Bulletin 134

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806

EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)

CELEBRANT Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

January 6th, 2013 Epiphany of the Lord

Epistle: Is. 60: 1-6; Gospel: Mt. 2: 1-12

Mass schedule January 7th through January 11th

Monday through Friday—Feria of Epiphanytide—NO LATIN MASS

THERE WILL BE NO LATIN MASS THIS WEEK

The Magi come to adore the infant Jesus. Epiphany should remind us of our own responsibility to worship our Lord Jesus Christ, particularly in the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist. The Christmas season reminds us that the grace of God has appeared on earth in the person of Jesus Christ. Christ has wrought our redemption through His precious blood. We have been purchased at a great price! God wants us to return His love.


We see the infinite humility of Jesus Christ in the Nativity. In fact Christ’s entire life was a perfect example of humility. But He doesn’t stop there. Christ continues to make Himself present on our altars under the appearance of bread and wine. He gives us the opportunity to worship Him whenever we desire. As we begin a New Year let us resolve to visit our Lord more frequently in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar. Let us learn to receive His Body and Blood with greater fervor and devotion.

In Christ,

Fr. Jeff Fasching

Bulletin 133

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806

EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)

CELEBRANT Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

December 30th, 2012; Sunday in the Octave of Christmas *Mass at 7:00 pm*

Epistle: Gal. 4:1-7; Gospel: Lk. 2:33-40

Mass schedule December 31st through January 4th

Monday: Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas—No Latin Mass

Tuesday: Octave Day of Christmas—Mass at 2:30pm

Wednesday: Most Holy Name of Jesus

Thursday: Feria of Christmastide

Friday: Requiem Mass + Nicolae Ciugudean

Mass on New Year’s Day will be at 2:30pm.

*Mass on Sunday, December 30th will be at 7:00pm*

Out of sheer love God has created us with a free will. He wants us to choose for Him and He calls us to liberty. The wonder of the Christmas season and the grace of our redemption shine forth in the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Word made flesh used to speak to us through the prophets, but now God has sent His Son in person in order to reveal Himself completely and to save the world!

Christ became like us in all things but sin. He ate, drank and slept. He suffered and died to redeem us and thus strengthens us when we ourselves meet with adversity. When we accept Jesus Christ our entire being gains immortality! If we acknowledge Him while we live on this earth He will in turn acknowledge us before God His Father.

God has created us in His own image, thus we possess great dignity. We must turn our hearts to God without hesitation. Christ has taken away our sin. We must obey Him and keep His commandments if we wish Him to honor us.

In Christ,

Fr. Jeff Fasching

Bulletin 132

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806

EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)

CELEBRANT Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

December 23rd, 2012; Fourth Sunday of Advent (Rorate Sunday)

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

Mass schedule December 24th through December 28th

Monday: Vigil of Christmas—Midnight Mass

Tuesday: The Nativity of Our Lord—Mass at 2:30pm

Wednesday: Saint Stephen * Protomartyr

Thursday: Saint John * Apostle & Evangelist

Friday: Holy Innocents * Martyrs

Mass on New Year’s Day will be at 2:30pm.

*Mass on Sunday, December 30th will be at 7:00pm*

Satan used ambition, pride and arrogance to tempt Adam and Eve. Ambition is what drove Lucifer out of heaven and into Hell. He arrogantly tempted Adam and Eve by telling them not that they would be God’s equal, but that they would be “like God.” After eating the fruit they would know the difference between good and evil. This ambition puffed up their pride. They presumed to share in the divine wisdom and knowledge and allowed themselves to be seduced by Satan.

Some theologians speculate that is was envy that caused the fall of Lucifer and him minions. They knew that the Lord would create humanity. God would communicate Himself to his nature. He would go so far as to become incarnate and unite His Divinity with our humanity! These two natures would form one person! Knowing this, the fallen angels were moved with envy. They didn’t like the fact that the Creator planned to elevate human nature above theirs. They became jealous, ambitious and prideful. Finally, they stumbled miserably.

Now consider the humility of Saint John the Baptist. Remember Saint John the Baptist was sanctified in the womb of Saint Anne when he leaped at the presence of Jesus Christ at the Visitation. His humility was second only to The Blessed Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ Himself. Saint John was tempted with one of the most violent temptations to pride and ambition imaginable. Furthermore, the temptation came at the hands of his friends, rather than his enemies. They were sent to him from Jerusalem by the doctors of the Law.

It is very interesting to note that the religious leaders were expecting the Messiah. They saw that all the prophecies had been fulfilled. Jesus Christ came, taught His doctrine, performed miracles and backed up all He said by His works. Despite all this the religious leaders refused to acknowledge Him. Instead, they go looking for somebody else!

Saint John is asked: “Who are you?” Saint John clearly responded: “I am not the Christ.” “Are you Elias?” “No.” “Are you the Prophet?” “No.” Saint John rejected all the honors and titles which did not apply to him. But he even went so far as to reject even those that he had a right to accept! He attained such a degree of humility that he conquered every pride and ambition presented to him!

Let us continue to pray for humility and contrition as we approach the Nativity of Our Lord.

In Christ,

Fr. Jeffery Fasching

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 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 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

Bulletin 128

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806

EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)

CELEBRANT Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

November 25th, 2012; Last Sunday after Pentecost

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

Mass schedule November 26th through November 30th

Monday: Saint Sylvester, Abbot--No Latin Mass

Tuesday: Requiem Mass + Catherine Dias

Wednesday: Requiem Mass + Anne Machado

Thursday: Requiem Mass + Joyce Spencer

Friday: Requiem Mass + Austin Machado

Saint Paul exhorts us to give thanks to God the Father for the countless gifts He has bestowed upon us in the person of Jesus Christ. God has made us worthy to share the lot of the saints in light and delivered us from the powers of darkness by the blood of Jesus Christ. Today we rejoice because we have been freed from our sins through the death of Jesus Christ. We should be reminded that we cannot neglect to show our appreciation for what God has done for us without suffering the consequences. Indifference towards God love permeates our culture. Many are choosing death over life in Christ Jesus. Let us embrace life with the saints and pray for those who do not.

The month of November is dedicated to the Holy Souls. Indulgences, which remove temporal punishment due to forgiven sin, may be gained by the living for themselves or applied to the souls in purgatory but they cannot be applied to other living persons. Indulgences are called plenary if they remove all temporal punishment and partial if they remove only some of it. A plenary indulgence can be acquired only once in the course of a day but a partial indulgence may be acquired more than once a day. To gain an indulgence for oneself one must be baptized, in the state of grace at least at the completion of the prescribed work and subject to the one granting the indulgence. He must also have at least a general intention of gaining them and must perform the works enjoined at the time and in the manner prescribed.

Some works to which are attached plenary indulgences are: a visit to the Blessed Sacrament which lasts for a half hour, the Stations of the Cross, recitation of five decades of the Rosary while contemplating the mysteries, and reading of Scripture for one half hour.

Partial indulgences are granted to those who recite Lauds or Vespers of the Office of the Dead, and to those who recite the prayer “Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domini, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Requiescant in pace” (“Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace”).

All indulgences whatsoever may be applied to the Poor Souls at any time by way of suffrage. The simple intention to offer them for the Poor Souls is sufficient.