The Crisis and the Storm

Originally posted on FullyChristian.Com, reprinted here by permission. Source: http://catholicozarks.blogspot.com/2014/10/the-fourth-great-crisis.html

THE CRISIS AND THE STORM



In ages past, the Catholic Church faced three great crises....
The First Great Crisis was the Arian Heresy, and it was by far the worst. It happened in the fourth century and lasted about sixty years. The crisis centred around the divinity of Jesus Christ, wherein a rogue priest, named Arius, challenged established Church doctrine that Jesus Christ is divine, and God exists in the form of Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Arius asserted that Jesus was merely a man, a great prophet, and the promised Messiah, but not God. Arius was the first one to come up with the concept of a "Bible" or Canon of Scripture, in which he hand-selected the books contained therein, all of them affirming his heretical views. This period saw the majority of the world's Christian bishops, priests and laity siding with Arius. The Councils of Nicea and Constantinople were held during this time, and in response the Church not only condemned Arius and his heresy, but also formulated the Nicene Creed and commissioned the work of compiling an authentic Christian Bible, particularly the New Testament, which happens to be the same one all Christians use today. The First Great Crisis of the Church came to an end with the dismantling of Arianism and the victory of the Catholic Church.
The Second Great Crisis in the Church came during the tenth century, in what some have called the "Obscure Century". This was a period when the papacy was corrupted by wicked families with great wealth and political power. During this time the papacy was drug through the mud, so to speak, with corrupt popes, nepotism, materialism, political ambitions, and so on. No official heresy was taught from the Chair of Peter, but the level of corruption and lack of discipline led many Catholics to be carried away by heretical doctrines anyway.
The Third Great Crisis in the Church was called the Occidental Schism (or "Western Schism"), which was in part caused by the exile of the papacy to Avignon in France. This led to confusion which ultimately culminated in the reign of three "popes" simultaneously, each contenting to be the one true authentic pope. The crisis was ended at the Council of Constance in 1414-1418, when two of the three "popes" agreed to resign for the greater good of the Church, the third was deposed by the council, and a new authentic pope was elected in their places.
Now we face the FOURTH GREAT CRISIS of the Catholic Church. These words are not my own. They come from Bishop Athanasius Schneider, Auxiliary of Astana (Kazakhstan), who's interview can be read on Rorate Caeli blog. The Fourth Great Crisis in the Catholic Church can be summarised as the widespread abuse of the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist, which is manifested in the form of liturgical, doctrinal and pastoral abuse.


The seeds of this crisis began in the middle twentieth century, before the Second Vatican Council and shortly after World War II. It was at this time that the focus of leaders within the Catholic Church began to shift from God to man. The discipline of psychology was growing in popularity at the time, and many Church leaders started to embrace it. Along with that, new theologians were coming to the forefront that questioned what was previously established Church teaching. Into this mix the Second Vatican Council was called. Pope Benedict XVI, who was present at the Council as Fr. Joseph Ratzinger, in one of his final public addresses as pontiff some fifty years later, clarified the situation that existed at that time. (I blogged on this extensively here.) In summary, he said that "two councils" were going on simultaneously. The first was the "Council of the Fathers", or the authentic Second Vatican Council, which is what the bishops were actually discussing in Rome. The second was the "Council of the Media", which was a counterfeit council created by the mainstream news press, in which the documents of the Second Vatican Council were "reinterpreted" by the press, and then disseminated to the public with a remarkably Left-wing and Modernist spin that the Council Fathers never intended. This process has continued, more or less, for the last 50 years, to a point where we now live in a time when the popular media has more influence on Catholics than the bishops of the Church. What we have witnessed in the last half century is nothing short than a psychological coup d'état on the minds of faithful Catholics, wherein the authentic leadership of the Church was replaced by the counterfeit leadership of the mainstream press.


Immediately following the Second Vatican Council was the introduction of the Missal of Pope Paul VI. On the whole, the missal was a simplification of the Roman Liturgy, making room for the expansion of Lectionary readings, as well as greater liturgical participation by the faithful laity. This was all it was ever intended to do, and the Council Fathers, previously assembled in Rome, envisioned a future liturgy with greater public participation and more reading from the Sacred Scriptures. They also envisioned a future liturgy that looked remarkably similar to the Missal of Saint Pius V, celebrated by the Council Fathers at the Second Vatican Council. That was not to happen. Immediately, the counterfeit Council of the Media went into action in the 1970s, following the release of the new missal, reinterpreting the intention and purpose of the new liturgy. What was produced was a new Roman liturgy that scarcely looks anything like what the Second Vatican Council intended, resulting in a complete loss of the Latin language (a language the Council Fathers affirmed as liturgically necessary), the loss of Gregorian chant, and most profoundly, a watered-down presentation of the Eucharist wherein the faithful receive communion in the hand while standing, and the sacred tabernacle is literally pushed off to some remote corner of the parish chapel. In almost all celebrations of the new missal, the priest faces the people, and in those parishes where the tabernacle is set off to the side somewhere, it leaves the congregation with the visual impression that man is the centre of the liturgy not God.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI), in his book Spirit of the Liturgy put it this way:
'In the very form of its places of divine worship, which we have just been considering, Christianity, speaking and thinking in a Semitic way, has laid down principles by which this question can be answered. Despite all the variations in practise that have taken place far into the second millennium, one thing has remained clear for the whole of Christendom: praying towards the East is a tradition that goes back to the beginning. Moreover, it is a fundamental expression of the Christian synthesis of cosmos and history, of being rooted in the once-for-all events of salvation history while going out to meet the Lord who is to come again. Here both the fidelity to the gift already bestowed and the dynamism of going forward are given equal expression... Admittedly, these connections were obscured or fell into total oblivion in the church buildings and liturgical practise of the modern age. This is the only explanation for the fact that the common direction of prayer of priest and people got labelled as "celebrating towards the wall" or "turning your back on the people" and came to seem absurd and totally unacceptable. And this alone explains why the meal – even in modern pictures – became the normative idea of liturgical celebration for Christians. In reality what happened was that an unprecedented clericalization came on the scene. Now the priest – the "presider," as they now prefer to call him – becomes the real point of reference for the whole liturgy. Everything depends on him. We have to see him, to respond to him, to be involved in what he is doing. His creativity sustains the whole thing.... Not surprisingly, people try to reduce this newly created role by assigning all kinds of liturgical functions to different individuals and entrusting the "creative" planning of the liturgy to groups of people who like to, and are supposed to, "make their own contribution." Less and less is God in the picture. More and more important is what is done by the human beings who meet here and do not like to subject themselves to a "pre-determined pattern".... The turning of the priest towards the people has turned the community into a self-enclosed circle. In its outward form, it no longer opens out on what lies ahead and above, but is closed in on itself.'
THUD! And with that, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) summarised the prevailing direction of the Catholic Church in the modern age. The Council of the Media was so powerful that it affected the minds of some priests and bishops, reorienting them toward a new hierarchy, one in which the Zeitgeist of Modernism (the diabolical spirit of our age) reigns supreme.



Ratzinger characterised the fruit of this zeitgeist as the "tyranny of relativism" in which sin and depravity is tolerated in the name of "tolerance", while objection to sin and depravity is not tolerated in the name of "tolerance". So we see it played out in the Western governments of today. Easy "no-fault" divorce is commonplace, as is unmarried sexual cohabitation, artificial contraception and abortion on demand. A tide of homosexuality is rising at a rate unseen since the days of Pagan Rome, and once again in the name of "tolerance" this Zeitgeist of Modernism imposes a tyranny of relativism upon anyone who would dare speak out against it. Legal homosexual unions, mockingly called "marriages", have become the norm in Europe and Canada, while in the United States, one state after another falls to this tyranny in spite of the electoral will of the people.



In Christianity, the Zeitgeist of Modernism, with its tyranny of relativism, has wreaked havoc on the Protestant world. What was once just a couple dozen denominations and sects has exploded into literally hundreds, as conservative Protestants, faithful to traditional Christian morality, have fled their mainline denominations to create new splinter churches that maintain older Biblical standards. These "conservative" churches provide a refuge of peace for now, but the Zeitgeist of Modernism knows no denominational boundaries. Already the tyranny of relativism is knocking at the doors of many of these new conservative Protestant denominations. Some religious trend observers have forecasted their downfall within a matter of a decade or two.



In the Catholic Church, the Zeitgeist of Modernism, with its tyranny of relativism, has not fractured the unity of Rome -- yet -- but it has apparently infiltrated into the highest echelons of the Church hierarchy. Priests, bishops and even cardinals have been unable to evade its deep reaching tentacles. We have seen this unfold over decades with priests who refuse to teach their congregations the evils of: divorce, cohabitation, contraception, abortion, euthanasia and homosexual acts. We have seen this unfold over decades with bishops who refuse to enforce Canon 915 by making excommunication and interdiction almost unheard of in the modern Church. We have seen this unfold over decades with innumerable examples of liturgical innovation and abuse. We have seen this unfold over decades in the form of a clerical sex scandal, with the abuse of minors, that is unprecedented in the whole 2,000 years of Church history!



Now, after the election of Pope Francis, the mainstream press has put the Council of the Media into overdrive. If the Council of the Media gave us that diabolical "Spirit of Vatican II", which had nothing to do with the actual Vatican II, then what we are now witnessing is the equally diabolical "Spirit of Pope Francis" which has nothing to do with the real Pope Francis -- or so we can only hope. This artificial "Spirit of Pope Francis" is in every way heterodox. It embraces homosexual acts along with homosexual persons, as well as divorce itself along with divorced people. It makes no distinction between the act and the person. All is one in the same, with this "lovey-dovey, hippy-dippy" new pope, who refuses to judge anything, and views everything as permissible. Is the real Pope Francis anything like what the media has portrayed in its artificial "Spirit of Pope Francis"? We hope not, but only time will tell.



In the midst of this latest media push comes the Extraordinary Synod on the Family this October, to be followed by an Ordinary Synod on the Family in October of 2015. As we have seen unfold in the Extraordinary Synod, the sum of all fears has been realised. The Zeitgeist of Modernism has reached its tentacles deep into the Church hierarchy, and touched the highest ranking prelates with its tyranny of relativism. We have seen a statement released calling for changes in Church discipline, tone and language, related to the sins of: adultery, fornication, contraception and homosexuality. At the centre of this agenda is a push to permit the reception of Holy Communion (the Holy Eucharist) to those knowingly and obstinately in mortal sin, all with the blessing of the Catholic Church. Along with this comes the predictable "Synod of the Media" which is already making international headlines. As terrible as the Extraordinary Synod has become, the "Synod of the Media" will compound the situation, and make it so much worse, with the news media's reinterpretation and repackaging of the Synod's already warped message.



It remains to be seen what will come of this, and the first Synod report is just preliminary, but with this report, it has become painfully clear and obvious that Bishop Athanasius Schneider was right. With pinpoint accuracy he nailed it. We are now in the Fourth Great Crisis of the Catholic Church. The crisis revolves around the nature of the Holy Eucharist and abuses related to it. Surveys of Catholics all over the world reveal that the doctrine of the transubstantiation (literal presence of Christ) is no loner believed by a majority of Catholics, and this perhaps explains a lot. It is no wonder that the Eucharist is no longer centre in Catholic life, when the tabernacles are placed in some obscure corner of the parish church. It is no wonder when communicants are no longer asked to kneel in the presence of God, and receive Him enthroned on their tongue, but instead take Him in their own hands like a common cookie to be consumed as a casual snack. It is no wonder when the sacrament of confession is celebrated only occasionally, and rarely before mass, so that the faithful are not reminded of their need to confess their sins and prepare themselves for physical communion with God. It is no wonder when the liturgy becomes a "self-enclosed circle" wherein the priest, and not the sacrament, become the centre of attention. It is no wonder when the liturgy takes on an innovative carnival atmosphere, instead of a solemn and reverent celebration of the presence of God. As the Church used to say: Lex orandi, lex credendi, meaning in Latin, "the law of prayer is the law of belief". When the Church creates a liturgical experience that focuses more on man than God, is it any wonder that the people begin to think of man as God? In the Garden of Eden, the lie the serpent told to humanity was this. To disobey God was to become a god, and to become a god is to judge for yourselves, without God, what is good and what is evil. God's laws do not matter. What matters is your own judgement. So we see this unfolding in the Catholic Church, as we previously saw it unfold in the mainline Protestant churches. Man becomes God, and man creates his own morality, based upon his own judgement. We have seen this happen among the laity, many of whom no longer believe in the "real presents" in the Eucharist, but simultaneously believe homosexual "marriage" is permissible and should be embraced. God is denied, and man is exalted to the level of a god, judging for himself what is good and evil. God is left out of the process. What began in the laity has crawled its way up into the hierarchy of the Church. In the Extraordinary Synod on the Family, we have witnessed Catholic prelates call for a relaxation of laws pertaining to the reception of Holy Communion, so that what is already practised illegally in the Catholic Church, may now receive the blessing of the Catholic Church. This way the Holy Eucharist may be profaned even more regularly, and without the care or concern by those in charge. The community of the Church may finally focus entirely on itself, rather than the One whom they have supposedly gathered to worship.



At he heart of the moral crisis evolving at the Synod on the Family, is a deeper crisis related to the Holy Eucharist, and in particular its treatment in the modern Church. It is revealed in everything, from beliefs, to practises, to liturgy, to discipline. This is the Fourth Great Crisis in the Catholic Church. How long it will last depends entirely on the long-suffering and mercy of God Almighty. In the painting above is depicted a recreation of Jesus calming the storm at sea. Our Eucharistic Christ will calm this storm as well, but like the disciples before us, we must first wake him and ask. Perhaps the time has come for constant prayer vigils to be held at every tabernacle, in every parish, around the world.

Bulletin 133

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806

EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)

CELEBRANT Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

December 30th, 2012; Sunday in the Octave of Christmas *Mass at 7:00 pm*

Epistle: Gal. 4:1-7; Gospel: Lk. 2:33-40

Mass schedule December 31st through January 4th

Monday: Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas—No Latin Mass

Tuesday: Octave Day of Christmas—Mass at 2:30pm

Wednesday: Most Holy Name of Jesus

Thursday: Feria of Christmastide

Friday: Requiem Mass + Nicolae Ciugudean

Mass on New Year’s Day will be at 2:30pm.

*Mass on Sunday, December 30th will be at 7:00pm*

Out of sheer love God has created us with a free will. He wants us to choose for Him and He calls us to liberty. The wonder of the Christmas season and the grace of our redemption shine forth in the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Word made flesh used to speak to us through the prophets, but now God has sent His Son in person in order to reveal Himself completely and to save the world!

Christ became like us in all things but sin. He ate, drank and slept. He suffered and died to redeem us and thus strengthens us when we ourselves meet with adversity. When we accept Jesus Christ our entire being gains immortality! If we acknowledge Him while we live on this earth He will in turn acknowledge us before God His Father.

God has created us in His own image, thus we possess great dignity. We must turn our hearts to God without hesitation. Christ has taken away our sin. We must obey Him and keep His commandments if we wish Him to honor us.

In Christ,

Fr. Jeff Fasching

Bulletin 115

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806

EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)

CELEBRANT Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

August 19th, 2012; 12th Sunday after Pentecost

Epistle: II Cor. 3:4-9; Gospel: Lk. 10:23-27

Mass Schedule August 20th through August 24th

Monday –Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Abbot and Doctor--NO LATIN MASS

Tuesday-Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, Widow

Wednesday-Immaculate Heart of Mary

Thursday-Saint Philip Benizi, Confessor

Friday-Saint Bartholomew, Apostle

The best reasons for praying the Holy Rosary are the following:

1) For world peace… “Say the Rosary every day to obtain peace for the world.” (Our Lady of Fatima, 1917). The Popes have highly recommended the Rosary to promote peace throughout the world.

2) A means for preserving the home…”There is no surer means of calling down God’s blessings upon the family…than the daily recitation of the Rosary”… Pope Pius XII

3) For courage in the hardships of life …”a powerful means of renewing our courage will undoubtedly be found in the Holy Rosary”…Pope Leo XIII

4) As a ready and easy means of preserving the faith…”We have elsewhere brought it to the attention of the devout Christian that not least among the advantages of the Rosary is the ready means it puts in his hands to nurture his faith, and to keep him from ignorance of his religion and the danger of error”…Pope Leo XIII

Many saints have had mystical experiences of hell. One well know account is contained in the report on the Fatima apparitions which Lucia Santos, one of the seers of Fatima, submitted to Dom Jose, bishop of Leiria, on 31 August 1941. Lucia writes that during the apparition of 13 July 1917, Our Lady gave the three children a momentary glimpse of hell to encourage them to pray for sinners.

After the vision ended, Our Lady urged the children to pray and offer many sacrifices to save sinners from hell. The Holy Rosary is a most powerful means to do so! It is a weapon to combat evil. It is a powerful means of obtaining Christian perfection and graces from God.

Sincerely in Christ,

Fr. Jeffery Fasching

Bulletin 95

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806

EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)

CELEBRANT Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

March 25th, 2012 Passion Sunday

Epistle: Heb. 9: 11-15; Gospel: Jn. 8: 46-59

Mass Schedule March 26th through March 30th

Monday: Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary-NO LATIN MASS

Tuesday through Friday: Feria of Passiontide

Christ offered Himself upon the Cross because He willed it. No one took His life from Him. He laid it down freely. Christ offered His life for the sins of the world. By the will of His Father, weariness, fear and sadness broke His heart. Christ was a lonely stranger upon the earth. He was without true friends in the midst of a perverse, sensual and ungrateful people! Imagine how He must have longed for heaven and His Father’s house.

Christ watched in terror as the heartless executioners mocked Him, abused Him and spit in His face. He watched the hypocritical Pharisees ridicule Him on the road to Calvary. Saint Leo the Great tells us that:

“True reverence for the Lord’s passion means fixing the eyes of our heart on Jesus crucified and recognizing in Him our own humanity. The earth-our earthly nature-should tremble at the suffering of its Redeemer. The rocks-the hearts of unbelievers-should burst asunder. The dead, imprisoned in the tombs of their mortality, should come forth, the massive stones now ripped apart. Foreshadowing’s of the future resurrection should appear in the holy city, the Church of God: what is to happen to our bodies should now take place in our hearts.

No one, however weak, is denied a share in the victory of the Cross. No one is beyond the help of the prayer of Christ. His prayer brought benefit to the multitude that raged against Him. How much more does it bring to those who turn to Him in repentance.”

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching


Springfield area Catholic pro-life supporters have organized the Springfield, MO Life Runners chapter, associated with the National Life Runners Team. Life Runners is an organization encouraging Catholics to support respect for all life from conception through natural death, through prayer, witness, and walking/running. We want to invite all area pro-life Catholics to join Life Runners, and to join in our upcoming events, including:

• Fun Run/Walk at Phelps Grove Park at 8am on April 21 with National Life Runners director Dr. Patrick Castle.

• Walk and Time of Prayers and Witness at Cowden Park across from Planned Parenthood on May 12 from 10am-Noon.

The Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Medical Mile and 5K on June 2 at Meyer Center by Cox South Hospital.

• Saint Louis Rock and Roll Marathon/Half-Marathon/5K on October 21 in Saint Louis, MO.

For more information, visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/315417748506189/

NOTE: I will be running with Dr. Patrick Castle in the go Saint Louis Marathon in Saint Louis, MO on April 15th, 2012 at 7:00am. This is Divine Mercy Sunday.

THERE WILL BE NO LATIN MASS ON APRIL 15TH AT 2:30PM.

THERE WILL BE NO POT LUCK DINNER THIS MONTH.

Bulletin 91

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

February 26, 2012 First Sunday of Lent

Epistle: II Cor. 6: 1-10
Gospel: Mt. 4: 1-11

Mass Schedule February 27th through March 2nd.

Monday-------FERIA OF LENT-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-------FERIA OF LENT
Wednesday---EMBER WEDNESDAY
Thursday------FERIA OF LENT
Friday----------EMBER FRIDAY-NO LATIN MASS

Sunday, March 4th at 3:00pm is the Rite of Election at Saint Agnes Cathedral. There will be no Latin Mass.

There will be no Latin Mass on Friday, March 2nd at 12:15pm.

Christ our Lord allowed Himself to be tempted in order to give us an example and to instruct us. The Catholic Church teaches us that there are three levels of temptation. The first level is that of suggestion, or external temptation. This is the only way that Christ could be tempted since He was perfect. We can all undergo external temptation without committing any sin. The second level of temptation is that temptation in which we take delight. Although we may not give clear consent, this level of temptation becomes internal and thus becomes sinful. Finally, there is temptation to which we consent. This form of temptation is always sinful because it affects the deepest part of our soul. Christ allowed himself to be externally tempted in order to show us how to fight and conquer our own temptations. We must learn to trust in God and turn to prayer when we are tempted.

Nobody is above temptation. All the great saints were tempted. We must prepare ourselves for temptation by prayer and fasting just as Jesus did. This is why the Church gives us the beautiful season of Lent. Jesus’ withdrawal into the desert invites us to prepare ourselves by prayer and penance to battle temptation, but also teaches us how to prepare before making any significant decision or action.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 80

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

December 11th, 2011 Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday)

Epistle: Phil. 4: 4-7
Gospel: Jn. 1: 19-28

Mass Schedule December 12th through December 16th

Monday-Feria of Advent-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Saint Lucy, Virgin & Martyr
Wednesday-Ember Wednesday
Thursday-Requiem Mass + Deacon Bill McNamee
Friday-Ember Friday

Christians are a people of joy! When we sin we lose our joy because we offend God. However, if we repent and purify ourselves in the sacrament of penance God will always forgive us. True peace and joy is the result of nothing other than remaining faithful to God and embracing the Cross. We must remember that Advent is a season of repentance and penance. Those who know God realize that enduring afflictions with patience and faith will always strengthen our faith and ultimately lead to joy.

John the Baptist preached repentance and exemplified a life of penance. Concerning the value of penance, the Council of Trent teaches: “…penances greatly detach penitents from sin; they act like a bridle to keep them in check, and make them more cautious and vigilant in the future. They also heal the after-effects of sin and destroy evil habits acquired through a bad life…Besides, when we suffer in satisfaction for our sins we conform ourselves to Christ Jesus who made satisfaction for our sins (cf. Rom. 5.10; 1 Jn. 2.1f)…; this gives us the surest pledge that, while suffering with him, we shall also be glorified with him (Rom. 8.17).”

Penance atones for sin, satisfies the demands of God’s holiness and justice, pays the debt of temporal punishment due to sin, restores glory to God, and averts divine punishment. It focuses the penitent’s mind more clearly on God and increases sensitivity to spiritual values. Penance intensifies sorrow for sin and desire for holiness. It repairs and heals the harmful effects which sin has done to one’s self, to other persons, and to the social order. Furthermore, penance weakens the bonds of sinful attachments. It gives the penitent better control over unruly nature and deters the penitent from committing sin in the future. Penance strengthens the penitent’s resolve to overcome sin and advance in virtue. Finally, penance conforms the penitent to the likeness of Christ’s passion and therefore prepares the penitent to share the glory of His resurrection!

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 69

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

September 25th, 2011 15th Sunday after Pentecost

Epistle: Gal. 5: 25-26; 6, 1-10
Gospel: Luc. 7, 11-16

Mass schedule September 26th through September 30th

Monday-Feria-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-SS. Cosmas & Damian, Martyrs
Wednesday-Saint Wenceslaus, Duke & Martyr
Thursday-Dedication of Saint Michael the Archangel
Friday-Saint Jerome, Confessor & Doctor


The Latin Mass Community Confirmation date is October 23rd, 2011 at 7:00pm in Saint Agnes Cathedral. His Excellency Bishop James V. Johnston will officiate.


“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” “Bear one another’s burdens; and so fulfill the law of Christ.” We have many brothers in Christ we must assist in time of need, by doing so we show our love for Christ Himself. We must also be willing to offer fraternal correction when necessary. This must be done with all humility and with an awareness of our own weaknesses and personal shortcomings. We can never take issue with another person’s sin without first acknowledging our own.

If we are not in the habit of asking God for Charity we must begin today. If we are not asking God for Charity we shouldn’t be surprised that we are so worldly. We must love our neighbor as ourselves if we want to show our love for God. Who is our neighbor? Absolutely everybody! Those who have wronged us, those who have injured our good name and even those who wish to do harm to us. We must love all of them as ourselves. We must rejoice when our enemies are successful. We must be sad when they suffer loss. If we do not do this and we do not believe it we are bad Christians!

So how do we know if we have Charity? Well, if we are not proud; if we are not controlling; if we refuse to judge other people’s behavior; if we don’t gossip. We have charity if we don’t question the motives of other people’s actions. We must never think that we are better than others. In fact, we must truly believe everyone else is better than us. We must not become disappointed when others have a poor opinion of us. A person who is charitable avoids hurting the feelings of others. He accepts the will of God in everything that happens to him, be it sickness or adversity. These things remind us we are sinners and that our lives here on earth are temporary.

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.”

Without Charity all other virtues are of no avail! Look at Jesus Christ Himself as our model. Look at what He did for all men, and even for those who killed Him. He prayed for mercy and forgiveness for them. He loved them. He offered up the merits and the sufferings of His death for them. He promised them pardon. If we do not have this kind of Charity we are only mock Christians!

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching