Those who are called to the priestly or religious life receive a very special grace and are provided with abundant means to grow in holiness. If they embrace it and live it well, they will be able to attain a higher perfection than would be possible for them if they were to refuse this grace and continue an ordinary life in the world. This is not because religious are called to a different holiness than other Christians but because they receive so many helps to grow in holiness, and because they are given special graces to embrace this way of life that is modeled closely on Christ’s own manner of life.
Although no one is strictly obligated to embrace the evangelical counsels as such, a given individual may imperil his salvation by refusing to follow a special call to dedicate his or her life wholly to the service of God. Paul could say, “Woe to me, if I do not preach the Gospel!” (1 Cor 9.16)
How can an individual recognize the way of life to which he is called by God? First of all one must have recourse to prayer, and while one prays, one must try to maintain an attitude of perfect detachment, not allowing oneself to be inclined to one alternative rather than to another before God manifests His will. One must maintain a spirit of generosity and readiness to embrace whatever God reveals to be His will. If one prays, reflects, and seeks in this manner, God will let the person know what He wills for the person.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Prayers at the Foot of the Altar
Showing posts with label Perfection. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Perfection. Show all posts
Monday, March 26, 2012
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Glory in Heaven
Jesus promises, “Blest are the single-hearted, for they shall see God” (Mt 5.8); and Paul, in enumerating the gifts that God bestows upon His beloved, speaks of the immediate vision of God as His ultimate gift: “Now we see indistinctly, as in a (dark) mirror; then we shall see face to face. My knowledge is imperfect now; then I shall know even as I am known” (1 Cor 13.12).
Saint John tells us that we cannot imagine what God has in store for us who are His children, but this we know, that we shall see Him as He is: “Dearly beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall later be has not yet come to light. We know that when it comes to light we shall be like Him, for we shall see him as He is” (1Jn 3.2). Notice that John says, “we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as he is.” It is because we are made like God, sharing in His divine nature that we shall be able to see God as He sees Himself.
All knowledge that we have, not only of external reality but also of ourselves, is mediated to us by the operation of external and senses reacting to light and sound waves and other sensations, and by internal senses and intellectual faculties which give us some image or idea of the reality experienced. God cannot be adequately known this way, since no finite medium can adequately represent His infinite being. Unlike all other forms of knowledge, in the beatific vision God is not known through any mediated image or concept, but immediately in Himself. Through the light of glory (lumen gloriae) that He will give us we shall see Him immediately as He is in Himself, without any intervening medium of any kind.
We will never exhaust the mystery of God, but shall behold Him precisely as infinite mystery. We shall never tire of this vision, because we shall see God as always new, always greater that we can comprehend.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Saint John tells us that we cannot imagine what God has in store for us who are His children, but this we know, that we shall see Him as He is: “Dearly beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall later be has not yet come to light. We know that when it comes to light we shall be like Him, for we shall see him as He is” (1Jn 3.2). Notice that John says, “we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as he is.” It is because we are made like God, sharing in His divine nature that we shall be able to see God as He sees Himself.
All knowledge that we have, not only of external reality but also of ourselves, is mediated to us by the operation of external and senses reacting to light and sound waves and other sensations, and by internal senses and intellectual faculties which give us some image or idea of the reality experienced. God cannot be adequately known this way, since no finite medium can adequately represent His infinite being. Unlike all other forms of knowledge, in the beatific vision God is not known through any mediated image or concept, but immediately in Himself. Through the light of glory (lumen gloriae) that He will give us we shall see Him immediately as He is in Himself, without any intervening medium of any kind.
We will never exhaust the mystery of God, but shall behold Him precisely as infinite mystery. We shall never tire of this vision, because we shall see God as always new, always greater that we can comprehend.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Our Glorified Humanity
The degrees of happiness and glory that we shall enjoy in heaven will be in proportion to the measure of love and grace that we have when we enter eternal life. These, in turn, depend on the gift of God’s grace and our cooperation with it throughout our lives on earth. As we cooperate with God’s grace through deeds of love, we grow in divine life and the capacity to live that divine life in eternity.
In eternal life our body and soul will be brought to full perfection and, while remaining essentially the same body and soul we now possess, will be glorified in a way that we cannot fully grasp in this life. All vulnerability and imperfection will be removed, and each will have its own unique beauty and glory.
In his epistle to the Corinthians, Saint Paul describes the qualities of the body that will rise from the grave when Christ comes again:
What is sown in the earth is subject to decay, what rises is incorruptible. What is sown is ignoble, what rises is glorious. Weakness is sown, strength rises up. A natural body is put down and a spiritual body comes up. If there is a natural body, be sure there is also a spiritual body…The dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. This corruptible body must be clothed with incorruptibility, this mortal body with immortality. When the corruptible frame takes on incorruptibility and the mortal immortality, then will the saying of Scripture be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory."
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
In eternal life our body and soul will be brought to full perfection and, while remaining essentially the same body and soul we now possess, will be glorified in a way that we cannot fully grasp in this life. All vulnerability and imperfection will be removed, and each will have its own unique beauty and glory.
In his epistle to the Corinthians, Saint Paul describes the qualities of the body that will rise from the grave when Christ comes again:
What is sown in the earth is subject to decay, what rises is incorruptible. What is sown is ignoble, what rises is glorious. Weakness is sown, strength rises up. A natural body is put down and a spiritual body comes up. If there is a natural body, be sure there is also a spiritual body…The dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. This corruptible body must be clothed with incorruptibility, this mortal body with immortality. When the corruptible frame takes on incorruptibility and the mortal immortality, then will the saying of Scripture be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory."
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Sunday, November 20, 2011
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
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
Thursday, September 15, 2011
The Eucharist in Relation to the World
The Eucharist in relation to the world: Just as Christ offered Himself for the whole world, so we in the Eucharist join in His sacrifice and offer ourselves in union with Him for all mankind. In our petitions we pray for every human need, for every class of person, and for the extension of God’s reign over every individual, over every family and community, and over every area of human existence. The Eucharistic celebration expresses in symbol and by the power of grace what mankind is called to do with its history, namely, sanctify all things—the basic meaning of sacrifice, sacrum-facere, and bring all things into union with God. We are meant to glorify God and find our unity and perfection in Him alone.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Saint Bonaventure
From the Journey of the Mind to God by Saint Bonaventure:
...We must suspend all the operations of the mind and we must transform the peak of our affections, directing them to God alone. This is a sacred mystical experience. It cannot be comprehended by anyone unless he surrenders himself to it; nor can he surrender himself to it unless he longs for it; nor can he long for it unless the Holy Ghost, whom Christ sent into the world, should come and inflame his innermost soul. Hence the Apostle says that this mystical wisdom is revealed by the Holy Ghost.
If you ask how such things can occur, seek the answer in God's grace, not in doctrine; in the longing of will, not in the understanding; in the sighs of prayer, not in research; seek the bridegroom not the teacher; God and not man...
Today let us strive to be people of prayer and fulfil our duty to God.
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
...We must suspend all the operations of the mind and we must transform the peak of our affections, directing them to God alone. This is a sacred mystical experience. It cannot be comprehended by anyone unless he surrenders himself to it; nor can he surrender himself to it unless he longs for it; nor can he long for it unless the Holy Ghost, whom Christ sent into the world, should come and inflame his innermost soul. Hence the Apostle says that this mystical wisdom is revealed by the Holy Ghost.
If you ask how such things can occur, seek the answer in God's grace, not in doctrine; in the longing of will, not in the understanding; in the sighs of prayer, not in research; seek the bridegroom not the teacher; God and not man...
Today let us strive to be people of prayer and fulfil our duty to God.
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Charity II
We cannot work out our salvation without charity! When we have charity all the other virtues come with it. Charity purifies and sanctifies our actions. Charity perfects the soul. Saint Paul says in his epistle: “Brethren, If I speak with the tongues of men and of Angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. And if I should have prophecy, and should know all mysteries and all knowledge: and if I should have all faith so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And if I should distribute all my goods to feed the poor, and if I should deliver my body to be burned and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.”
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Monday, March 7, 2011
Self Accusation
We must always find fault with ourselves. It is so very easy to be impatient with everyone else, and yet so very difficult to blame ourselves for our own faults. We have enough to be concerned with when it comes to a knowledge of ourselves. It would be good to beg God on a regular basis for the grace to see ourselves as we really are. The only way to constant peace in our lives is to constantly find fault with ourselves.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Purity
Purity is living a life free from immorality, which is unlawful or improper sexual relations. God commands us to live pure lives. Like the other virtures, purity can always be attained by those who desire it. "Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body" (1 Cor 6:18). "But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints" (Eph. 5:3).
Jesus commanded purity of thought when he said, "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Matthew 5:27-28).
Purity makes us like God. Purity is associated with holiness. Holiness is something that God demands of us. We are called to be conformed to God's image and to thus be pure in thought and deed. God never requires from a person what he is incapable of achieving. Since He calls us all to embrace purity, there is no excuse for not living it out.
When we meditate upon the Sorrowful Scourging at the Pillar, purity is the virtue we beg God for. Let us always pray that we live pure lives.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Jesus commanded purity of thought when he said, "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Matthew 5:27-28).
Purity makes us like God. Purity is associated with holiness. Holiness is something that God demands of us. We are called to be conformed to God's image and to thus be pure in thought and deed. God never requires from a person what he is incapable of achieving. Since He calls us all to embrace purity, there is no excuse for not living it out.
When we meditate upon the Sorrowful Scourging at the Pillar, purity is the virtue we beg God for. Let us always pray that we live pure lives.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Sunday, December 12, 2010
The Priestly Vocation to Perfection
From the decree on the ministry and life of priests of the Second Vatican Council (Presbyterorum ordiniis)
By the sacrament of Orders priests are formed in the image of Christ the Priest, to be ministers of Christ the Head in constructing and building up His whole Body, the Church, as fellow-workers with the order of bishops. In the consecration of baptism they have already received, in common with all Christians, the sign and gift of so great a vocation and grace that, even in their human weakness, they have the power, and the duty, to seek perfection, in accordance with our Lord's words: "Be perfect, then, as your Father in heaven is also perfect."
Priests are obliged in a special way to acquire this perfection. By receiving holy Orders they have been consecrated in a new way, and made living instruments of Christ the eternal Priest, so as to be able to continue through the years Christ's wonderful work which, by divine power, has restored to wholeness the entire family of man.
Since each priest acts, as far as he may, in the person of Christ Himself, he is given special grace to help him grow toward the perfection of the one whose role he plays, as he ministers to his flock and the whole people of God. He receives grace for healing of human weakness from the holiness of Christ, who became for us high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners.
Christ, whom the Father sanctified, that is, consecrated, and sent into the world, gave Himself for us, to redeem us from all sin, and to purify for Himself an acceptable people, zealous for good works. So, through His passion He entered into His glory. In the same way, priests, consecrated as they are by the anointing of the Holy Spirit and sent by Christ, put an end in their lives to the sins of our selfish nature, and give themselves wholly to the service of mankind, and so are enabled to grow to perfect manhood in the holiness with which they are enriched in Christ.
As they exercise the ministry of the Spirit and of holiness, they are strengthened in the spiritual life, provided that they are docile to Christ's spirit, who gives them life and is their guide. By the sacred actions they perform daily, and by their entire ministry in communion with their bishop and fellow-priests, they are set on the way that leads to perfection.
The holiness of priests is itself an important contribution to the fruitfulness of their ministry. It is true that God's grace can effect the work of salvation even through unworthy ministers, but God ordinarily prefers to show His wonders by means of those who are more submissive to the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit, and, who through close union with Christ and holiness of life, are able to say with Saint Paul: "I live, but no longer is it I who live, it is Christ who lives within me."
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
By the sacrament of Orders priests are formed in the image of Christ the Priest, to be ministers of Christ the Head in constructing and building up His whole Body, the Church, as fellow-workers with the order of bishops. In the consecration of baptism they have already received, in common with all Christians, the sign and gift of so great a vocation and grace that, even in their human weakness, they have the power, and the duty, to seek perfection, in accordance with our Lord's words: "Be perfect, then, as your Father in heaven is also perfect."
Priests are obliged in a special way to acquire this perfection. By receiving holy Orders they have been consecrated in a new way, and made living instruments of Christ the eternal Priest, so as to be able to continue through the years Christ's wonderful work which, by divine power, has restored to wholeness the entire family of man.
Since each priest acts, as far as he may, in the person of Christ Himself, he is given special grace to help him grow toward the perfection of the one whose role he plays, as he ministers to his flock and the whole people of God. He receives grace for healing of human weakness from the holiness of Christ, who became for us high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners.
Christ, whom the Father sanctified, that is, consecrated, and sent into the world, gave Himself for us, to redeem us from all sin, and to purify for Himself an acceptable people, zealous for good works. So, through His passion He entered into His glory. In the same way, priests, consecrated as they are by the anointing of the Holy Spirit and sent by Christ, put an end in their lives to the sins of our selfish nature, and give themselves wholly to the service of mankind, and so are enabled to grow to perfect manhood in the holiness with which they are enriched in Christ.
As they exercise the ministry of the Spirit and of holiness, they are strengthened in the spiritual life, provided that they are docile to Christ's spirit, who gives them life and is their guide. By the sacred actions they perform daily, and by their entire ministry in communion with their bishop and fellow-priests, they are set on the way that leads to perfection.
The holiness of priests is itself an important contribution to the fruitfulness of their ministry. It is true that God's grace can effect the work of salvation even through unworthy ministers, but God ordinarily prefers to show His wonders by means of those who are more submissive to the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit, and, who through close union with Christ and holiness of life, are able to say with Saint Paul: "I live, but no longer is it I who live, it is Christ who lives within me."
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
The Birth of Mary
From a Sermon by Saint Thomas of Villanova, Bishop:
"For a long time I have wondered and been at a loss to understand why the evangelists should have spoken at such length about John the Baptist and the other apostles, and yet told us so little about the Virgin Mary, who in life and distinction excels them all. Being at a loss, as I say, to understand this, all I can think is that it pleased the Holy Spirit that it should be so. It was by the providence of the Holy Spirit that the evangelists kept silent, because the glory of the Virgin, as we read in the psalms, was all within, and could more truly be thought of than described. The outline of her life: that Jesus was born of her, is enough to tell her whole story. What more do you seek for in the Virgin? It is enough for you that she is the Mother of God. What beauty, I ask you, what virtue, what perfection, what grace, what glory does not belong to the Mother of God?"
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
"For a long time I have wondered and been at a loss to understand why the evangelists should have spoken at such length about John the Baptist and the other apostles, and yet told us so little about the Virgin Mary, who in life and distinction excels them all. Being at a loss, as I say, to understand this, all I can think is that it pleased the Holy Spirit that it should be so. It was by the providence of the Holy Spirit that the evangelists kept silent, because the glory of the Virgin, as we read in the psalms, was all within, and could more truly be thought of than described. The outline of her life: that Jesus was born of her, is enough to tell her whole story. What more do you seek for in the Virgin? It is enough for you that she is the Mother of God. What beauty, I ask you, what virtue, what perfection, what grace, what glory does not belong to the Mother of God?"
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Monday, November 8, 2010
Doing all things well
We should ask God each day for the grace to perform the seemingly simple, every-day actions of our life extraordinarily well. Since we are in fact created in God's image, we must always strive to imitate Him. "Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matt. 5,48).
As Christians we must always strive to conform our lives with that of Christ. Christ always gave glory to God His Father. He performed all His actions for the love of God His Father, even the very smallest of things.
God is just as concerned with the seemingly insignificant things in our daily lives as he is with the significant. This is why it is so important for us to show the same interest in our smallest actions as we do for the important ones. This is how we learn to grow in grace and holiness.
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
As Christians we must always strive to conform our lives with that of Christ. Christ always gave glory to God His Father. He performed all His actions for the love of God His Father, even the very smallest of things.
God is just as concerned with the seemingly insignificant things in our daily lives as he is with the significant. This is why it is so important for us to show the same interest in our smallest actions as we do for the important ones. This is how we learn to grow in grace and holiness.
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
The Priest...
Saint Dionysius says: "The most divine of all divine things is to cooperate with God in the salvation of souls...Who speaks of the priesthood, speaks of an order which contains within itself all that is most sacred and most holy."
Saint John Eudes writes: "Such a priest is a man called to the sacerdotal dignity not by men, not by the will of flesh and blood, not by his parents or by the spirit of ambition, not by avarice or human motives, but by vocation from God."
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Saint John Eudes writes: "Such a priest is a man called to the sacerdotal dignity not by men, not by the will of flesh and blood, not by his parents or by the spirit of ambition, not by avarice or human motives, but by vocation from God."
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Saturday, October 23, 2010
The Priest Continued
Christ has said: "You are the salt of the earth. But what if salt goes flat? How can you restore its flavor? Then it is good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot."
Saint John of Capistrano writes the following: "Truly the unclean, immoral cleric is trampled underfoot like worthless manure. He is saturated with the filth of vice and entangled in the chains of sin. In this condition he must be considered worthless both to himself and to others.
Presbyters who are born leaders deserve to be doubly honored, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. It is indeed a double task that worthy priests perform, that is to say, it is both exterior and interior, both temporal and spiritual, and, finally, both a passing task and an eternal one.
Even though they dwell on earth and are bound by the same necessities of nature along with all mortal creatures, at the same time they are engaged in earnest communication with the angels in heaven, so that they may be pleasing to their king and learn how to serve him. Therefore, just as the sun rises over the world in God's heaven, so clerics must let their light shine before men so that they may see their good deeds and give praise to their heavenly Father.
Your are the light of the world. Now a light does not illumine itself, but instead it diffuses its rays and shines all around upon everything that comes into its view. So it must be with the glowing lives of upright and holy clerics. By the brightness of their holiness they must bring light and serenity to all who gaze upon them. They have been placed here to care for others. Their own lives should be an example to others, showing how they must live in the house of the Lord."
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Saint John of Capistrano writes the following: "Truly the unclean, immoral cleric is trampled underfoot like worthless manure. He is saturated with the filth of vice and entangled in the chains of sin. In this condition he must be considered worthless both to himself and to others.
Presbyters who are born leaders deserve to be doubly honored, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. It is indeed a double task that worthy priests perform, that is to say, it is both exterior and interior, both temporal and spiritual, and, finally, both a passing task and an eternal one.
Even though they dwell on earth and are bound by the same necessities of nature along with all mortal creatures, at the same time they are engaged in earnest communication with the angels in heaven, so that they may be pleasing to their king and learn how to serve him. Therefore, just as the sun rises over the world in God's heaven, so clerics must let their light shine before men so that they may see their good deeds and give praise to their heavenly Father.
Your are the light of the world. Now a light does not illumine itself, but instead it diffuses its rays and shines all around upon everything that comes into its view. So it must be with the glowing lives of upright and holy clerics. By the brightness of their holiness they must bring light and serenity to all who gaze upon them. They have been placed here to care for others. Their own lives should be an example to others, showing how they must live in the house of the Lord."
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Friday, October 22, 2010
The Priest II
One of God's greatest gifts is to send worthy priests out into the harvest to minister to souls. In fact, the greatest blessing God can give to any particular church is a saintly priest. We are in desperate need of them. The world is full of intellectuals, PHD's and educated men. What the world needs is more holy men and women and more priests after God's own heart.
The holy priest offers grace and eternal life to all those who are willing to seek it. He frees souls from sin and hell. He instructs, admonishes and prays on behalf of his flock. The holy priest is concerned only with teaching salvation and loving God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ.
Let us pray that God will send His church holy priests.
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
The holy priest offers grace and eternal life to all those who are willing to seek it. He frees souls from sin and hell. He instructs, admonishes and prays on behalf of his flock. The holy priest is concerned only with teaching salvation and loving God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ.
Let us pray that God will send His church holy priests.
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Sunday, October 17, 2010
The Priestly Vocation to Perfection
From the decree on the ministry and life of priests of the Second Vatican Council:
By the sacrament of Orders priests are formed in the image of Christ the Priest, to be ministers of Christ the Head in constructing and building up his whole Body, the Church, as fellow-workers with the order of bishops...By receiving Holy Orders they have been consecrated in a new way, and made living instruments of Christ the eternal Priest, so as to be able to continue through the years Christ's wonderful work which, by divine power, has restored to wholeness the entire family of man.
Since each priest acts, as far as he may, in the person of Christ himself, he is given special grace to help him grow toward the perfection of the one whose role he plays, as he ministers to his flock and the whole people of God. He receives grace for the healing of human weakness from the holiness of Christ, who became for us high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners...
As they exercise the ministry of the Spirit and of holiness, they are strengthened in the spiritual life, provided that they are docile to Christ's Spirit, who gives them life and is their guide. By the sacred actions they perform daily, and by their entire ministry in communion with their bishop and fellow-priests, they are set on the way that leads to perfection.
The holiness of priests is itself an important contribution to the fruitfulness of their ministry. It is true that God's grace can effect the work of salvation even through unworthy ministers, but God ordinarily prefers to show his wonders by means of those who are more submissive to the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit, and, who through close union with Christ and holiness of life, are able to say with Saint Paul: I live, but no longer is it I who live, it is Christ who lives in me.
Pray for priests
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
By the sacrament of Orders priests are formed in the image of Christ the Priest, to be ministers of Christ the Head in constructing and building up his whole Body, the Church, as fellow-workers with the order of bishops...By receiving Holy Orders they have been consecrated in a new way, and made living instruments of Christ the eternal Priest, so as to be able to continue through the years Christ's wonderful work which, by divine power, has restored to wholeness the entire family of man.
Since each priest acts, as far as he may, in the person of Christ himself, he is given special grace to help him grow toward the perfection of the one whose role he plays, as he ministers to his flock and the whole people of God. He receives grace for the healing of human weakness from the holiness of Christ, who became for us high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners...
As they exercise the ministry of the Spirit and of holiness, they are strengthened in the spiritual life, provided that they are docile to Christ's Spirit, who gives them life and is their guide. By the sacred actions they perform daily, and by their entire ministry in communion with their bishop and fellow-priests, they are set on the way that leads to perfection.
The holiness of priests is itself an important contribution to the fruitfulness of their ministry. It is true that God's grace can effect the work of salvation even through unworthy ministers, but God ordinarily prefers to show his wonders by means of those who are more submissive to the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit, and, who through close union with Christ and holiness of life, are able to say with Saint Paul: I live, but no longer is it I who live, it is Christ who lives in me.
Pray for priests
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Peace of Heart
Peace of heart is of the utmost value in our lives. If we want true peace of heart we must practice obedience and renouncing our own will. We can learn these things through practicing devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Christ wants us to lead lives according to His pleasure and not our own.
In order to do this we must unite ourselves to the heart of our Lord Jesus Christ. We must constantly offer to God all the prayers that Christ has offered on our behalf, particulary at the time of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. If you feel you are making no spiritual progress, offer God the infinite love of Christ to make reparation for your own lack of success. We can make repartation for anything imperfect in our actions by offering to God the perfect love of Jesus Christ.
Gaudium et spes reminds us that: "The Word of God, through whom all things were made, was Himself made flesh so that as perfect man he might save all men and bring all things into unity. The Lord is...the joy of all hearts and the fulfillment of their desires."
I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us.
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
In order to do this we must unite ourselves to the heart of our Lord Jesus Christ. We must constantly offer to God all the prayers that Christ has offered on our behalf, particulary at the time of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. If you feel you are making no spiritual progress, offer God the infinite love of Christ to make reparation for your own lack of success. We can make repartation for anything imperfect in our actions by offering to God the perfect love of Jesus Christ.
Gaudium et spes reminds us that: "The Word of God, through whom all things were made, was Himself made flesh so that as perfect man he might save all men and bring all things into unity. The Lord is...the joy of all hearts and the fulfillment of their desires."
I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us.
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Our Lady of the Rosary
The Prophets spoke of the Blessed Virgin Mary before her birth. They compared her to the sun. When the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared on the earth, God's anger towards man's sinfulness was immediately appeased. The Blessed Virgin is much better than the best of all mothers because she always treats her servants with love, and never punishes us.
Mary's heart is full of love and mercy. Her only desire is that we simply turn to her and pray. She places herself between the justice of her Son and us. The greater sinners we are, the more compassion she feels for us. It is the child that has cost its mother the most tears that is the dearest to her heart.
The Ave Maria is a prayer that is invaluable. All the saints have a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. No graces flow from heaven to us without first going through the Blessed Virgin. Since Mary is the only creature who has never offended God, our prayers have a special merit when they are presented to God from her.
We should always pray for a true and genuine devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us!
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Mary's heart is full of love and mercy. Her only desire is that we simply turn to her and pray. She places herself between the justice of her Son and us. The greater sinners we are, the more compassion she feels for us. It is the child that has cost its mother the most tears that is the dearest to her heart.
The Ave Maria is a prayer that is invaluable. All the saints have a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. No graces flow from heaven to us without first going through the Blessed Virgin. Since Mary is the only creature who has never offended God, our prayers have a special merit when they are presented to God from her.
We should always pray for a true and genuine devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us!
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Clerical Attire revisited
Clerical Attire
The Cassock, the Surplice and the Biretta
The meaning of the Cassock and Surplice
The black Cassock signifies that the priest should always be mourning for the Crucified Christ. The priest should be dead to sin, to the world, and to himself. The cassock is a reminder that the priest should be doing penance for his own sins and those of the world. The cassock also reminds us that the priest’s body should be constantly mortified so that Christ’s life is made manifest to others.
The surplice represents the “new man,” our Lord Jesus Christ. The priest must be like Christ and clothed with His perfection, humility, charity, modesty, purity and all His other virtues. The surplus signifies the ordained minister’s responsibility to be freed from the “slavery” of secular dress.
The Catholic Church demands that her clerics who wear the surplice lead a life in conformity with the life of Christ’s. Unfortunately, there are many priests who live as world lings and view their clerical dress as an obstacle to the very pleasures they renounced at their ordination. Many clerics live with an inordinate love for secular dress and look upon their clerical attire as something to be ashamed of. I am proud to be a priest. I am proud and privileged to be able to wear a cassock.
The meaning of the Biretta
The biretta is simply a cross which the priest wears on his head to show that the cross of Christ is his crown and his glory. Saint Paul writes in his letter to the Galatians: “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world” (Gal. 6, 14).
Priests should take seriously the meaning of the cassock, surplice and the biretta and treat them with fitting reverence. We must pray that all priests have the strength to practice what their clerical state demands of them.
“Let thy priests, O Lord God, put on salvation.” Sacerdotes tui, Domine Deus, induantur salutem.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
The Cassock, the Surplice and the Biretta
The meaning of the Cassock and Surplice
The black Cassock signifies that the priest should always be mourning for the Crucified Christ. The priest should be dead to sin, to the world, and to himself. The cassock is a reminder that the priest should be doing penance for his own sins and those of the world. The cassock also reminds us that the priest’s body should be constantly mortified so that Christ’s life is made manifest to others.
The surplice represents the “new man,” our Lord Jesus Christ. The priest must be like Christ and clothed with His perfection, humility, charity, modesty, purity and all His other virtues. The surplus signifies the ordained minister’s responsibility to be freed from the “slavery” of secular dress.
The Catholic Church demands that her clerics who wear the surplice lead a life in conformity with the life of Christ’s. Unfortunately, there are many priests who live as world lings and view their clerical dress as an obstacle to the very pleasures they renounced at their ordination. Many clerics live with an inordinate love for secular dress and look upon their clerical attire as something to be ashamed of. I am proud to be a priest. I am proud and privileged to be able to wear a cassock.
The meaning of the Biretta
The biretta is simply a cross which the priest wears on his head to show that the cross of Christ is his crown and his glory. Saint Paul writes in his letter to the Galatians: “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world” (Gal. 6, 14).
Priests should take seriously the meaning of the cassock, surplice and the biretta and treat them with fitting reverence. We must pray that all priests have the strength to practice what their clerical state demands of them.
“Let thy priests, O Lord God, put on salvation.” Sacerdotes tui, Domine Deus, induantur salutem.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Monday, October 4, 2010
The Blessed Virgin Mary IV
From a sermon by Saint Thomas of Villanova, bishop:
"For a long time I have wondered and been at a loss to understand why the evangelists should have spoken at such length about John the Baptist and the other apostles, and yet told us so little about the Virgin Mary, who in life and distinction excels them all. Being at a loss, as I say, to understand this, all I can think is that it pleased the Holy Spirit that it should be so. It was by the providence of the Holy Spirit that the evangelists kept silent, because the glory of the Virgin, as we read in the psalms, was all within, and could more truly be thought of than described. The outline of her life: that Jesus was born of her, is enought to tell her whole story. What more do you seek for in the Virgin? It is enough for you that she is the Mother of God. What beauty, I ask you, what virtue, what perfection, what grace, what glory does not belong to the Mother of God?
The Holy Spirit has not described her in words, but has left her to you to picture in your own mind, so that you may understand that there was nothing she lacked of grace, perfection, or glory which could be imagined in the mind of a chaste human being, or rather that in fact she surpassed all understanding. So when she was wholly perfect, it would not have been right to describe her in part, for fear that you might think she could have lacked what had not been described. To say of the Virgin Mary only that she is the Mother of God surpasses all that can be said under God."
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
"For a long time I have wondered and been at a loss to understand why the evangelists should have spoken at such length about John the Baptist and the other apostles, and yet told us so little about the Virgin Mary, who in life and distinction excels them all. Being at a loss, as I say, to understand this, all I can think is that it pleased the Holy Spirit that it should be so. It was by the providence of the Holy Spirit that the evangelists kept silent, because the glory of the Virgin, as we read in the psalms, was all within, and could more truly be thought of than described. The outline of her life: that Jesus was born of her, is enought to tell her whole story. What more do you seek for in the Virgin? It is enough for you that she is the Mother of God. What beauty, I ask you, what virtue, what perfection, what grace, what glory does not belong to the Mother of God?
The Holy Spirit has not described her in words, but has left her to you to picture in your own mind, so that you may understand that there was nothing she lacked of grace, perfection, or glory which could be imagined in the mind of a chaste human being, or rather that in fact she surpassed all understanding. So when she was wholly perfect, it would not have been right to describe her in part, for fear that you might think she could have lacked what had not been described. To say of the Virgin Mary only that she is the Mother of God surpasses all that can be said under God."
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
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