Saint Paul

Saint Paul was unsurpassed in his example he gave of what a Christian should be. In fact, no one knew Christ better than Paul. He learned to become the very image of Jesus Christ so that is seemed to be Christ Himself speaking through Saint Paul. "It is no longer I who live: it is Christ who lives in me."

Saint Paul is a great reminder for us that if we want to be more than Christians in name, we must bear witness to it by our way of living. We must direct our thoughts, words an deeds all toward Christ. We must free ourselves from every passionate inclination and focus on Christ who is our peace. Christian perfection consists in expressing Christ in our minds, our prayers and the way we live.

Sicerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Thy Kingdom Come

From a notebook on Prayer by Origen, priest:

The kingdom of God, in the words of our Lord and Savior, does not come for all to see; nor shall they say: Behold, here it is, or behold, there it is; but the kingdom of God is within us, for the word of God is very near, in our mouth and in our heart. Thus it is clear that he who prays for the coming of God's kingdom prays rightly to have it within himself, that there it may grow and bear fruit and become perfect. For God reigns in each of His holy ones. Anyone who is holy obeys the spiritual laws of God, who dwells in him as in a well-ordered city. The Father is present in the perfect soul, and with him Christ reigns, according to the words: We shall come to him and make our home with him...

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Litany of the Passion

Jesus, unknown and despised, (Have mercy on me.)
Jesus, calumniated and persecuted,
Jesus, abandoned by men and tempted,
Jesus, betrayed and sold for a paltry sum,
Jesus, blamed, accused and unjustly condemned,
Jesus, clothed with a garment of opprobrium and shame,
Jesus, buffeted and mocked,
Jesus, dragged with a rope round Thy neck,
Jesus, scourged unto blood,
Jesus, reputed to be a fool and to be possessed by a devil,
Jesus, to whom Barabbas was preferred,
Jesus, shamefully stripped of Thy garments,
Jesus, crowned with thorns and saluted in derision,
Jesus, laden with the Cross, and disowned by Thy people,
Jesus, overwhelmed with insults, sorrow, and humiliations,
Jesus, sorrowful unto death,
Jesus, insulted, spat upon, beaten, outraged and scoffed at,
Jesus, hanged on the infamous tree in company with robbers,
Jesus, set at nought and deprived of honor before men,
Jesus, overwhelmed with all kinds of sorrow,

O Good Jesus, who has suffered an infinity of insults and humiliations for love of me, imprint deeply on my heart a great love and appreciation for them, and the desire to endure them willingly for Thee. Amen.

In Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Humility

No one makes us angry. Anger is our own emotional response to someone's behavior or to an event. It is easy to react to annoyances and disappointments with anger. It is much more difficult to react with understanding and empathy. It is very difficult not to respond to anger with even more anger. However, when we respond to anger with empathy and even love, we can often diffuse hatred and convert our enemies into friends.

Humility allows us to acknowledge we are God's creatures. We were created for Him and not for our own self-glorification. Humility allows us to acknowledge the dignity of all human beings. Humility is the best way to combat the angry passions of others. Through humility we can turn our enemies into friends. When we meditate upon the first decade of the Holy Rosary we ask God for the grace to be humble.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching