Showing posts with label Apostle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Apostle. Show all posts
Saturday, May 14, 2016
Pentecost
The very same Holy Ghost that gave the first Apostles the fortitude and courage to proclaim Christ's message is present to us. In fact, He dwells within us by virtue of our baptism and confirmation! We have the same power as the first disciples of Christ! We must believe with a lively faith that Christ is willing and ready to work within us as He did so for the Apostles at the first Pentecost! Come Holy Ghost!! Give us courage and a lively faith!
Fr Jeff Fasching
Topics:
Apostle,
baptism,
Christ,
Confirmation,
Courage,
Faith,
Holy Ghost,
pentecost
Friday, May 8, 2015
Bulletin 255
SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)
CELEBRANT: Father Jeff Fasching
May 10, 2015
Fifth Sunday After Easter
Epistle: Jas. 1:22-27
Gospel: Jn. 16:23-30
Mon 11 -- No Latin Mass
Tue 12 – Ss. Nereus, Achilleus, Domitilla, Virgin, & Pancras, Martyrs
Wed 13 – Vigil of the Ascension
Thu 14 – Ascension of the Lord
Fri 15 – Saint John Baptist de la Salle, Confessor
At the last Supper, Christ warned His apostles that He would soon be leaving them. He would soon return to the glory He always had with His Father in heaven. At this point, the apostles were far from knowing and loving Jesus perfectly. They knew that He came forth from God, but their faith was still very weak, and they would soon lose it altogether. The apostles were now enjoying Christ's company after His Resurrection. Christ teaches them everything they are required to know in order to become the teachers of the whole world.
Jesus says to His apostles: “The Father loveth you, because ye have loved Me.” We ourselves should be consoled by these words. Christ tells us to ask God the Father for everything we need. We should ask first and foremost to persevere in the spirit of Eastertide. We should pray to Saint James, the apostle of Paschal Time and the apostle of good works that we may obtain the grace to persevere in this new life of grace with our risen Lord! It is not enough to simply believe, says Saint James, but we must also demonstrate our faith with good works!
In Christo Jesu et
Maria Immaculata,
Father Jeff Fasching
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)
CELEBRANT: Father Jeff Fasching
May 10, 2015
Fifth Sunday After Easter
Epistle: Jas. 1:22-27
Gospel: Jn. 16:23-30
Mon 11 -- No Latin Mass
Tue 12 – Ss. Nereus, Achilleus, Domitilla, Virgin, & Pancras, Martyrs
Wed 13 – Vigil of the Ascension
Thu 14 – Ascension of the Lord
Fri 15 – Saint John Baptist de la Salle, Confessor
At the last Supper, Christ warned His apostles that He would soon be leaving them. He would soon return to the glory He always had with His Father in heaven. At this point, the apostles were far from knowing and loving Jesus perfectly. They knew that He came forth from God, but their faith was still very weak, and they would soon lose it altogether. The apostles were now enjoying Christ's company after His Resurrection. Christ teaches them everything they are required to know in order to become the teachers of the whole world.
Jesus says to His apostles: “The Father loveth you, because ye have loved Me.” We ourselves should be consoled by these words. Christ tells us to ask God the Father for everything we need. We should ask first and foremost to persevere in the spirit of Eastertide. We should pray to Saint James, the apostle of Paschal Time and the apostle of good works that we may obtain the grace to persevere in this new life of grace with our risen Lord! It is not enough to simply believe, says Saint James, but we must also demonstrate our faith with good works!
In Christo Jesu et
Maria Immaculata,
Father Jeff Fasching
Topics:
Apostle,
Ascension,
Christ,
Easter priest,
Faith,
Glory,
God,
Grace,
Heaven,
Latin Mass,
Paschaltide,
Perseverence,
resurrection,
Saints,
works
Saturday, February 21, 2015
Bulletin 244
SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)
CELEBRANT: Father Jeffery Fasching
February 22nd, 2015-- Mass @ 7:00pm.
First Sunday of Lent
Epistle: 2 Cor. 6: 1-10
Gospel: Mt. 4: 1-11
Mon 23 No Latin Mass
Tue 24 Saint Matthias * Apostle
Wed 25 Ember Wednesday of Lent
Thu 26 Feria of Lent
Fri 27 Ember Friday of Lent
Mass on February 22nd will be at 7:00pm.
Stations of the Cross will be prayed after Mass on Fridays during Lent.
The next pot luck is scheduled for Sunday, March 1st immediately following the 2:30pm Latin Mass.
On each of the Fridays of Lent, a plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who, after Communion, recite the “Prayer Before a Crucifix.”
Christ sought solitude in the desert. He was led by the Holy Ghost as His guide. He prepared Himself to confront temptation. We should be happy and grateful to Christ because He allowed Himself to be tempted in order to show us how to gain victory over our own temptations. Christ shows His love for us in allowing Himself to be tempted! All we need to do to win victory in temptation is to desire it!
Temptation helps us to know ourselves. It is necessary so that we can realize our unworthiness and prevent our pride from taking control over ourselves. We must humbly turn to Christ in temptation and He will always gives us the grace to overcome.
In Christo Jesu et
Maria Immaculata,
Father Jeff Fasching
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)
CELEBRANT: Father Jeffery Fasching
February 22nd, 2015-- Mass @ 7:00pm.
First Sunday of Lent
Epistle: 2 Cor. 6: 1-10
Gospel: Mt. 4: 1-11
Mon 23 No Latin Mass
Tue 24 Saint Matthias * Apostle
Wed 25 Ember Wednesday of Lent
Thu 26 Feria of Lent
Fri 27 Ember Friday of Lent
Mass on February 22nd will be at 7:00pm.
Stations of the Cross will be prayed after Mass on Fridays during Lent.
The next pot luck is scheduled for Sunday, March 1st immediately following the 2:30pm Latin Mass.
On each of the Fridays of Lent, a plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who, after Communion, recite the “Prayer Before a Crucifix.”
Christ sought solitude in the desert. He was led by the Holy Ghost as His guide. He prepared Himself to confront temptation. We should be happy and grateful to Christ because He allowed Himself to be tempted in order to show us how to gain victory over our own temptations. Christ shows His love for us in allowing Himself to be tempted! All we need to do to win victory in temptation is to desire it!
Temptation helps us to know ourselves. It is necessary so that we can realize our unworthiness and prevent our pride from taking control over ourselves. We must humbly turn to Christ in temptation and He will always gives us the grace to overcome.
In Christo Jesu et
Maria Immaculata,
Father Jeff Fasching
Topics:
abstain,
Apostle,
Blessed Virgin,
Christ,
confidence,
Ember Day,
Feria,
Grace,
Holy Communion,
Indulgence,
Lent,
Mass,
Prayer,
pride,
Sin,
Temptation,
Trust,
victory
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Bulletin 210
SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)
CELEBRANT: Father Jeffery Fasching
June 29, 2014
SS. Peter & Paul * Apostles
Epistle: Acts 12: 1-11
Gospel: Mt. 16: 13-19
Mon 30 Commemoration of Saint Paul * Apostle, No Latin Mass
Tue 1 Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Wed 2 Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Thu 3 Saint Irenaeus, Bishop & Martyr
Fri Sacred Heart of Jesus
Mass on Friday, July 4 will be followed by adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and benediction.
The Magisterium of the Church, in the First Vatican Council, defined the doctrine of the primacy of Peter and his successors in these terms:
“We teach and declare, therefore, according to the testimony of the Gospel that the primacy of jurisdiction over the whole Church was immediately and directly promised to and conferred upon the blessed Apostle Peter by Christ the Lord. For Simon, Christ had said, 'You shall be called Cephas' (Jn 1:42). Then, after Simon had acknowledged Christ with the confession, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God' (Mt 16:16), it was to Simon alone that the solemn words were spoken by the Lord: 'Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and what you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven' (Mt 16: 17-19).”
We are bound to believe that Christ Himself gave to Peter the authority of Prince of the Apostles as the visible head over the whole Church militant. Whoever succeeds Peter in this Chair holds Peter's primacy over the whole Church according to the plan of Christ Himself!
In Christ,
Father Jeffery A. Fasching
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)
CELEBRANT: Father Jeffery Fasching
June 29, 2014
SS. Peter & Paul * Apostles
Epistle: Acts 12: 1-11
Gospel: Mt. 16: 13-19
Mon 30 Commemoration of Saint Paul * Apostle, No Latin Mass
Tue 1 Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Wed 2 Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Thu 3 Saint Irenaeus, Bishop & Martyr
Fri Sacred Heart of Jesus
Mass on Friday, July 4 will be followed by adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and benediction.
The Magisterium of the Church, in the First Vatican Council, defined the doctrine of the primacy of Peter and his successors in these terms:
“We teach and declare, therefore, according to the testimony of the Gospel that the primacy of jurisdiction over the whole Church was immediately and directly promised to and conferred upon the blessed Apostle Peter by Christ the Lord. For Simon, Christ had said, 'You shall be called Cephas' (Jn 1:42). Then, after Simon had acknowledged Christ with the confession, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God' (Mt 16:16), it was to Simon alone that the solemn words were spoken by the Lord: 'Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and what you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven' (Mt 16: 17-19).”
We are bound to believe that Christ Himself gave to Peter the authority of Prince of the Apostles as the visible head over the whole Church militant. Whoever succeeds Peter in this Chair holds Peter's primacy over the whole Church according to the plan of Christ Himself!
In Christ,
Father Jeffery A. Fasching
Topics:
adoration,
Apostle,
Blessed Sacrament,
Blessed Virgin Mary,
Christ,
Church,
Confession,
Divine,
Heaven,
Hell,
Martyr,
Pope,
precious blood,
Priest,
Primacy,
rock,
Sacred Heart,
Vatican Council,
Visitation
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Bulletin 206
SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)
CELEBRANT: Father Jeffery Fasching
June 1, 2014
External Solemnity of the Ascension
Epistle: Acts 1: 1-11
Gospel: Mk. 16: 14-20
Mon 2 No Latin Mass
Tue 3 Feria after Ascension
Wed 4 Saint Francis Caracciolo, Confessor
Thu 5 Saint Boniface, Bishop & Martyr
Fri 6 Sacred Heart of Jesus
Mass on June 22nd (the External Solemnity of Corpus Christi) will begin at 1:30pm followed by a procession with the Blessed Sacrament. You are invited to Join His Excellency, Bishop James Johnston for Mass and the procession.
Pot-luck following Mass on Sunday, June 1.
Mass on June 6 will be followed by adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and benediction.
The Gospel reminds us of the “universal apostolic mandate.” Christ commanded His Apostles to preach the Gospel to the whole world. This command applies also to the successors of the Apostles, the bishops who are in communion with Peter’s successor, the Pope.
In fact, the whole Church has a responsibility to spread the kingdom of Christ throughout the whole world! Our vocation as Christians must embrace making Christ known to all. Christ wills that men be an instrument of salvation for others. The second Vatican Council teaches us that all Christians should work to bring all men to the knowledge of Christ’s message of salvation!
Christ is the one mediator and way of salvation. He is present to us in His body which is the Church. We must help others to know and embrace this truth!
In Christ,
Father Jeff Fasching
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)
CELEBRANT: Father Jeffery Fasching
June 1, 2014
External Solemnity of the Ascension
Epistle: Acts 1: 1-11
Gospel: Mk. 16: 14-20
Mon 2 No Latin Mass
Tue 3 Feria after Ascension
Wed 4 Saint Francis Caracciolo, Confessor
Thu 5 Saint Boniface, Bishop & Martyr
Fri 6 Sacred Heart of Jesus
Mass on June 22nd (the External Solemnity of Corpus Christi) will begin at 1:30pm followed by a procession with the Blessed Sacrament. You are invited to Join His Excellency, Bishop James Johnston for Mass and the procession.
Pot-luck following Mass on Sunday, June 1.
Mass on June 6 will be followed by adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and benediction.
The Gospel reminds us of the “universal apostolic mandate.” Christ commanded His Apostles to preach the Gospel to the whole world. This command applies also to the successors of the Apostles, the bishops who are in communion with Peter’s successor, the Pope.
In fact, the whole Church has a responsibility to spread the kingdom of Christ throughout the whole world! Our vocation as Christians must embrace making Christ known to all. Christ wills that men be an instrument of salvation for others. The second Vatican Council teaches us that all Christians should work to bring all men to the knowledge of Christ’s message of salvation!
Christ is the one mediator and way of salvation. He is present to us in His body which is the Church. We must help others to know and embrace this truth!
In Christ,
Father Jeff Fasching
Topics:
Apostle,
Benediction,
Bishop,
Blessed Sacrament,
Blessed Virgin Mary,
body,
Corpus Christi,
Feria,
Gospel,
kingdom,
mandate,
Martyr,
Mass,
Pope,
Procession,
Sacred Heart,
Saints,
Second Vatican Council,
Truth
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Bulletin 175
SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)
CELEBRANT: Father Jeffery Fasching
October 27th, 2013
Christ the King
Epistle: Col. 1: 12-20
Gospel: Jn. 18: 33-37
Mass Schedule October 28th through November 1st:
Mon 28 SS. Simon * & Jude * Apostles—No Latin Mass
Tue 29 Feria
Wed 30 Feria
Thu 31 Feria
Fri All Saints—Mass @ 10:30am
Our next pot-luck dinner will be on Sunday, November 3rd following the 2:30pm Latin Mass in the school cafeteria. This will be combined with an all-saints day party.
All Saints Day is a holy day of obligation in the Universal Church and in the U.S.
The month of November is dedicated to the Holy Souls. On all the days of November from November 1 through November 8 inclusive, a plenary indulgence, applicable only to the Poor Souls, is granted to those who visit a cemetery and pray, even if only mentally, for the departed. Partial indulgences are granted to those who recite Lauds or Vespers of the Office of the Dead, and to those who recite the prayer “Requiem aeternam dona eis. Domini, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Requiescant in pace” (“Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace”).
Sunday, October 27 is the feast of the Kingship of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is our King by right. He is the Son of God. In His divine nature as God He is the sovereign Lord and Master. He has conquered sin and Satan through His sufferings, passion and death. We too conquer sin and hell in and through Jesus Christ our King!
One may gain a plenary indulgence by the public recitation of the Act of Consecration of the Human Race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The following is the text of prayer:
Most sweet Jesus,
Redeemer of the human race,
look down upon us,
humbly prostrate before Thine altar.
We are Thine and Thine we wish to be;
but to be more surely united with Thee,
behold each one of us freely consecrates himself today
to Thy Most Sacred Heart.
Many, indeed, have never known Thee;
many, too, despising Thy precepts,
have rejected Thee.
Have mercy on them all,
most merciful Jesus,
and draw them to Thy Sacred Heart.
Be Thou King, O Lord,
not only of the faithful who have never forsaken Thee,
but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned Thee,
grant that they may quickly return to their Father's house,
lest they die of wretchedness and hunger.
Be Thou King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions,
or whom discord keeps aloof
and call them back to the harbour of truth and unity of faith,
so that soon there may be but one flock and one shepherd.
Be Thou King of all those who even now sit in the shadow of idolatry or Islam,
and refuse not Thou to bring them into the light of Thy kingdom.
Look, finally, with eyes of pity upon the children of that race,
which was for so long a time Thy chosen people;
and let Thy Blood, which was once invoked upon them in vengeance,
now descend upon them also in a cleansing flood of redemption and eternal life.
Grant, O Lord,
to Thy Church,
assurance of freedom and immunity from harm;
give peace and order to all nations,
and make the earth resound
from pole to pole with one cry:
Praise to the Divine Heart
that wrought our salvation:
to it be glory
and honour forever.
Amen
Fr. Jeff Fasching
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)
CELEBRANT: Father Jeffery Fasching
October 27th, 2013
Christ the King
Epistle: Col. 1: 12-20
Gospel: Jn. 18: 33-37
Mass Schedule October 28th through November 1st:
Mon 28 SS. Simon * & Jude * Apostles—No Latin Mass
Tue 29 Feria
Wed 30 Feria
Thu 31 Feria
Fri All Saints—Mass @ 10:30am
Our next pot-luck dinner will be on Sunday, November 3rd following the 2:30pm Latin Mass in the school cafeteria. This will be combined with an all-saints day party.
All Saints Day is a holy day of obligation in the Universal Church and in the U.S.
The month of November is dedicated to the Holy Souls. On all the days of November from November 1 through November 8 inclusive, a plenary indulgence, applicable only to the Poor Souls, is granted to those who visit a cemetery and pray, even if only mentally, for the departed. Partial indulgences are granted to those who recite Lauds or Vespers of the Office of the Dead, and to those who recite the prayer “Requiem aeternam dona eis. Domini, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Requiescant in pace” (“Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace”).
Sunday, October 27 is the feast of the Kingship of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is our King by right. He is the Son of God. In His divine nature as God He is the sovereign Lord and Master. He has conquered sin and Satan through His sufferings, passion and death. We too conquer sin and hell in and through Jesus Christ our King!
One may gain a plenary indulgence by the public recitation of the Act of Consecration of the Human Race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The following is the text of prayer:
Most sweet Jesus,
Redeemer of the human race,
look down upon us,
humbly prostrate before Thine altar.
We are Thine and Thine we wish to be;
but to be more surely united with Thee,
behold each one of us freely consecrates himself today
to Thy Most Sacred Heart.
Many, indeed, have never known Thee;
many, too, despising Thy precepts,
have rejected Thee.
Have mercy on them all,
most merciful Jesus,
and draw them to Thy Sacred Heart.
Be Thou King, O Lord,
not only of the faithful who have never forsaken Thee,
but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned Thee,
grant that they may quickly return to their Father's house,
lest they die of wretchedness and hunger.
Be Thou King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions,
or whom discord keeps aloof
and call them back to the harbour of truth and unity of faith,
so that soon there may be but one flock and one shepherd.
Be Thou King of all those who even now sit in the shadow of idolatry or Islam,
and refuse not Thou to bring them into the light of Thy kingdom.
Look, finally, with eyes of pity upon the children of that race,
which was for so long a time Thy chosen people;
and let Thy Blood, which was once invoked upon them in vengeance,
now descend upon them also in a cleansing flood of redemption and eternal life.
Grant, O Lord,
to Thy Church,
assurance of freedom and immunity from harm;
give peace and order to all nations,
and make the earth resound
from pole to pole with one cry:
Praise to the Divine Heart
that wrought our salvation:
to it be glory
and honour forever.
Amen
Fr. Jeff Fasching
Monday, July 15, 2013
Bulletin 161
SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)
CELEBRANT: Father Jeffery Fasching
July 21, 2013 9th Sunday after Pentecost
Epistle: 1 Cor. 10:6-13; Gospel: Luke 19:41-47
Mass Schedule July 22 through July 26
Mon 22 Saint Mary Magdalene, Penitent—No Latin Mass
Tue 23 Saint Apollinaris, Bishop & Martyr
Wed 24 Feria
Thu 25 Saint James the Greater, Apostle
Fri 26 Saint Anne, Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary
God has called mankind in His gracious goodness to a destiny surpassing its natural powers. We were created for heaven and eternity. God has elevated our nature by endowing it with supernatural life! This is a sharing in His divine life! God gives us grace as a pure gift, but we must receive it and cooperate with it in order to grow in union with Him. In Catholic tradition, this free cooperation with grace that permits us to grow in divine life is called merit. Merit may be defined as a good work freely done that is worthy of a promised reward. It may be defined as the right to a promised reward because of a good work done.
When God, in His mercy, freely justifies the sinner and gives the life of grace, with this gift He bestows the capacity to cooperate with grace and thus grow in the life of grace. This capacity is what is meant by merit. For example, a man mows your yard and you pay him twenty dollars. When the person is done he deserves the amount you agreed to pay him. He has merited his work. An athlete wins a marathon. He runs faster than all the other runners. He has merited the coveted first place prize!
Although the noun “merit” is not a biblical term, it has been traditionally used to express a complex of ideas that are found in the Bible. It is similar in this respect to words like “Holy Trinity,” “Bible,” “Holy Eucharist,” “Holy Orders,” “ordination,” etc., which are also not found in the Bible but which express realities taught in the Bible. The reality of merit is expressed in the Bible under images such as reward, repayment, wages, prize, crown, which God as a just judge promises to give to men because of good works done during their life on earth.
Jesus Christ often speaks of the reward that will be given for good works. For example, to those who suffer persecution for His sake He says: “Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is great in heaven” (Mt 5.11f).
“When you give pray, do it in secret, “and your Father who sees in secret will repay you” (Mt 6.6). When you fast, do not appear to be fasting, “and your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you” (Mt 6.18).
He urges His disciples not to store up earthly treasure but instead to store up treasure in heaven (Mt 6.20). When Peter asked Jesus what the disciples can expect for having given up all things to follow Him, Jesus says: “Everyone who has given up home, brothers or sisters, father or mother, wife or children or property for my sake will receive many times as much and inherit everlasting life” (Mt 19.27-29).
In Christ,
Fr. Jeff Fasching
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)
CELEBRANT: Father Jeffery Fasching
July 21, 2013 9th Sunday after Pentecost
Epistle: 1 Cor. 10:6-13; Gospel: Luke 19:41-47
Mass Schedule July 22 through July 26
Mon 22 Saint Mary Magdalene, Penitent—No Latin Mass
Tue 23 Saint Apollinaris, Bishop & Martyr
Wed 24 Feria
Thu 25 Saint James the Greater, Apostle
Fri 26 Saint Anne, Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary
God has called mankind in His gracious goodness to a destiny surpassing its natural powers. We were created for heaven and eternity. God has elevated our nature by endowing it with supernatural life! This is a sharing in His divine life! God gives us grace as a pure gift, but we must receive it and cooperate with it in order to grow in union with Him. In Catholic tradition, this free cooperation with grace that permits us to grow in divine life is called merit. Merit may be defined as a good work freely done that is worthy of a promised reward. It may be defined as the right to a promised reward because of a good work done.
When God, in His mercy, freely justifies the sinner and gives the life of grace, with this gift He bestows the capacity to cooperate with grace and thus grow in the life of grace. This capacity is what is meant by merit. For example, a man mows your yard and you pay him twenty dollars. When the person is done he deserves the amount you agreed to pay him. He has merited his work. An athlete wins a marathon. He runs faster than all the other runners. He has merited the coveted first place prize!
Although the noun “merit” is not a biblical term, it has been traditionally used to express a complex of ideas that are found in the Bible. It is similar in this respect to words like “Holy Trinity,” “Bible,” “Holy Eucharist,” “Holy Orders,” “ordination,” etc., which are also not found in the Bible but which express realities taught in the Bible. The reality of merit is expressed in the Bible under images such as reward, repayment, wages, prize, crown, which God as a just judge promises to give to men because of good works done during their life on earth.
Jesus Christ often speaks of the reward that will be given for good works. For example, to those who suffer persecution for His sake He says: “Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is great in heaven” (Mt 5.11f).
“When you give pray, do it in secret, “and your Father who sees in secret will repay you” (Mt 6.6). When you fast, do not appear to be fasting, “and your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you” (Mt 6.18).
He urges His disciples not to store up earthly treasure but instead to store up treasure in heaven (Mt 6.20). When Peter asked Jesus what the disciples can expect for having given up all things to follow Him, Jesus says: “Everyone who has given up home, brothers or sisters, father or mother, wife or children or property for my sake will receive many times as much and inherit everlasting life” (Mt 19.27-29).
In Christ,
Fr. Jeff Fasching
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