Bulletin 81

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

December 18, 2011 Fourth Sunday of Advent (Rorate Sunday)

Epistle: I Cor. 4: 1-5
Gospel: Lk. 3: 1-6

Mass Schedule December 19th through December 23rd

Monday-Greater Feria of Advent-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Requiem Mass + Salvador Jensuan
Wednesday-Saint Thomas, Apostle
Thursday-Greater Feria of Advent
Friday-Greater Feria of Advent

“…The Word of the Lord was made unto John, the son of Zachary, in the desert. And he came into the hill country about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of penance for the remission of sins, as it was written in the book of the sayings of Isaias the Prophet: A voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord…”

Advent is a time of preparation and penance. We anticipate Christ’s birth, but we also prepare for his coming as Judge. John the Baptist was an outstanding example of austerity. He perfectly prepared the way of Christ and recognized his role in doing so. When Christ comes in judgment the world as we know it will change.

Saint Paul says “the form of this world is passing away,” but he does not say that this world will be annihilated at the end of time. Rather he implies that all creation will be renewed, for he writes that “the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God…because creation itself will be set free from its bondage to death and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Rom 8.19,21).

In the Book of Revelations we read:

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband, and I heard a great voice from the throne saying, “Behold the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away.” Advent is therefore also a time of joy! Let us live this joy during this holy season.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching