Jesus Christ speaks very clearly when He says in the Gospel that the Holy Ghost will teach all the truth. If one wishes to be fully incorporated into the Church of Christ one must embrace the entire system of the Catholic 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 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. (LG 14b-366)
To be fully incorporated into the Church one must be united to it by all of the bonds, interior and exterior. The interior bonds of the Holy Ghost include sanctifying grace, faith, hope and love. The exterior bonds include the same professed faith, sacraments, government, and communion.
Pray for Christian unity.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Prayers at the Foot of the Altar
Showing posts with label Lord. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lord. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
The Glorified Body
The gospel descriptions of the resurrected Lord depict His humanity possessing marvelous powers: Christ appears and disappears as He wills (Lk 24.31); He passes through closed doors (Lk 24.36; Jn 20.19). Even before His resurrection, Jesus walks upon the waters (Jn 6.19), and appears to Peter, James and John as one transfigured in glory (Mt 17. 1-8).
Christ’s risen body is the model of what ours is to be, as Saint Paul attests: “If we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection” (Rom 6.5). “He will give a new form to this lowly body of ours and remake it according to the pattern of His glorified body, by His power to subject everything to Himself” (Phil 3.21).
Impassibility
The glorified body will be impassible, that is, it will not be subject to any bodily harm, suffering, fatigue, or death.
1Cor 15.42: “The body, in death, is sown corruptible; it is raised incorruptible…The dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Rev 21.4: “God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, crying or pain, for the former world has passed away.”
Subtility
The glorified body will not be impeded by matter, but will be able to pass through it, as we see the risen Lord could do when He emerged from the tomb, though it was still covered with a huge stone (Mt 28.2), and when He made Himself present in the upper room, even though the doors remained locked and barred (Jn 20.19, 26).
Agility
Because the glorified body will be totally subject to the spirit, it will be able to transport itself with the ease of thought to wherever it wishes to be, as we see the risen Lord could do when He suddenly appeared and disappeared as He willed.
Clarity
The glorified body will be radiant with beauty and glory. “What is sown is ignoble, what rises is glorious” (1Cor 15.43). This quality is represented in scripture as dazzling light. Jesus tells us that, “The just will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom” (Mt 13.43).
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Christ’s risen body is the model of what ours is to be, as Saint Paul attests: “If we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection” (Rom 6.5). “He will give a new form to this lowly body of ours and remake it according to the pattern of His glorified body, by His power to subject everything to Himself” (Phil 3.21).
Impassibility
The glorified body will be impassible, that is, it will not be subject to any bodily harm, suffering, fatigue, or death.
1Cor 15.42: “The body, in death, is sown corruptible; it is raised incorruptible…The dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Rev 21.4: “God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, crying or pain, for the former world has passed away.”
Subtility
The glorified body will not be impeded by matter, but will be able to pass through it, as we see the risen Lord could do when He emerged from the tomb, though it was still covered with a huge stone (Mt 28.2), and when He made Himself present in the upper room, even though the doors remained locked and barred (Jn 20.19, 26).
Agility
Because the glorified body will be totally subject to the spirit, it will be able to transport itself with the ease of thought to wherever it wishes to be, as we see the risen Lord could do when He suddenly appeared and disappeared as He willed.
Clarity
The glorified body will be radiant with beauty and glory. “What is sown is ignoble, what rises is glorious” (1Cor 15.43). This quality is represented in scripture as dazzling light. Jesus tells us that, “The just will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom” (Mt 13.43).
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Praying
How have you prayed today? Is your day sincerely centered around your relationship with Jesus Christ? If not, it absolutely should be. We have been created for God and God alone. Since Christ took on our human nature He knows all too well the need we have of other human beings. However, those needs can never be truly fulfilled or genuinely met until we are first and foremost centered in Jesus Christ!
In fact, no human being can every completely fulfill our deepest needs and longings. Only Christ can fully satisfy us, yet we foolishly create countless obstacles in the path of our journey toward Him.
Today let us resolve to reform our lives and habits. Let us truly put Christ first in our thoughts, words and actions. When we abandon ourselves completely to Christ and the Divine Will, we experience a peace and joy unlike any other!
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
In fact, no human being can every completely fulfill our deepest needs and longings. Only Christ can fully satisfy us, yet we foolishly create countless obstacles in the path of our journey toward Him.
Today let us resolve to reform our lives and habits. Let us truly put Christ first in our thoughts, words and actions. When we abandon ourselves completely to Christ and the Divine Will, we experience a peace and joy unlike any other!
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Sincere Repentance
From a homily written in the second century:
We should repent of our sins while we are still on earth...we must wholeheartedly repent of sins committed in the body and make it possible for the Lord to save us while there is time. When we have left this world, we shall no longer be able to repent and confess our sins. We must do the will of the Father, keep our bodies pure, and observe the commandments of the Lord, for this is the way to obtain eternal life...In other words, in order to obtain eternal life, we must remain pure and keep the seal of our baptism undefiled.
...Our bodies are the temple of God, and as such we must guard them, for even as we were called in the body, so shall we also be judged in the body...
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
We should repent of our sins while we are still on earth...we must wholeheartedly repent of sins committed in the body and make it possible for the Lord to save us while there is time. When we have left this world, we shall no longer be able to repent and confess our sins. We must do the will of the Father, keep our bodies pure, and observe the commandments of the Lord, for this is the way to obtain eternal life...In other words, in order to obtain eternal life, we must remain pure and keep the seal of our baptism undefiled.
...Our bodies are the temple of God, and as such we must guard them, for even as we were called in the body, so shall we also be judged in the body...
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Praying From the Heart
Saint Paul says we must be strengthened in the Lord, and in the might of His power! We must put on the armor of God. This is the only we can successfully stand against the snares of the devil. Satan goes about the world constantly seeking the ruin of souls. Our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers. We must girt our loins with truth, who is Jesus Christ, and embrace justice, peace and faith as our weapons against satan and his minions.
We must constantly have recourse to prayer and meditation in order to remain vigilant against the onslaught of satan. Prayer from the heart is the prayer most pleasing to God. Although Christ has already won the victory over satan, we nevertheless must still contend with evil attacks. We must renounce our own will, practice mortification and purity of heart. This purity is an absolute necessity for contemplating God and knowing Him by the light of faith.
When Saint Paul says girt one's loins with truth, we must learn to cast of the spirit of the world which is contrary to that of Jesus Christ. The spirit of the world consists in the denial of the supreme dominion of God; a denial which is manifested in practice by sin and disobedience.
Satan attacks through concupiscence of the flesh and of the eyes. He tempts us with pride and by disobedience to God's laws. Satan wants to bring error and darkness to the mind and corrupt our will. He makes sin appealing to us in persons, places and things. However, we must have recourse to prayer and realize we have won the victory in Christ.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
We must constantly have recourse to prayer and meditation in order to remain vigilant against the onslaught of satan. Prayer from the heart is the prayer most pleasing to God. Although Christ has already won the victory over satan, we nevertheless must still contend with evil attacks. We must renounce our own will, practice mortification and purity of heart. This purity is an absolute necessity for contemplating God and knowing Him by the light of faith.
When Saint Paul says girt one's loins with truth, we must learn to cast of the spirit of the world which is contrary to that of Jesus Christ. The spirit of the world consists in the denial of the supreme dominion of God; a denial which is manifested in practice by sin and disobedience.
Satan attacks through concupiscence of the flesh and of the eyes. He tempts us with pride and by disobedience to God's laws. Satan wants to bring error and darkness to the mind and corrupt our will. He makes sin appealing to us in persons, places and things. However, we must have recourse to prayer and realize we have won the victory in Christ.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Monday, October 10, 2011
More on Women Priests
Third, it has been the constant and unwavering tradition of the Church, both East and West, from the very beginning down to our own day, to admit only men to ordination. Since the Holy Ghost guides the Church, this strong tradition must be recognized as reflecting God’s will for the Church.
Response: This tradition is the reflection of the male dominant culture which has prevailed in Christian environments from ancient times up to the present. But that culture is now in process of changing; so also should the attitude and practice of the Church with regard to women. The “Spirit” is free to breathe where it wills.
Fourth, the priest represents Christ in relation to the Church. He is a living sacrament of Christ and acts in the very person of Christ in celebrating the Eucharist. In the language of the East, he is an Icon of Christ. But Christ is related to the Church as groom to bride. Therefore the priest must be a man, for only a man can represent Christ in this way.
Response: Every Christian must put on Christ (Gal 3.27; Rom 3.14), live the life of Christ (Gal 2.20), and represent Christ to the faith assembly.
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Response: This tradition is the reflection of the male dominant culture which has prevailed in Christian environments from ancient times up to the present. But that culture is now in process of changing; so also should the attitude and practice of the Church with regard to women. The “Spirit” is free to breathe where it wills.
Fourth, the priest represents Christ in relation to the Church. He is a living sacrament of Christ and acts in the very person of Christ in celebrating the Eucharist. In the language of the East, he is an Icon of Christ. But Christ is related to the Church as groom to bride. Therefore the priest must be a man, for only a man can represent Christ in this way.
Response: Every Christian must put on Christ (Gal 3.27; Rom 3.14), live the life of Christ (Gal 2.20), and represent Christ to the faith assembly.
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Friday, September 16, 2011
Regulation of the Liturgy
In a well-known text of the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (no. 10), Vatican II explains the special place of the Eucharist in the life of the Church:
The liturgy is the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed; it is also the fount from which all her power flows. For the goal of apostolic endeavor is that all who are made sons of God by faith and baptism should come together to praise God in the midst of His Church, to take part in the Sacrifice and to eat the Lord’s Supper.
…The renewal in the Eucharist of the covenant between the Lord and mankind draws the faithful into the compelling love of Christ and sets them afire. From the liturgy, therefore, and especially from the Eucharist, as from a fountain, grace is channeled to us; and the sanctification of man in Jesus Christ and the glorification of God, to which all other activities of the Church are directed as toward their goal, are most powerfully achieved.
Some strongly object to the conciliar text just cited. Some see it as evidence of a major problem facing the Church today, namely the tendency to place higher priority on church ceremony than of the urgent task of creating a better world, as Gaudium et Spes says we must do. The text, some say, encourages the erroneous idea that one can be a good Christian by seeking refuge in the peaceful celebration of the liturgy, while evading one’s responsibilities toward solving the problems of modern society. Some argue that it is not the liturgy that is the summit toward which all activity of the Church should be directed, but the transformation of the world according to the values of God’s Kingdom. Apostolic works should have as their goal, not the better performance of liturgy, but the building up of God’s kingdom in the world. What is your opinion?
I will say this; our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI, then Cardinal Ratzinger, wrote the following in his memoires: “I am convinced that the crisis in the Church that we are experiencing today is to a large extent due to the disintegration of the liturgy.” Sancrosanctum Concilium states:
“Regulation of the sacred liturgy depends solely on the authority of the Church, that is, on the Apostolic See, and, as laws may determine, on the bishop. Therefore no other person, not even a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the liturgy on his own authority.”22
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
The liturgy is the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed; it is also the fount from which all her power flows. For the goal of apostolic endeavor is that all who are made sons of God by faith and baptism should come together to praise God in the midst of His Church, to take part in the Sacrifice and to eat the Lord’s Supper.
…The renewal in the Eucharist of the covenant between the Lord and mankind draws the faithful into the compelling love of Christ and sets them afire. From the liturgy, therefore, and especially from the Eucharist, as from a fountain, grace is channeled to us; and the sanctification of man in Jesus Christ and the glorification of God, to which all other activities of the Church are directed as toward their goal, are most powerfully achieved.
Some strongly object to the conciliar text just cited. Some see it as evidence of a major problem facing the Church today, namely the tendency to place higher priority on church ceremony than of the urgent task of creating a better world, as Gaudium et Spes says we must do. The text, some say, encourages the erroneous idea that one can be a good Christian by seeking refuge in the peaceful celebration of the liturgy, while evading one’s responsibilities toward solving the problems of modern society. Some argue that it is not the liturgy that is the summit toward which all activity of the Church should be directed, but the transformation of the world according to the values of God’s Kingdom. Apostolic works should have as their goal, not the better performance of liturgy, but the building up of God’s kingdom in the world. What is your opinion?
I will say this; our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI, then Cardinal Ratzinger, wrote the following in his memoires: “I am convinced that the crisis in the Church that we are experiencing today is to a large extent due to the disintegration of the liturgy.” Sancrosanctum Concilium states:
“Regulation of the sacred liturgy depends solely on the authority of the Church, that is, on the Apostolic See, and, as laws may determine, on the bishop. Therefore no other person, not even a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the liturgy on his own authority.”22
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Saturday, September 3, 2011
The Holy Eucharist II
“My God,” cried Moses, “show me, if it pleases Thee, Thy countenance, then I shall possess all things that I want.” How happy we Christians should be in the enjoyment of so many privileges which many others do not have! In the very presence of God is endless happiness for the good Christian—it is truly heaven upon earth!
When we contemplate all the things that God has made, heaven and earth and the wonderful order of creation, everything proclaims to us an almighty power which had created all things, a wonderful wisdom which rules over everything, a perfection in the highest degree which cares for everything with the same ease as if it had only one creature to occupy itself with.
But when we speak of the Most Holy Eucharist we can truly say that there is to be found no greater miracle of divine love for us. Here His majesty, His grace, and His goodness shine forth in a most extraordinary manner. This is the true bread which came down from heaven, the Bread of Angels that is given for the nourishment of our souls. Jesus Christ says: “Whosoever receives Me, will possess everlasting life, and he who does not receive Me, will die.”
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
When we contemplate all the things that God has made, heaven and earth and the wonderful order of creation, everything proclaims to us an almighty power which had created all things, a wonderful wisdom which rules over everything, a perfection in the highest degree which cares for everything with the same ease as if it had only one creature to occupy itself with.
But when we speak of the Most Holy Eucharist we can truly say that there is to be found no greater miracle of divine love for us. Here His majesty, His grace, and His goodness shine forth in a most extraordinary manner. This is the true bread which came down from heaven, the Bread of Angels that is given for the nourishment of our souls. Jesus Christ says: “Whosoever receives Me, will possess everlasting life, and he who does not receive Me, will die.”
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
God's Truth Endures Forever
From the Imitation of Christ:
You thunder judgments upon me, O Lord: you shake all my bones with fear and dread, and my soul becomes severely frightened. I am bewildered when I realize that even the heavens are not pure in your sight.
If you discovered iniquity in the angels and did not spare them, what will become of me? The stars fell from heaven, and I, mere dust, what should I expect? Those whose works seemed praiseworthy fell to the depths, and I have seen those who once were fed with the bread of angels delighting in the husks of swine.
There is no holiness where you have withdrawn your hand, O Lord; no profitable wisdom if you cease to rule over it; no helpful strength if you cease to preserve it. For if you forsake us, we sink and perish; but if you visit us, we rise up and live again. We are unstable, but you make us firm; we grow cool, but you inflame us.
All superficial glory has been swallowed up in the depths of your judgment upon me. What is all flesh in your sight? Can the clay be glorified in opposition to its Maker? How can anyone be aroused by empty talk if his heart is subject in the truth to God?
The whole world cannot swell with pride the man who is subject to truth; nor will he be swayed by the flattery of all his admirers, if he has established all his trust in God. For those who do all the talking amount to nothing; they fail with their din of words, but the truth of the Lord endures forever.
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
You thunder judgments upon me, O Lord: you shake all my bones with fear and dread, and my soul becomes severely frightened. I am bewildered when I realize that even the heavens are not pure in your sight.
If you discovered iniquity in the angels and did not spare them, what will become of me? The stars fell from heaven, and I, mere dust, what should I expect? Those whose works seemed praiseworthy fell to the depths, and I have seen those who once were fed with the bread of angels delighting in the husks of swine.
There is no holiness where you have withdrawn your hand, O Lord; no profitable wisdom if you cease to rule over it; no helpful strength if you cease to preserve it. For if you forsake us, we sink and perish; but if you visit us, we rise up and live again. We are unstable, but you make us firm; we grow cool, but you inflame us.
All superficial glory has been swallowed up in the depths of your judgment upon me. What is all flesh in your sight? Can the clay be glorified in opposition to its Maker? How can anyone be aroused by empty talk if his heart is subject in the truth to God?
The whole world cannot swell with pride the man who is subject to truth; nor will he be swayed by the flattery of all his admirers, if he has established all his trust in God. For those who do all the talking amount to nothing; they fail with their din of words, but the truth of the Lord endures forever.
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Saturday, July 9, 2011
The Mission of the Holy Ghost
Re-establishment of the order of the world willed by God is the particular mission of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost works to bring the whole world to fulfil its true purpose. God is all-powerful. His love for man is infinite. We must remember that absolutely everything comes from God and is directed toward Him.
Often the action of the Holy Ghost goes unnoticed because God does not always reveal His plans to us. Our sins and faults often get in the way of God's divine gifts. However, we believe that God is always at work in creation. Without Him we would cease to exist.
We must constantly pray to be free from sin so that the action of the Holy Ghost may be made manifest in and through us.
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Often the action of the Holy Ghost goes unnoticed because God does not always reveal His plans to us. Our sins and faults often get in the way of God's divine gifts. However, we believe that God is always at work in creation. Without Him we would cease to exist.
We must constantly pray to be free from sin so that the action of the Holy Ghost may be made manifest in and through us.
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Monday, July 4, 2011
The Peace of Christ
He who hates his brother is a murderer. Our duty as Christians is to promote peace and cultivate harmony as best we can. Saint John says that love comes from God. Whoever is not with God does not possess love. We must therefore keep God's commandments. They lead us to true life. They lead us to peace. We must keep peace before all other virtues.
If we embrace peace we contribute to tranquility in the world. We acknowledge the tie that binds us together, namely charity.
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
If we embrace peace we contribute to tranquility in the world. We acknowledge the tie that binds us together, namely charity.
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Sunday, July 3, 2011
The Sacred Heart of Jesus
Jesus Christ shows us an infinite love in the Blessed Sacrament where He is so little known by men and still less loved even by those who know Him. The focus of this feast day is to grieve over the extreme ingratitude of men and their indifference toward Jesus Christ truly present in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. We must also learn to make reparation by our own acts of love, adoration and visits to the Blessed Sacrament.
What then do we do to repay this love?! We must appear before Him with the greatest reverence. We often appreciate our God so very little, we regard Him with indifference, and time spent in His presence passes ever so slowly for us! The first Christians would have considered it the most blissful time of their lives if they could have spent days and nights in the church, to praise God and weep for their sins! Nowadays it is so very different! It is so hard for us to spend just a few minutes in God’s presence and we see so much indifference and frivolity in our Catholic churches.
Let us beg God for the grace to love Him as He deserves!
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
What then do we do to repay this love?! We must appear before Him with the greatest reverence. We often appreciate our God so very little, we regard Him with indifference, and time spent in His presence passes ever so slowly for us! The first Christians would have considered it the most blissful time of their lives if they could have spent days and nights in the church, to praise God and weep for their sins! Nowadays it is so very different! It is so hard for us to spend just a few minutes in God’s presence and we see so much indifference and frivolity in our Catholic churches.
Let us beg God for the grace to love Him as He deserves!
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Friday, July 1, 2011
The Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ and Humility
God put us all on this earth to become saints. The choice is ours. Not one single saint in heaven lacked the virtue of humility. The Angels in Heaven fell from grace because of their lack of humility. We must always strive to keep ourselves in a state of humility. We simply cannot be saved without the virtue of humility.
Jesus Christ Himself says to learn from Him not because He worked miracles, but because He is gentle and humble of heart. "Learn from Me, because I am meek and humble of heart." (Matt. 11:29). Jesus gives us all the power to learn humility from Him.
On this feast day of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, there are an infinite number of qualities worthy of imitating when it comes to our Savior Jesus Christ, but He only asks that we imitate His humility.
Christ's infinite and burning desire to always remain with us is manifested in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. Christ waits for our visit. He humbles Himself because His delight is to be with the sons of men.
Today let us take advantage of our Lord's presence in the tablernacle. Let us not be indifferent. Let us pray for those who are.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Jesus Christ Himself says to learn from Him not because He worked miracles, but because He is gentle and humble of heart. "Learn from Me, because I am meek and humble of heart." (Matt. 11:29). Jesus gives us all the power to learn humility from Him.
On this feast day of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, there are an infinite number of qualities worthy of imitating when it comes to our Savior Jesus Christ, but He only asks that we imitate His humility.
Christ's infinite and burning desire to always remain with us is manifested in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. Christ waits for our visit. He humbles Himself because His delight is to be with the sons of men.
Today let us take advantage of our Lord's presence in the tablernacle. Let us not be indifferent. Let us pray for those who are.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Christ in Relation to the World
Pope Paul VI writes in one of his homilies: "Not to preach the Gospel would be my undoing, for Christ Himself sent me as His apostle and witness. The more remote, the more difficult the assignment, the more my love of God spurs me on. I am bound to proclaim that Jesus is Christ, the Son of the living God. Because of Him we come to know the God we cannot see. He is the firstborn of all creation; in Him all things find their being. Man's teacher and redeemer, He was born for us, died for us, and for us He rose from the dead...
I can never speak of Christ for He is our truth and our light; He is the way, the truth and the life. He is our bread, our source of living water who allays our hunger and satisfies our thirst. He is our shepherd, our leader, our ideal, our comforter and our brother...Jesus Christ is the beginning and the end, the alpha and the omega, Lord of the new universe, the great hidden key to human history and the part we play in it...
Remember it is Jesus Christ I preach day in and day out. His name I would see echo and reecho for all time even to the ends of the earth."
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
I can never speak of Christ for He is our truth and our light; He is the way, the truth and the life. He is our bread, our source of living water who allays our hunger and satisfies our thirst. He is our shepherd, our leader, our ideal, our comforter and our brother...Jesus Christ is the beginning and the end, the alpha and the omega, Lord of the new universe, the great hidden key to human history and the part we play in it...
Remember it is Jesus Christ I preach day in and day out. His name I would see echo and reecho for all time even to the ends of the earth."
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Corpus Christi
The holy King David once said: "Come, my children, I have something important to reveal to you. Come and I will tell you how good the Lord is to those that love Him. He has prepared a heavenly repast for His children, which bears fruit for this life. In every place where we find our God, if we enter heaven, He is there; if we traverse the ocean, He is by our side; if we go down into the depths of the sea, He accompanies us." Moses once uttered the words: "My God, show me, if it pleases you, your countenance, then I shall possess all things that I want."
Our lives should truly be centered around the Holy Eucharist. We should regularly pray before the Blessed Sacrament exposed. When we have Christ our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar we truly possess all we could possibly ask for.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Our lives should truly be centered around the Holy Eucharist. We should regularly pray before the Blessed Sacrament exposed. When we have Christ our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar we truly possess all we could possibly ask for.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Christ and the Sacraments
Christ in His infinite wisdom has organized the Church. He passed on to His Apostles the sacred deposit of the truths which have formed the object of our faith. During the Easter season we recognize the great gift of faith God has bestowed upon us, particularly our faith in Christ's resurrection. However, it is not enough simply for us to believe, we must also allow the wonderful effects of grace to work within our hearts. We are living members of the Divine Head. It is by means of the sacraments that Jesus Christ produces in us these wonderful effects of grace.
The sacraments are an additional bond of union between the members of the Church. The others include submission to Peter and his successors and profession of the same faith. Hierarchy, dogma, and the sacraments all contribute to make us on Body in Christ. The sacraments testify to the fraternity that exists among the faithful, no matter what part of the world we may travel to. These divine sacraments are the same in every country. They are the same in the graces they produce.
Let us continue to rejoice in the sacraments. They are all concrete means by which we encounter the risen Lord!
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
The sacraments are an additional bond of union between the members of the Church. The others include submission to Peter and his successors and profession of the same faith. Hierarchy, dogma, and the sacraments all contribute to make us on Body in Christ. The sacraments testify to the fraternity that exists among the faithful, no matter what part of the world we may travel to. These divine sacraments are the same in every country. They are the same in the graces they produce.
Let us continue to rejoice in the sacraments. They are all concrete means by which we encounter the risen Lord!
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Jesus Christ, perfectus Deus, perfectus homo
Jesus Christ in His humanity often grew physically tired from His travels and all His apostolic work. The same happens to us many times. We become worn out, we become hungry. We become thirsty. Christ experienced the very same things we experience.
Whenever we get tired from our own work or apostolic endeavours, we must always focus on Christ. He shows us that He is just like us in everything but sin. We should be consoled with the fact that together with Christ we can conquer all things! Neither weariness, hunger, thirst or anything else matters because Christ also experienced all these things. What matters is that we focus on fulfilling the will of God. God is always with us.
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Whenever we get tired from our own work or apostolic endeavours, we must always focus on Christ. He shows us that He is just like us in everything but sin. We should be consoled with the fact that together with Christ we can conquer all things! Neither weariness, hunger, thirst or anything else matters because Christ also experienced all these things. What matters is that we focus on fulfilling the will of God. God is always with us.
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Saturday, April 23, 2011
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.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Holy Thursday
Before Christ willingly underwent His passion and death, He ate His last meal with His disciples. Christ instituted the Eucharist and the Priesthood. Christ did so out of His infinite love for those He came to save. He continues to come to us sacramentally, especially in the Eucharist. Here Christ gives Himself completely; Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. He delights in remaining with the sons of men.
We should never underestimate the power of Christ's love for each one of us. Our God is a God who cannot conceivably be any closer to us. We receive Him into our very being when we receive the Eucharist. How can we imagine a greater gift? How can we want for more when we have everything we need in the Eucharist?
Christ has showed that there is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. We too must lay down our lives for our brothers out of love for Christ.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeff A. Fasching
We should never underestimate the power of Christ's love for each one of us. Our God is a God who cannot conceivably be any closer to us. We receive Him into our very being when we receive the Eucharist. How can we imagine a greater gift? How can we want for more when we have everything we need in the Eucharist?
Christ has showed that there is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. We too must lay down our lives for our brothers out of love for Christ.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeff A. Fasching
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Palm Sunday
How is it that the King of kings enters into the holy city? Is it in the midst of His conquered enemies? Is it in the presence of all His captives and countless treasures? Does He ride on a magnificent chariot pulled by a glorious, well-bred horse? No. The King celebrated His triumphant day riding on a donkey. Pride and ambition play no part in this triumphal entry. Rather it is humility, meekness, mortification and self-denial that our Lord demonstrates. He is completely unselfish. Christ was born in poverty and remained in poverty all His life. Christ had no friends in high places or among the rich. All His friends were among those who were poor. His favorites were the rejects of the world. It was such as these that followed Him on this day. They did so not following any order as from a general, but out of curiosity, love and veneration. As soon as Christ is seen coming into the city they break off palm branches and throw them in His path. Hosanna! Hail to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! This is the way that Christ chose to take possession of His kingdom.
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
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