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.”
Have you ever experienced a desire to follow Christ in a special way? 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.
In attempting to discern God’s will in the choice of a way of life, one should place before one’s mind the one end and purpose for which one has been created by God: that is to praise, reverence, and serve God, and in this way to save one’s soul, and be resolved not to allow any other considerations sway one’s choice. Which way of life offers the best means for promoting the greater glory of God? Which way of life provides the best means for attaining the heights of holiness? Which way of life provides the best opportunity for contributing to the well-being of the greater number of people and of helping them attain salvation?
Let me see myself on my death bed and ask myself which choice I would then wish that I had made. I should now make that decision. Let me also see myself standing before God in judgment after my death, and as God asks an account of my life, let me consider which choice I shall then wish that I had made in life. I should now make that decision!
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…OUR NEXT POT LUCK DINNER WILL BE APRIL 1 IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE 2:30PM MASS.
Pentecost
7 years ago