Bulletin 129

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806

EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)

CELEBRANT Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

December 2, 2012; First Sunday of Advent

Epistle: Rom. 13: 11-14; Gospel: Lk. 21: 25-33

Mass schedule December 3rd through December 8th.

Monday: Saint Francis Xavier; Confessor--No Latin Mass

Tuesday: Requiem Mass + Esperance Fernandes

Wednesday: Feria of Advent

Thursday: Requiem Mass + Sathorine Fernandes

Friday: Sacred Heart of Jesus

Saturday: Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary—Mass at 2:30pm

NOTE: December 8 (Immaculate Conception) is a holy day of obligation.

The first Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of the Liturgical Year. Christ’s coming is twofold: in mercy and in justice. Saint Paul therefore exhorts us to “cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light.” We must put on the Lord Jesus Christ. We prepare for Christ’s coming by striving to amend our lives and praying for true contrition for our sins. When we petition our Lord in prayer, amendment and contrition must always be at the top of the list.

This Advent let us mortify ourselves. We now have a wonderful opportunity to do penance for our sins and display our sincere love for Jesus Christ as we anticipate His return.

Sincerely in Christ,

Fr. Jeffery A. Fasching

Grace

Grace is what makes us whole. Grace is what heals our ills. Grace is what allows us to become holy. Grace is a gift from God. We receive grace according to the capacity with which we allow ourselves to be disposed to do so. Open up your heart. Beg God for a share in the same graces He gave to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Believe firmly in what is not seen by the eyes. There is much more than what the eyes of your body reveal. What is seen belongs to this world, but what is not seen belongs to our true homeland in heaven. Be always ready to receive the giving of grace!

Sincerely in Christ,

Father Jeff Fasching

Bulletin 82

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

December 25, 2011 The Nativity of Our Lord

Epistle: Heb. 1: 1-12
Gospel: Jn. 1: 1-14

Mass Schedule December 26th through December 30th

Monday-Saint Stephen, Deacon & Protomartyr-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Saint John, Apostle & Evangelist-NO LATIN MASS
Wednesday-Holy Innocents
Thursday-5th Day in the Octave of Christmas
Friday-6th Day in the Octave of Christmas

Midnight Mass in the Extraordinary Form will be offered at Saint Anne Monastery in Springfield. The address is 424 E. Monastery Street. Mass on Christmas day in the Extraordinary Form will be at 2:30pm at Saint Agnes Cathedral.


Saint John describes two basic truths about the Word of God in his prologue—that He is Life and that He is Light. Jesus Christ is the Divine Life, the primary source of all life, natural and supernatural. Jesus says: “I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (Jn 8:12; cf. 12:46).

Saint John also says that the darkness has not overcome this light. There is a struggle between the two. There is an evil power at work in the world (satan) which envelops man’s mind and thus prevents him from knowing God. However, Saint Augustine writes:

But it may be, the dull hearts of some cannot yet receive this light. Their sins weigh them down, and they cannot discern it. Let them not think, however, that, because they cannot discern it, therefore it is not present with them. For they themselves, because of their sins, are darkness. Just as if you place a blind person in the sunshine, although the sun is present to him, yet he is absent from the sun; in the same way, every foolish man, every unrighteous man, every ungodly man, is blind in heart. What course then ought such a one to take? Let him cleanse the eyes of his heart, that he may be able to see God. He will see Wisdom, for God is Wisdom itself, and it is written: “Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God.” There is no doubt that sin obscures man’s spiritual vision, rendering him unable to see and enjoy the things of God.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching