Bulletin 262

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806

EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)

CELEBRANT: Father Jeff Fasching

June 28, 2015

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

Epistle: 1 Pet. 3: 8-15
Gospel: Mt. 5: 20-24

Mon 29--No Latin Mass

Tue 30--Requiem Mass + Thomas George

Wed 1---The Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Thu 2—Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Fri 3—Sacred Heart of Jesus


Effective Tuesday, June 30th 2015 the daily Mass in the Extraordinary Form will be at 6:30am. There will no longer be Mass in the Extraordinary Form at 12:15pm beginning on June 30th, 2015.

Father Fasching's schedule for the Sacrament of Penance effective Tuesday, June 30 2015 will be as follows:

Tuesday-11:30am-12:15pm
Thursday-11:30am-12:15pm
or by appointment


Congratulations to Father Joseph Kelly and his family! Father Kelly was ordained to the priesthood by His Excellency Bishop James V. Johnston on June 12th 2015. For priests who are young-impel them for Your glory, Lord...Continue to pray for vocations to the priesthood.l

The Scriptures teach us that we are children of God. By virtue of our Baptism we have died to our old life of sin and risen to a new life in Jesus Christ! God has allowed us to participate in His own Divine nature! As children of God we are bound to live in union with one another. We must love God in our neighbor. St. Paul teaches us that we must have compassion for one another, living with all humility and mercy. If we are zealous in doing good we sanctify the Lord Jesus Christ in our hearts.


In Christo Jesu et
Maria Immaculata,


Father Jeff Fasching

Bulletin 255

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806

EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)

CELEBRANT: Father Jeff Fasching

May 10, 2015

Fifth Sunday After Easter

Epistle: Jas. 1:22-27
Gospel: Jn. 16:23-30

Mon 11 -- No Latin Mass

Tue 12 – Ss. Nereus, Achilleus, Domitilla, Virgin, & Pancras, Martyrs

Wed 13 – Vigil of the Ascension

Thu 14 – Ascension of the Lord

Fri 15 – Saint John Baptist de la Salle, Confessor


At the last Supper, Christ warned His apostles that He would soon be leaving them. He would soon return to the glory He always had with His Father in heaven. At this point, the apostles were far from knowing and loving Jesus perfectly. They knew that He came forth from God, but their faith was still very weak, and they would soon lose it altogether. The apostles were now enjoying Christ's company after His Resurrection. Christ teaches them everything they are required to know in order to become the teachers of the whole world.

Jesus says to His apostles: “The Father loveth you, because ye have loved Me.” We ourselves should be consoled by these words. Christ tells us to ask God the Father for everything we need. We should ask first and foremost to persevere in the spirit of Eastertide. We should pray to Saint James, the apostle of Paschal Time and the apostle of good works that we may obtain the grace to persevere in this new life of grace with our risen Lord! It is not enough to simply believe, says Saint James, but we must also demonstrate our faith with good works!


In Christo Jesu et
Maria Immaculata,


Father Jeff Fasching

Bulletin 241

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806

EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)

CELEBRANT: Father Jeffery Fasching

February 1st, 2015

Septuagesima Sunday

Epistle: 1 Cor. 9: 24-27; 10: 1-5
Gospel: Mt. 20: 1-16

Mon 2 No Latin Mass
Tue 3 Saint Blase, Bishop & Martyr
Wed 4 Requiem Mass + Reynold D'Souza
Thu 5 Saint Agatha * Virgin & Martyr
Fri 6 Sacred Heart of Jesus

Mass on February 6th will be followed by adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and benediction.

Mass on February 8th and February 22nd will be at 7:00pm.


Saint Paul encourages those who labor for the Lord by assuring them that “Each will receive his wages in proportion to his toil” (1Cor 3.8). “Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being. Do it for the Lord rather than for men, since you know full well you will receive an inheritance from Him as your reward” (Col 3.23f).

In other texts Saint Paul speaks of running the race to win the prize. In his letter to the Corinthians he says: “You know that while all the runners in the stadium take part in the race, the award goes to one man. In that case, run so as to win! Athletes deny themselves all sorts of things. They do this to win a crown of leaves that withers, but we a crown that is imperishable. I do not run like a man who loses sight of the finish line…What I do is discipline my own body and master it…Phil 3.14: “My entire attention is on the finish line as I run toward the prize to which God calls me—life on high in Christ Jesus.”

“The time of my dissolution is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have kept the faith. From now on a merited crown awaits me; on that day the Lord, just judge that He is, will reward it to me—and not only me, but to all who have looked for His appearing with eager longing” (2 Tim 4. 6-8).

Remember the theology of Saint Paul. A man is justified by faith and saved by grace, not by works. It is only works that proceed from faith and love that bring an eternal reward; and this only because God, by His grace, has made such good works possible and because he has graciously promised to reward them!



Father Fasching's Mass Travel Schedule – Christmas & Easter


Feb. 7- 8 - 5th - Sunday of the Year
Gainesville, Ava - Fr. Fasching

Feb. 18 - Ash Wednesday -
Gainesville and Ava – Fr. Fasching

Feb. 21 – 22 - 1st Sunday of Lent
Cabool, Mansfield, Mt. Grove – Fr. Fasching

Mar. 7 – 8 - 3rd Sunday of Lent
Gainesville and Ava - Fr. Fasching

Mar. 21 – 22 - 5th Sunday of Lent
Cabool, Mansfield, Mt. Grove – Fr. Fasching

Apr. 18 - 19 - 3rd Sunday of Easter
Cabool, Mansfield, Mt. Grove – Fr. Fasching

May 2 – 3 - 5th Sunday of Easter
Gainesville, Ava - Fr. Fasching

May 16 – 17 - 7th Sunday of Easter - Confirmation - Ava
Cabool - Sat.4:00 PM - Fr. Fasching
Mt. Grove, Sun. 10:30 AM – Fr. Fasching

May30 – 31 - Trinity Sunday
Gainesville, Ava - Fr. Fasching


In Christo Jesu et
Maria Immaculata,

Father Jeff Fasching

Bulletin 231

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806

EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)

CELEBRANT: Father Jeffery Fasching

November 23, 2014

Last Sunday after Pentecost

Epistle: Col. 1: 9-14
Gospel: Mt. 24: 13-25

Mon 24 No Latin Mass
Tue 25 Saint Catherine of Alexandria-Virgin & Martyr
Wed 26 No Latin Mass
Thu 27 No Latin Mass
Fri 28 No Latin Mass

Christ speaks in the Gospel about His second coming. He foretells the destruction of the world and His coming to judge all peoples. Unlike His first coming, the second coming of Christ will manifest His great power and glory over all the nations. We begin once again to anticipate the season of Advent. We acknowledge Christ coming as our Savior. We also acknowledge His coming as our Judge.


Father Fasching's Mass Travel Schedule – November and December


Nov. 29 – 30 1st Sunday of Advent
Cabool, Mansfield, Mt. Grove – Fr. Paul
Gainesville, Ava – Fr. Fasching

Dec. 13 – 14 3rd Sunday of Advent
Cabool, Mansfield, Mt. Grove - Fr. Fasching
Gainesville, Ava - Fr. Paul


In Christo Jesu et
Maria Immaculata,

Father Jeff Fasching

Bulletin 203

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806

EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)

CELEBRANT: Father Jeffery Fasching

May 11, 2014

Third Sunday after Easter
Epistle: 1 Pet. 2: 11-19
Gospel: Jn. 16: 16-22

Mon 12 No Latin Mass
Tue 13 No Latin Mass
Wed 14 Feria of Paschaltide
Thu 15 Saint John Baptist de la Salle, Confessor
Fri 16 Saint Ubaldus; Bishop, Confessor & Doctor

Happy Mother’s Day!

Mass on June 22nd (the External Solemnity of Corpus Christi) will begin at 1:30pm.

Most people who suffer ask the question: “What have I done to God that He should send me so much misery?” The answer is that God sends you the affliction because of your sins. Consider all the commandments. Which one have we not broken? Are all the bad habits we have acquired for so long a time ignored? What about our pride? What about our vanity, self-love, quick tempers, jealousy? How about the ways we have neglected the Blessed Sacrament? What penance have we done to atone for our sins? What good works have we done? After having committed so many sins why have we shed so few tears? God chastises only to heal the wounds which we as sinners have inflicted upon our own souls! God sends us suffering only to crown us with eternal glory. Consider the story of Job…”If we have received good things from God, should we not also accept evil?”




In Christ,

Fr. Jeff Fasching

Bulletin 194

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806

EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)

CELEBRANT: Father Jeff Fasching

March 9, 2014

First Sunday of Lent

Epistle: II Cor. 6: 1-10
Gospel: Mt. 4: 1-11

Mon 10 No Latin Mass
Tue 11 Feria of Lent
Wed 12 Ember Wednesday
Thu 13 Feria of Lent
Fri 14 Ember Friday of Lent

If we consent to temptation it is always sinful. All the most important people throughout salvation history were tempted-from Adam to Jesus Christ Himself. But Christ rejected the temptations of Satan. Christ is an example to show how we can always overcome evil through Him who holds all power over evil. However, we must adopt Christ’s attitude during times of trial. Christ never sought the glory that was rightfully His; rather He took the form of a servant. We must remember that glory belongs to God alone. We can always overcome temptation through humility and trust in God!

Laws of Days of Abstinence: The Discipline of 1962

• Applies on one’s 7th birthday.
• Complete Abstinence: all Fridays of the year, Ash Wednesday, Holy Saturday, and the Vigil of Christmas.
• Partial Abstinence (meat and soup or gravy made from meat permitted once a day at the principle meal): all the days of Lent, the Ember Days of Wednesday and Saturday, and the Vigils of Pentecost and the Assumption.
• Abstinence from meat is dispensed on Holy Days of Obligation
Laws of Fast: The Discipline of 1962
• Applies for those aged 21 to 59, inclusive.
• Days of Lent from Ash Wednesday inclusive, Ember Days, and Vigils of Christmas, Pentecost, and the Assumption.
• One full meal permitted and two other meals may be taken which, when combined, are less than a full meal.
The Law of the Eucharistic Fast: The Discipline of 1962
• The complete fast from all food and drink (except for water or medicine) for three hours before the reception of Holy Communion. In the document reducing the fast to three hours, the Pope still encouraged those who were able to maintain the midnight fast which was the previous discipline.

Mass on Ash Wednesday will be at 10:00am

Mass on March 7 will be followed by exposition and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament

The next scheduled pot-luck dinner is March 23

In Christ,

Fr. Jeffery Fasching

Bulletin 181

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806

EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)

CELEBRANT: Father Jeffery Fasching

December 8th, 2013
Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Epistle: Prov. 8: 22-35
Gospel: Lk. 1: 26-28

Mass Schedule December 9th – December 13th

Mon 9 No Latin Mass
Tue 10 Feria of Advent
Wed 11 Saint Damasus I, Pope & Confessor
Thu 12 Feria of Advent
Fri 13 Saint Lucy, Virgin & Martyr

Our next pot-luck dinner will be on Sunday, December 22nd following the 2:30pm Latin Mass in the school cafeteria. His Excellency, Bishop James Johnston will be the homilist at Mass and will be joining us for dinner.

Mass in the Extraordinary Form on Christmas day will be at 2:30pm at Saint Agnes Cathedral.

Midnight Mass will be offered in the Extraordinary Form at 12:00pm midnight on New Year’s Eve at Saint Agnes Cathedral. This is the Octave Day of Christmas and a Holy Day of Obligation in the United States.

Sunday, December 8th is the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Your prayers are requested for those who will be making their Total Consecration to Jesus Christ through the Blessed Virgin Mary during Mass on this day.

The Blessed Virgin Mary was conceived by the Holy Ghost without any stain of original sin. Mary has therefore been distinguished by the grace of God as the holiest of all the saints. She has been set apart by God from the rest of mankind as God’s perfect and sinless creature. The Blessed Virgin’s glory and majesty are due to her sinlessness. The graces she stored up while she walked upon this earth were infinite. These graces elevated her to Queen of heaven and earth and of all the saints! Mary has never been under Satan’s power. We should therefore pray to God through her that we too never succumb to the devil’s influence. “O Queen conceived without original sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!”

Fr. Jeff Fasching

Bulletin 170

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806

EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)

CELEBRANT: Father Jeffery Fasching

September 22, 18th Sunday after Pentecost

Epistle: 1 Cor. 1: 4-8
Gospel: Mt. 9: 1-8

Mon 23 Saint Linus * Pope & Martyr—No Latin Mass
Tue 24 Requiem Mass + John Scaria
Wed 25 Feria
Thu 26 Feria
Fri 27 SS. Cosmas * Damian * Martyrs

The next pot-luck dinner will be Sunday, October 6th following the 2:30pm Latin Mass.

It is entirely possible for one form of ritual to be more efficacious than another form. At the present time, we have two forms of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass—the Ordinary Form and the Extraordinary Form. When one form is offered with greater solemnity, it tends to be more efficacious that one that is offered with less solemnity. The solemnity gives greater glory to God. Since Jesus Christ is the King and Ruler of the universe, He deserves a greater ritual than any earthly king!

The ritual of the Holy Sacrifice is a combination of prayers and gestures. Prayer itself has governing principles that make it meritorious, and these principles can be applied to the ritual of the Mass. Saint Thomas observes that vocal prayer is done in order to render God His due and to move man’s mind and heart toward Him. Prayer is an act of the virtue of religion and we pray as God’s creatures because it is our duty.

The same principle can be applied to the ritual of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The ritual of the Mass ought to be ordered to God and not to man, except insofar as man is served in order to serve God. In other words, God is the end of the ritual, not man. This follows the order of charity in which we love God first and then our neighbor for the sake of God. The ritual should not have man as its finality, but God. If it has man as its finality, it goes contrary to charity, which has God as its end. It will also go contrary to justice since one will not render to God through the prayers of the ritual what it due to Him.

In Christ,

Father Jeff Fasching

Bulletin 162

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806

EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)

CELEBRANT: Father Jeffery Fasching

July 28, 2013 10th Sunday after Pentecost

Epistle: 1 Cor. 12: 2-11; Gospel: Luke 18: 9-14

Mass Schedule July 29th through August 2nd

Mon 29 Saint Martha, Virgin—No Latin Mass

Tue 30 Feria

Wed 31 Saint Ignatius Loyola, Confessor

Thu 1 Feria

Fri 2 Sacred Heart of Jesus

The next pot-luck dinner will be this Sunday, July 28th in the school cafeteria immediately following the 2:30pm Latin Mass. All are invited to attend.

Friday, August 2nd is the first Friday of the month. There will be adoration of the Blessed Sacrament followed by benediction after the 12:15pm Mass.

While proclaiming that men are saved by faith and not by the works of the law, Saint Paul at the same time teaches that God will reward every person according to his works and that each one will reap only what he sows. In his letter to the Romans Saint Paul writes: “On that day…He will repay every man for what he has done: eternal life to those who strive for glory, honor, and immortality by patiently doing right; wrath and fury to those who selfishly disobey the truth and obey wickedness…There will be glory, honor, and peace for everyone who has done good”… (Rom 2.6-10).

Saint Paul encourages those who labor for the Lord by assuring them that “Each will receive his wages in proportion to his toil” (1Cor 3.8). “Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being. Do it for the Lord rather than for men, since you know full well you will receive an inheritance from Him as your reward” (Col 3.23f).

In other texts Saint Paul speaks of running the race to win the prize. In his letter to the Corinthians he says: “You know that while all the runners in the stadium take part in the race, the award goes to one man. In that case, run so as to win! Athletes deny themselves all sorts of things. They do this to win a crown of leaves that withers, but we a crown that is imperishable. I do not run like a man who loses sight of the finish line…What I do is discipline my own body and master it…Phil 3.14: “My entire attention is on the finish line as I run toward the prize to which God calls me—life on high in Christ Jesus.”

In Christ,

Father Jeff Fasching

Bulletin 153

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806

EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)

CELEBRANT: Father Jeffery Fasching

May 26, 2013 Trinity Sunday

Epistle: Rom. 11: 33-36—Gospel: Mt. 28: 18-20

Mass Schedule May 27—May 31

Mon 27 Saint Bede the Venerable Confessor & Doctor No Latin Mass

Tue 28 Saint Augustine of Canterbury Bishop & Confessor

Wed 29 Saint Mary Magdelene de Pazzi Virgin

Thu 30 Corpus Christi

Fri 31 Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

“Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.”

Bulletin 149

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806

EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)

CELEBRANT: Father Jeffery Fasching

April 21st, 2013 Third Sunday after Easter

Epistle: 1 Pet. 2: 11-19
Gospel: Jn. 16: 16-22

Mass schedule April 22nd through April 26th

Monday: SS. Soter & Caius, Popes & Martyrs —No Latin Mass
Tuesday: Feria of Paschaltide
Wednesday: St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen, Martyr
Thursday: St. Mark, Evangelist
Friday: SS. Cletus & Marcellinus, Popes & Martyrs

All are invited to the pot-luck dinner Sunday, April 21st immediately following the 2:30pm Mass in the school cafeteria.

Jesus Christ has commanded us to take up our Crosses and follow Him if we wish to gain eternal life. He clearly taught that His followers would undergo sufferings and persecutions in this life, but they would have their reward in heaven if they remained faithful. The rest of the world will make merry and rejoice, while the Christian will suffer persecutions. Catholic Doctrine has always taught that the only way to share in the glory of the Resurrection is through the Cross. All the saints were familiar with suffering. In fact, they became extremely anxious when they were not made to suffer because they felt like Christ had abandoned them! “Take up thy Cross and follow me,” says Jesus Christ. You must either suffer in this life or give up the hope of seeing God in heaven!

In Christ,

Fr. Jeff Fasching

Bulletin 130

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806

EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)

CELEBRANT Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

December 9th, 2012; Second Sunday of Advent

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

Mass schedule December 10th through December 14th

Monday: Feria of Advent--No Latin Mass

Tuesday: Requiem Mass + Mary D’souza

Wednesday: Feria of Advent

Thursday: Requiem Mass + Kennedy Creado

Friday: Feria of Advent

NOTE: December 8 (Immaculate Conception) is a holy day of obligation. Mass will be at 2:30pm

“Blessed is he who will not be scandalized in Me.” How could anybody be scandalized after having seen Jesus Christ perform so many miracles, works of charity and mercy? But Jesus Christ says: “I will be the disgrace of men, the outcast of the people. I will be a scandal to the Jews and a stumbling block to the Gentiles. But blessed is he who will not be scandalized in me. For I, who am now working such great miracles in your midst, must be crucified and attached to a Cross. Because of that many will be scandalized.” Blessed are those who will not be scandalized at Our Lord’s humiliations when they see Him outcast and everybody’s laughingstock. Blessed are they who, during their lives, crucify themselves with Him, meditating on His Passion and mortifying themselves with Him.

This is our true path if we are true Christians. We must cling to the Cross, and constantly meditate upon it. There is no other path to Heaven. Jesus Christ has given us the example. If we do not meditate upon the Cross and practice self-mortification we will remain empty of good. We will be scandalized by Our Lord’s Passion just as were many of His contemporaries. There is no other gate to Heaven than that of humiliation and mortification.

Sincerely in Christ,

Fr. Jeff Fasching

Bulletin 92

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

March 4, 2012 Second Sunday of Lent (No Latin Mass)

Epistle: I Thess. 4:1-7
Gospel: Mt. 17: 1-9

Mass Schedule March 5th through March 9th

Monday-------FERIA OF LENT-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-------FERIA OF LENT
Wednesday---FERIA OF LENT
Thursday------FERIA OF LENT
Friday----------FERIA OF LENT

Sunday, March 4th at 3:00pm is the Rite of Election at Saint Agnes Cathedral. There will be no Latin Mass.

From a sermon by Saint Leo the Great, pope:

The Lord reveals His glory in the presence of chosen witnesses. His body is like that of the rest of mankind, but He makes it shine with such splendor that His face becomes like the sun in glory and His garments as white as snow.

The great reason for this transfiguration was to remove the scandal of the cross from the hearts of His disciples, and to prevent the humiliation of His voluntary suffering from disturbing the faith of those who had witnessed the surpassing glory that lay concealed.

With no less forethought He was also providing a firm foundation for the hope of holy Church. The whole body of Christ was to understand the kind of transformation that it would receive as His gift. The members of that body were to look forward to a share in that glory which first blazed out in Christ their head.

The Lord had Himself spoken of this when He foretold the splendor of His coming: “Then the just will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” Saint Paul the apostle bore witness to this same truth when he said: “I consider that the sufferings of the present time are not to be compared with the future glory that is to be revealed in us.” In another place he says: “You are dead, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

…In the preaching of the holy Gospel all should receive a strengthening of their faith. No one should be ashamed of the cross of Christ, through which the world has been redeemed.

No one should fear to suffer for the sake of justice; no one should lose confidence in the reward that has been promised. The way to rest is through toil, the way to life is through death. Christ has taken on Himself the whole weakness of our lowly human nature. If then we are steadfast in our faith in Him and in our love for Him, we win the victory that He has won, we receive what He has promised…
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Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 78

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

November 27th, 2011 First Sunday of Advent

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

Mass Schedule November 28th through December 2nd.

Monday-Feria of Advent-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Feria of Advent
Wednesday-Saint Andrew, Apostle
Thursday-Feria of Advent
Friday-Sacred Heart of Jesus

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.

As we begin the season of Advent, Christ speaks in the Gospel of His coming in glory at the end of time. Mankind will see Christ’s power and glory when He comes to judge the living and the dead. God’s justice and mercy to men throughout history will shine for all to see.

The second coming of Christ is a day of terror for evildoers and of joy for those who have remained faithful to Christ. Christ’s victory on the cross over sin, satan, and death will be seen clearly. Saint Paul therefore encourages us to be “awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”

As we await the coming of Jesus Christ we must remember that the Advent season is a time of preparation and repentance. We prepare ourselves by reforming our lives. We must beg God for true contrition for our sins and for a sincere transformation. This transformation involves putting our old life of sin behind us once and for all.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching