Seek the Good of Others

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

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

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

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


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

In Christ,

Father Jeff Fasching

Pray Without Ceasing

Prayer is a gift from God. As God's creatures, we owe it to Him to pray always. Prayer lifts up the mind and heart to God. Prayer is union with God. The more we pray, the more we find ourselves united to God. The more we pray, the more we find strength to endure all things that come our way.

Lent is a time when we sacrifice. We discipline our bodies in order to focus on what is spiritual. A sincere spirit of mortification of our bodies leads to a greater awareness of the suffering and risen Lord Jesus Christ. Through penance we learn patience during our own times of trial and suffering.

Lent is a great opportunity to sacrifice for others as well. We do this for love of God. This lenten season let us pray for our brothers in need. Let us pray for a greater desire to do penance!

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

We Must Reform our Lives

In the New Testament, Jesus makes it clear that human afflictions and death are not necessarily a punishment for personal sin. When He came upon a man who was blind from birth, His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, was it this man’s sin or that of his parents that caused him to be born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither. It was no sin, either of this man or of his parents. Rather, it was to let God’s works show forth in him.” At another time, when He was told about Galileans who had been slaughtered by Pilate as they were offering sacrifice, Jesus denied that there is any exact equivalence between sin and misfortune in this life, but He did say that sin will ultimately bring its just retribution:

“Do you think that these Galileans were the greatest sinners in Galilee just because they suffered this? By no means! But I tell you, you will all come to the same end unless you reform. Or take those eighteen who were killed by a falling tower in Siloam. Do you think they were guiltier than anyone else who lived in Jerusalem? Certainly not. But I tell you, you will come to the same end unless you reform.”

But Jesus’ denial of an exact correspondence between sin and suffering did not prevent Him from predicting that great misfortunes were to come upon the people of Jerusalem because they would not heed His call to faith and repentance. We must therefore beg God to help us amend our lives.

In Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

God's Thoughts of us are Thoughts of Peace

From the Revelations by Saint Gertrude, virgin:

...To atone for all my neglect I offer, most loving Father, all that your only-begotten Son did during His life, whether in thought, word or deed. That sacred life was, I know, utterly perfect in all respects, from the moment He descended from your heavenly throne and came into this world, until finally He presented the glory of His victorious human nature to you His Father.

An now, as an act of thanksgiving, I praise and worship you, Father, in deepest humility for your most loving kindness and mercy. Though I was hurrying to my eternal loss, your thoughts of me were thoughts of peace and not affliction, and you lifted me up with so many great favors. To these you added the inestimable gift of your intimate friendship, and in various ways allowed me to possess your Son's own heart, that most noble ark of God united with the Godhead. You refused me no delight that could be mine...

In Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching