Bulletin 131

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806

EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)

CELEBRANT Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

December 16th, 2012; Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday)

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

Mass schedule December 17th through December 21st

Monday: Greater Feria of Advent--No Latin Mass

Tuesday: Greater Feria of Advent

Wednesday: Ember Wednesday of Advent

Thursday: Greater Feria of Advent

Friday: Saint Thomas * Apostle

The most powerful temptations we can possibly experience are those to ambition, pride and arrogance. Ambition is the worst of them because it caused Lucifer to be cast out of heaven into hell. Some theologians say it was because of a spiritual self-complacency combined with an awareness of their angelic nature’s grandeur and excellence, which caused such self-pride that he and the fallen angels arrogantly desired to be equal to God.

Contrast this attitude with that of Saint John the Baptist in today’s Gospel. Saint John played a significant role in the mystery of the Visitation. His humility thus appears to be the most excellent and the most perfect that has ever been, after only Our Lord Himself and the Blessed Virgin Mary. He was sanctified in the womb of his mother, Saint Anne, when Mary paid her a visit while pregnant with Our Savior. He went on to perform an outstanding, single-minded, public ministry in pointing the way to Christ. Saint John was so effective and well-liked that his followers were ready to name him the Messiah. Saint John was tempted with one of the most violent temptations imaginable to pride and ambition. It was even presented by his own friends, sent to him from Jerusalem by the hypocritical doctors of the Law. They wanted to find out if John was actually the Christ. If so, they wanted to give John his due honor.

The religious leaders were waiting for the Messiah. They knew that all the prophecies had been fulfilled. Jesus Christ came performing miracles and teaching His doctrine. However, instead of acknowledging Him, the religious leaders go looking for someone else. When asked, Saint John said I am not the Christ. He could have easily accepted the praise that his followers wished to bestow upon him, but he did not. John was so humble and truthful that he refused even to accept credit that he actually deserved!

We can learn humility from Saint John the Baptist. We can learn humility from the Blessed Virgin Mary. We should acknowledge the teaching of Christ who said “Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart.”

In Christ,

Fr. Jeff Fasching

Bulletin 118

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806

EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)

CELEBRANT Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

September 9th, 2012; 15th Sunday after Pentecost

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

Mass Schedule September 10th through September 14th

Monday –Saint Nicholas of Tolentino, Confessor-- NO LATIN MASS

Tuesday-Requiem Mass +Rose Xavier

Wednesday-Most Holy Name of Mary

Thursday-Feria

Friday-Exaltation of the Holy Cross

There will be a Potluck dinner Sunday, September 9th immediately following the 2:30pm Mass in the Saint Agnes school cafeteria. All are invited.

John the Baptist said the Lord will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire (Matt. 3:12; Luke 3:17). This unquenchable fire is the state of eternal separation from God, which the Church has called “hell” for 2,000 years.

Jesus says: “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:41). “They will go away into eternal punishment” (Matt. 25:46). This is in reference to eternal fire.

Purgatory occupies an important place in our holy religion. It forms one of the principal parts of the work of Jesus Christ, and plays an essential role in the economy of the salvation of man. We must pray for the dead and foster a devotion to the souls in Purgatory.

The Book of Maccabees reminds us that: “It is a holy and wholesome thought, to pray for the dead, that they may loosed from sins.” Prayer for the dead, sacrifices, and suffrages all form a part of Christian worship and devotion towards the souls in Purgatory which the Holy Ghost Himself infuses with charity into the hearts of the faithful.

One of the best means of avoiding Purgatory is to foster a tender devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Charity and works of mercy of every kind are also a powerful means to avoid Purgatory. Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy. Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you shall be forgiven. If you forgive men their offenses, your Heavenly Father will forgive you also your offenses. Give to everyone that asks of you, and it shall be given to you; for with the same measure that you shall give, it shall be measured to you again.

Sincerely in Christ,

Father Jeff Fasching

Bulletin 116

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806

EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)

CELEBRANT Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

August 26th, 2012; 13th Sunday after Pentecost

Epistle: Gal. 3:16-22; Gospel: Lk. 17:11-19

Mass Schedule August 27th through August 31st

Monday –Saint Joseph Calasance, Confessor-- NO LATIN MASS

Tuesday-Saint Augustine, Bishop, Confessor & Doctor

Wednesday-Beheading of John the Baptist

Thursday-Saint Rose of Lima, Virgin

Friday-Requiem Mass + David Anderson

There will be a Potluck dinner Sunday, September 9th immediately following the 2:30pm Mass in the Saint Agnes school cafeteria. All are invited.

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

We should pray the rosary for the intention of making sacrifices in order to save sinners and ourselves from hell. The Magisterium has always taught the reality and eternity of hell. If God is merciful and if the human person is free, and thus capable of change, why must hell be eternal? We must not imagine that the damned piteously plea for God to accept their repentance and that He refuses to do so because they failed to meet a deadline that God arbitrarily set. If they are in hell forever it is because they refuse to repent and, indeed, given their choice to be who they are, they cannot repent. They do not wish to repent because they have freely chosen to make themselves and their will, not God and His will, the absolute value of their existence. Instead of embracing the infinite goodness and richness that is God, they have elected the barrenness which is themselves apart from God. It is not God who first rejects the damned, it is they who reject God, and they continue to reject Him. If God should offer the damned all the joys of heaven as a reward for sincere repentance, they would say, “I would rather be damned than submit to you.” Their will is totally, firmly, and irrevocably fixed upon themselves and against God. Having excluded God completely from their existence, they lack the principle from which conversion could take its origin; that is, reverence and love for God and a willingness to obey Him.

Let us pray for the conversion of sinners through the Holy Rosary!

Sincerely in Christ,

Fr. Jeff Fasching

Bulletin 108

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806

EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)

CELEBRANT Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

June 24th, 2012 Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

Epistle: Is. 49: 1-3,5,6,7; Gospel: Lk. 1: 57-68

Mass Schedule June 25th through June 29th

Monday –Saint William, Abbot-NO LATIN MASS

Tuesday-SS. John & Paul, Martyrs

Wednesday-Our Lady of Perpetual Help

Thursday-Vigil of SS. Peter & Paul, Apostles

Friday-SS. Peter & Paul, Apostles

Thank you to Jim Gillett who planned and organized the Procession of the Blessed Sacrament through the streets of Springfield! Thanks to all of you who participated and were involved in making this event with the Bishop a great success!

Saint John the Baptist grew up to lead an austere life. The scriptures tell us that he lived in the desert in solitude to prepare for his ministry. When he began preaching repentance and the coming of the Christ, people flocked to him in order to listen to his words. John the Baptist was never concerned with the passing things of the world. His focus was on Christ alone and the coming of God’s kingdom. He knew his role as a pilgrim on earth. John the Baptist’s followers instinctively knew that he was a man of God.

Vatican II teaches us that Christians, on pilgrimage toward the heavenly city, should seek and savor the things which are above. This duty increases our obligation to work with all men in bringing others to Christ. A pilgrim, like John the Baptist, maintains a certain detachment with regard to the goods he meets along the way. While enjoying and making good use of whatever will help him in his journey, he does not loiter along the way to the eternal kingdom. John the Baptist always kept his focus. So it is with the Christian on the way to the eternal kingdom. As Christians, we have died with Christ in Baptism. We seek no longer the goods of this world but our hearts should be set on things that are above, where Christ reigns. Saint Paul writes to the Colossians:

If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God (Col 3.1f).

Sincerely in Christ,

Father Jeff 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 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

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 79

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

December 4th, 2011 Second Sunday of Advent

Epistle: Rom. 15: 4-13
Gospel: Mt. 11: 2-10

Mass Schedule December 5th through December 9th

Monday-Feria of Advent-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Requiem Mass + Kennedy Creado
Wednesday-Saint Ambrose; Bishop, Confessor & Doctor
Thursday-Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary—Latin Mass @ 2:00pm
Friday-Feria of Advent

There will be a pot-luck dinner on Sunday, December 4th immediately following the 2:30pm Latin Mass in the school cafeteria. All are invited to attend. Bring water, candles, or any religious articles you wish to have blessed.

December 8th (Immaculate Conception) is a holy day of obligation. Mass in the Extraordinary Form will be at 2:00pm at Saint Agnes Cathedral.

John was in prison when he heard the works of Christ. He sent two of his disciples to ask Jesus if He is the one to come. Jesus said to them: “Go and relate to John what you have heard and seen. The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead rise again, the poor have the gospel preached to them…” Jesus goes on to say: “What went you out into the desert to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Behold they that are clothed in soft garments are in the houses of kings. But what went you out to see? A Prophet? Yea I tell you and more than a Prophet…”

In the synoptic gospels, the account of Jesus’ public ministry begins with a description of John the Baptist calling the people to repent in preparation for the coming of God’s Kingdom. The austerity of John’s life bore striking witness to his message. Saint Matthew tells us: “In those days John the Baptizer appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea and saying, Repent! For the kingdom of God is at hand. It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said a voice of one crying out in the desert: Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, and had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. At that time Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan were going out to him. They were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins” (Mt 3. 1-12).

People flocked to John the Baptist because they sensed he was a true man of God. He wasn’t concerned with people’s opinions, but only with fulfilling his God-given mission to prepare the way for Christ. Jesus Christ invites us to do the same.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching