Catholic Family News

DECEMBER 2022 EDITION: The Coming of Christ and Zeal for Souls

December 2022 Edition Now Available — Preview HERE

December 3, 2022
Feast of St. Francis Xavier

Dear Friends in Christ,

As we prepare our hearts and homes for the great Feast of Our Lord’s Nativity this month, let us reflect on the reason why “the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).

Our Lord told Nicodemus: “For God so loved the world, as to give His only begotten Son: that whosoever believeth in Him may not perish, but may have life everlasting. For God sent not His Son into the world, to judge the world: but that the world may be saved by Him” (John 3:16-17).

On Good Friday, when He stood before Pontius Pilate, Our Lord solemnly answered the Roman governor: “Thou sayest the I am a king. For this was I born, and for this came I into the world: that I should give testimony to the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth My voice” (John 18:37).

In sum, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:15), because God desires “all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:4). This is the essence of Christmas, the essence of the Gospel, the essence of the Catholic Faith — that God loves us and is zealous for our souls and for the truth.

As Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, O.C.D. (1893-1953) observes in Divine Intimacy, “One who has penetrated the mystery of God’s love for men cannot remain indifferent to their fate: by the light of faith, he has understood that all God does in the world is for man’s good and for his eternal happiness. He longs to have some share in this action, knowing that he can do nothing which will be more pleasing to God than to lend his humble collaboration for the salvation of those who are so dear to Him” (Meditation #317, Zeal for Souls).

St. Francis Xavier (1506-1552), one of the founding members of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), penetrated deeply “the mystery of God’s love for men” as a young man and devoted the rest of his life to missionary work, converting tens of thousands of souls to Christ across the globe. Such is the power of God’s grace at work through the “humble collaboration” of one generous soul!

This is our desire at Catholic Family News: to share in the missionary spirit of St. Francis Xavier — the zeal of God for souls and for truth — and collaborate in God’s work of saving and sanctifying souls, which includes exposing and denouncing the destructive errors of “lying teachers” (2 Pet. 2:1). This is the motivation behind every issue of the paper, every Weekly News Roundup, all the content we post on our website and social media.

To help us continue our mission, please subscribe or renew your subscription to CFN and share our free digital content far and wide online. It is only through your generous support and collaboration that we are able to provide the quality news coverage, commentary, analysis, interviews, catechesis, and other content you have come to expect from CFN — all for the greater glory of God and the salvation of souls.

From all of us at CFN, we wish you and your families a blessed Advent and joyous Christmas! “Glory to God in the highest: and on earth peace to men of good will” (Luke 2:14).

Sincerely in the Holy Family,

Matt Gaspers
Managing Editor

Avatar photo

Matt Gaspers

Matt Gaspers is the Managing Editor of Catholic Family News. He was asked by John Vennari (1958-2017), longtime Editor of CFN and stalwart defender of the Faith, to carry on CFN’s important work shortly before Mr. Vennari’s passing. In addition to writing for CFN, Mr. Gaspers has also been published by The Fatima Crusader, OnePeterFive, and LifeSiteNews. His study and writing interests include theology, Church history, Fatima, Islam, and the spiritual life. He has spoken at conferences hosted by Catholic Family News and the Fatima Center. He and his wife, together with their children, reside in Colorado.

Matt Gaspers

Avatar photo

Matt Gaspers is the Managing Editor of Catholic Family News. He was asked by John Vennari (1958-2017), longtime Editor of CFN and stalwart defender of the Faith, to carry on CFN’s important work shortly before Mr. Vennari’s passing. In addition to writing for CFN, Mr. Gaspers has also been published by The Fatima Crusader, OnePeterFive, and LifeSiteNews. His study and writing interests include theology, Church history, Fatima, Islam, and the spiritual life. He has spoken at conferences hosted by Catholic Family News and the Fatima Center. He and his wife, together with their children, reside in Colorado.