because death in this life means an end to our exile. We will then become free from this world and be able to welcome the paradise that awaits us. If we want to show the world that we sincerely live our faith, we must always focus on the eternal life that awaits us after this our exile!

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching