Bulletin 30

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

December 26th, 2010---Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity of our Lord
Epistle: Gal. 4:1-7---Gospel: Lk. 2:33-40

THERE WILL BE NO LATIN MASS FROM DECEMBER 27th THROUGH DECEMBER 31st

Saturday, January 1st is the Octave Day of Christmas. I will be traveling to Gainesville and Ava this weekend. There will be no Latin Mass on January 1st, 2011

Mass schedule December 27th through December 31st

Monday —Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist—--NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday —Holy Innocents, Martyrs--------------NO LATIN MASS
Wednesday -5th Day in the Octave of Christmas---NO LATIN MASS
Thursday —6th Day in the Octave of Christmas---NO LATIN MASS
Friday —7th Day in the Octave of Christmas---NO LATIN MASS

From a sermon by Saint Leo the Great, pope:

Dearly beloved, today our Savior is born; let us rejoice. Sadness should have no place on the birthday of life. The fear of death has been swallowed up; life brings us joy with the promise of eternal happiness.

No one is shut out from this joy; all share the same reason for rejoicing. Our Lord, victor over sin and death, finding no man free from sin, came to free us all. Let the saint rejoice as he sees the palm of victory at hand. Let the sinner be glad as he receives the offer of forgiveness. Let the pagan take courage as he is summoned to life.

In the fullness of time, chosen in the unfathomable depths of God’s wisdom, the Son of God took for Himself our common humanity in order to reconcile it with its creator. He came to overthrow the devil, the origin of death, in that very nature by which he had overthrown mankind.

And so at the birth of our Lord the angels sing in joy: Glory to God in the highest, and they proclaim peace to His people on earth as they see the heavenly Jerusalem being built from all the nations of the world. When the angels on high are so exultant at this marvelous work of God’s goodness, what joy should it not bring to the lowly hearts of men?

Beloved, let us give thanks to God the Father, through His Son, in the Holy Ghost, because in His great love for us He took pity on us, and when we were dead in our sins He brought us to life with Christ, so that in Him we might be a new creation. Let us throw off our old nature and all its ways and, as we have come to birth in Christ, let us renounce the works of the flesh.

Christian, remember your dignity, and now that you share in God’s own nature, do not return by sin to your former base condition. Bear in mind who is your head and of whose body you are a member. Do not forget that you have been rescued from the power of darkness and brought into the light of God’s kingdom.

Through the sacrament of baptism you have become a temple of the Holy Ghost. Do not drive away so great a guest by evil conduct and become again a slave to the devil, for your liberty was brought by the blood of Christ.


Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 29

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

Fourth Sunday of Advent

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

Monday: Greater Feria of Advent No Latin Mass
Tuesday: Saint Thomas, Apostle
Wednesday: Greater Feria of Advent
Thursday: Greater Feria of Advent
Friday: Vigil of Christmas; Midnight Mass at the Carmelite Monastery
Saturday: The Nativity of Our Lord, Mass @ 2:30pm @ Saint Agnes Cathedral


--A plenary indulgence may be gained by publicly saying or singing the Te Deum in thanksgiving on the last day of the year (December 31). A plenary indulgence may also be gained by publicly saying or singing the Veni Creator Spiritus on the first day of the year, (January 1).

Saint Luke formally introduces John the Baptist in today’s Gospel passage. Christ praises John the Baptist for his strength of will and his commitment to his God-given mission. Humility, austerity, courage and a spirit of prayer are all a part of John the Baptist’s personality. John was so faithful to his mission of preparing the way for the Messiah that Christ said of him: he is the greatest of those born of woman, “a burning and shining lamp.”

John the Baptist preached the need for repentance. He prepared the way of the Lord. He simply announced that salvation was on its way. He knew that his role was to decrease, and Christ’s must increase. Our Lord’s coming is imminent. We must prepare ourselves spiritually for that coming. We must prepare ourselves by doing penance for our sins. We must open our hearts to receive the Divine grace our Lord is offering us.

Now is the time of year once again during Advent to proclaim the coming of Jesus Christ, our Savior. We must purify our souls by a new interior conversion.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 28

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

December 12, 2010-Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday)

Epistle: Philipp. 4, 4-7
Gospel: Ioann. I, 19-28

Visit MoLatinMass.com to view the weekly bulletin.
Pot-luck dinner immediately following Mass Sunday, December 12th.

Mass schedule December 13th through December 17th

Monday —Saint Lucy, Virgin & Martyr—NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday —Feria of Advent
Wednesday —Ember Wednesday
Thursday —Saint Eusebius, Bishop & Martyr
Friday —Ember Friday

The Third Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete comes from the Latin verb gaudere (to rejoice). It is an imperative plural form of the verb. In other words, we are commanded to rejoice! As we anticipate the greatest event in the whole history of the world, namely the Incarnation, we are to do so with great joy! We also look to the joy that is yet to come. As we continue with the penitential nature of the Advent season, Gaudete Sunday gives us a brief rest as we focus on our hope Christ offers at His coming into the world.

Advent is about not only the Incarnation, but Christ’s second coming as well. Unfortunately, for many that day will be a day of terror. Christ is coming to judge and He will do so without mercy. This is what we are anticipating with our penance. We want to be prepared and make Christ’s second coming a day of joyful anticipation rather than one of fear. All will bend their knees at the second coming of Christ. Many who knowingly reject Christ will do so in terror. But this is not what God wants for us.

Let us rejoice today at the wonderful works God has wrought for us in the person of His Son! Let us look forward with joyful hope to Christ’s coming in glory at the end of time! Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus!

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 27

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


Second Sunday of Advent

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


Mass Schedule December 6th through December 10th


Monday: Saint Nicholas, Bishop & Confessor; NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday: Saint Ambrose, Bishop, Confessor & Doctor
Wednesday: Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary; Mass & 7:00pm
Thursday: Feria of Advent
Friday: Feria of Advent


--Visit MoLatinMass.com to view the weekly bulletin.
--Mass for the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be offered at 7:00pm in the Cathedral on Wednesday, December 12th. This will be a High Mass.
--Pot luck dinner immediately following Mass on December 12th.
--The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of the six days of obligation in the United States. See the Canons of the Code of Canon Law for Sundays and Holy Days.


Christ comes to us through Word and Sacrament. God is the author of all Sacred Scripture. This gives to Sacred Scripture a character of excellence we cannot ignore. Christ is truly present when the Scriptures are proclaimed. Scripture is of the highest order since it is in fact the Word of God. Scripture helps to instruct us in the faith. It also gives us hope and consolation in times of trial. There are many examples in Scripture which encourage us to be patient and spur us on to fight the good fight. We must constantly reflect on the Scriptures particularly when God asks sacrifice from us. He does so because He has a greater reward in store for us in heaven.

We have a responsibility to listen to God’s word attentively. Through prayer we must then discern what God is asking of us. Receiving the Eucharist gives us the strength and courage to carry out God’s will in our lives.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 26

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

November 28, 2010-First Sunday of Advent

Epistle: Romans 13: 11-14
Gospel: Luke 21: 25-33

Visit MoLatinMass.com to view the weekly bulletin.

Mass schedule November 29th through December 3rd

Monday—Feria of Advent—NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday—Saint Andrew, Apostle
Wednesday—Feria of Advent
Thursday—Saint Bibiana, Virgin and Martyr
Friday—Sacred Heart of Jesus

The Church gives us the Advent season to help us prepare for the coming of the Lord. Christ came into the world through His incarnation. He also comes to us through grace. At His second coming He will come as judge. Christ has brought light into the world formerly enveloped in darkness and sin. He continues to dispel whatever darkness remains in our souls whenever we allow Him to. He longs to be the King and Master of our hearts.

Souls who have been baptized into the Church are always in need of conversion. In fact, we must realize that conversion is a life-long process. An excellent way to help this conversion process is making frequent use of the Sacrament of Penance. We “put on” Christ at Baptism. We are constantly transformed into Him by frequently receiving the sacraments, particularly the Sacrament of Penance.

Our souls are at stake and we must keep constant guard over them. The sacrament of Penance also helps us to receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist in a more fruitful manner. The better condition our soul is in, the more fruit we will draw from receiving the Flesh and Blood of Christ.

“Induimini Donimum Iesum Christum.” Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, says Saint Paul to the Romans. It is in the Sacrament of Penance that we put on Jesus Christ and His merits.


In Christ,


Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 25

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

November 21st, 2010; 24th Sunday after Pentecost

Epistle: Col. I, 9-14
Gospel: Matth. 24, 15-35

Mass Schedule November 22nd through November 26th

Monday Saint Cecilia, Virgin & Martyr; NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday Saint Clement I, Pope & Martyr
Wednesday Saint John of the Cross, Confessor & Doctor
Thursday Saint Catherine of Alexandria, Virgin & Martyr
Friday Saint Sylvester, Abbot; NO LATIN MASS

Visit MoLatinMass.com to view the weekly bulletin.

Note there will be NO LATIN MASS on Friday, November 26th, 2010.

Saint Paul was always thrilled when the brethren were advancing in the way of holiness. He encourages the Colossians to pray more fervently and to keep up their effort. The same holds true for us today. We must strive for holiness first and foremost through prayer. We need the Holy Spirit to enlighten us with the gifts of wisdom and understanding.

There is a “dominion of darkness” that exists for those who choose to be mastered by the devil and enslaved to the state of sin. On the other hand, “Light” is a symbol of the risen Christ and the graces He won for us through His Paschal Mystery. Light brings with it goodness, righteousness and truth.

The struggle between light and the power of darkness is found in many places in Sacred Scripture. Darkness refers to both evil and the power of Satan. We must constantly be aware of this reality and embrace the Light that is Jesus Christ. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and the tyranny of the Evil One.

We as Christians should always be grateful to God for His great mercy in freeing us from the power of darkness and Satan. God has forgiven us and made us worthy to “share in the inheritance of the saints.” This sharing enables us to draw upon the immense treasury of spiritual goods which the Church is continually applying to its members, namely prayers, sacrifices and various meritorious actions. God has brought us out of darkness into His own wonderful light!

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 24

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

November 14th, 2010; Resumed 6th Sunday after Epiphany

Epistle: I Thess. 1: 2-10

Gospel: Matth. 13, 31-35

Mass Schedule November 15th through November 19th

Monday Saint Albert the Great, Bishop, Confessor & Doctor; NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday Saint Gertrude the Great, Virgin
Wednesday Saint Gregory the Wonderworker, Bishop & Confessor
Thursday Dedication of the Basilicas of SS. Peter & Paul
Friday Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Widow

Visit MoLatinMass.com to view the weekly bulletin.

Saint Paul became a master of the spiritual life. He shows that the spiritual life of the Christian is based on the practice of the theological virtues of faith, hope and love. Saint James wrote that faith without works is dead. Faith thus needs to be reflected in our conduct and our entire lives.

The service of others for God’s sake is proof of our charity. Charity is part of our two-fold duty to God, along with our responsibility to pray. Finally, hope is a virtue which enables us to endure trials and adversity. Saint Paul says that we must rejoice in hope and be patient in all trials. Hope fills the soul with joy and gives it the strength to bear all difficulties for the love of God.

Joy is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. To fully experience joy one must unconditionally accept the Word of God. This is what helps a person to overcome any obstacle he or she may encounter. It is possible to be joyful despite lashes and blows, as Saint Paul shows us by his saintly example. A feature of the Holy Spirit is that it causes an experience of happiness to grow even in the midst of affliction and sorrow. Naturally, afflictions do not produce joy, but joy is experienced by those who accept their sufferings for the sake of Jesus Christ. This is one of the great things bestowed upon us by the Holy Spirit!

We must pray for a joyful disposition. We must also realize that true joy is only experienced when we accept suffering in our lives for the love of Christ.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 23

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

November 7th, 2010

Resumed 5th Sunday after Epiphany

Epistle: Coloss. 3, 12-17

Gospel: Matth. 13, 24-30

Mass Schedule November 8th through November 12th

Monday Daily Mass for the Dead, No Latin Mass
Tuesday Dedication of the Archbasilica of Our Holy Savior
Wednesday Saint Andrew Avellino, Confessor
Thursday Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop & Confessor
Friday Saint Martin I, Pope & Martyr

Visit MoLatinMass.com to view the weekly bulletin.

Pot Luck dinner following Mass on November 7th.

Putting on the “new man” is a transfiguration that involves the whole person—soul and body, mind and will. Our willingness to live a Christian life takes daily effort and struggle. Conversion is a life-long process.

The virtue of charity is a gift from God and must be nurtured. Saint Paul refers to other virtues which are in one way or another all expressions of charity. Meekness, patience, forgiveness and gratefulness are all a result of the virtue of all virtues—humility. Only if we are humble can we be forgiving and thankful.

If we want to achieve holiness we must make every effort to practice charity. Charity involves a real, concrete expression of one’s self-service to God and men. If we want to experience the true peace of Christ we must practice charity.

The Second Vatican Council states: “Lay people, while meeting their human obligations in the ordinary conditions of life, should not separate their union with Christ from their ordinary life; through the very performance of their tasks, which are God’s will for them, they actually promote the growth of their union with Him. This is the path along which lay people must advance, fervently, joyfully” (Apostolicam actuositatem, 4).

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 22

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

October 31st, 2010 Christ the King: Epistle: Coloss. I, 12-20; Gospel: John 18, 33-37

Mass Schedule November 1st through November 6th

Monday All Saints MASS IS AT 7:00 pm
Tuesday Commemoration of All Souls
Wednesday Feria
Thursday Saint Charles Borromeo
Friday Sacred Heart of Jesus

Visit MoLatinMass.com to view the weekly bulletin

On the feast of Christ the King one may gain a plenary indulgence by the public recitation of the Act of Consecration of the Human Race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

All Saints Day is a holy day of obligation in the Universal Church and in the United States.

The month of November is dedicated to the Holy Souls. On all days from November 1 through November 8 inclusive, a plenary indulgence, applicable only to the Poor Souls, is granted to those who visit a cemetery and pray, even if only mentally, for the departed. 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”).

On All Souls Day a plenary indulgence, applicable only to the Poor Souls, is granted to those who visit any parish church or public oratory and there recite an Our Father and one Credo.

“An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints.” Paul VI, apostolic constitution, Indulgentiarum doctrina, Norm 1.

An indulgence is partial or plenary according as it removes either part or all of the temporal punishment due to sin. The faithful can gain indulgences for themselves or apply them to the dead.

Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 21

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

October 24th, 2010; 22nd Sunday after Pentecost

Epistle: Philipp. I, 6-11
Gospel: Matth. 22, 15-21

NO LATIN MASS October 25th through October 29th

Visit MoLatinMass.com to view the weekly bulletin.

The Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau will be holding its annual Priest’s Institute at Rock Lane Resort near Branson, Missouri Monday, October 25th through Friday, October 29th. There will be no Latin Mass during this week. Your prayers are requested for the priests of the diocese.

Sunday, October 31st is the feast of the Kingship of Our Lord Jesus Christ. One may gain a plenary indulgence by the public recitation of the Act of Consecration of the Human Race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The text of the prayer is as follows:

Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us, humbly prostrate before Thine altar. We are Thine and Thine we wish to be; but to be more surely united with Thee, behold each one of us freely consecrates himself today to Thy Most Sacred Heart.
Many, indeed, have never known Thee; many, too, despising Thy precepts, have rejected Thee. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to Thy Sacred Heart. Be Thou King, O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken Thee, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned Thee, grant that they may quickly return to their Father's house, lest they die of wretchedness and hunger.
Be Thou King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof and call them back to the harbour of truth and unity of faith, so that soon there may be but one flock and one shepherd. Be Thou King of all those who even now sit in the shadow of idolatry or Islam, and refuse not Thou to bring them into the light of Thy kingdom.
Look, finally, with eyes of pity upon the children of that race, which was for so long a time Thy chosen people; and let Thy Blood, which was once invoked upon them in vengeance, now descend upon them also in a cleansing flood of redemption and eternal life. Grant, O Lord, to Thy Church, assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give peace and order to all nations, and make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry: Praise to the Divine Heart that wrought our salvation: to it be glory and honour forever. Amen.

In Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 20

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

October 17th, 2010; 21st Sunday after Pentecost

Epistle: Ephes. 6, 10-17
Gospel: Matth. 18, 23-35

Mass schedule October 18th through October 22nd

Monday: Saint Luke, Evangelist; No Latin Mass
Tuesday: Saint Peter of Alcantara, Confessor
Wednesday: Saint John Cantius, Confessor
Thursday: Feria
Friday: Feria

Important

Visit MoLatinMass.com to view the weekly bulletin.
Saturday, October 16th there will be a gathering on the steps of the Cathedral at noon to pray the Holy Rosary for life. All are invited.

From Father Fasching:

Saint Paul says we must be prepared to struggle “against the principalities” of this world. We must contend with those angels who rebelled against God, but whom Christ has already overcome. Saint Paul reminds us that these “world rulers” who have to be striven against can only be defeated with spiritual weapons—truth, righteousness, peace and faith. We must also remember the need for constant prayer.

Satan never ceases to try and find ways to bring about man’s eternal damnation. However, we must remember that Christ has won the victory upon the Cross and Satan no longer has power over us as long as we use in our struggle against him the weapons God has given us. These include faith and a complete trust in God.

In the words of Saint John of Avila: “Since this enemy is stronger than we are, we must avail of the ‘shield of faith’, which is something supernatural, whether it be by using a word of God, or receiving the sacraments or (countering the devil with) a doctrine of the Church. We need to believe firmly with our mind that all our strength comes from God” (Audi filia, 30).


Sincerely in Christ,


Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 19

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

October 10th, 2010; 20th Sunday after Pentecost

Epistle: Ephes. 5, 15-21
Gospel: 4, 46-53

Mass schedule October 11th through October 15th

Monday: Motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary; No Latin Mass
Tuesday: Feria
Wednesday: Saint Edward the Confessor, King
Thursday: Saint Callistus I, Pope and Martyr
Friday: Saint Teresa of Avila, Virgin and Doctor

Important

Visit MoLatinMass.com to view the weekly bulletin.
Next Saturday, October 16th there will be a gathering on the steps of the Cathedral at noon to pray the Holy Rosary for life. All are invited.

From Father Fasching:

In the Gospel Christ addresses the people of Galilee who flock to Him because they want to see Him perform miracles. In Matthew’s Gospel Jesus reproaches the towns of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum because of their lack of faith. The Galileans would have rather watched Christ perform miracles than listen to Him preach. The people eventually want to make Christ king after he multiplies the loaves and fish, but are slow to believe when He teaches them about the Eucharist.

Christ demands that people have a strong faith. He demands that we be committed to that faith. However, He also emphasizes that a strong, committed faith does not require witnessing miracles. The Gospels are filled with miracles to confirm our faith. We too would see such miracles if we but had faith!

The royal official begs Christ to come down before his child dies. Christ responds because of the official’s perseverance and humility. He rewards the man because of his faith. The miracle Christ works in healing the official’s child makes the whole family believers. It is a reminder that all parents have the responsibility to bring their own families to the faith. Parents are the primary educators of their children when it comes to matters of faith.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 18

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

October 3rd, 2010; 19th Sunday after Pentecost
Epistle: Ephes. 4, 23-28
Gospel: Matth. 22, 1-14

Mass schedule October 4th through October 8th

Monday: Saint Francis of Assisi, Confessor; No Latin Mass
Tuesday: Feria
Wednesday: Saint Bruno, Confessor
Thursday: Our Lady of the Rosary
Friday: Saint Bridget of Sweden, Widow

Important

Visit MoLatinMass.com to view the weekly bulletin.
Sunday, October 3rd immediately following Mass will be our next Pot-luck dinner. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.

From Father Fasching

God desires the salvation of all men. The banquet in the Gospel parable is the Kingdom of heaven. When an individual willingly rejects the invitation to attend it results in malice so vicious that it merits eternal punishment. We must answer God’s call to conversion and the life of faith in Him.

The “marriage” is the wedding of Christ and His Church. The garment is the virtue of charity. If one goes into the feast without a wedding garment he believes in the Church but does not have charity. There are certain dispositions we must have in order to enter the Kingdom of heaven. Although we may belong to the Church, if we do not have these dispositions we will be condemned on the day of judgment. We must always respond to God’s grace.

The Second Vatican Council reminds us of the doctrine of the “last things.” “Since we know not the day or the hour, we should follow the advice of the Lord and watch constantly so that, when the single course of our earthly life is completed (cf. Heb 9:27), we may merit to enter with him into the marriage feast and be numbered among the blessed (cf. Mt 25:31-46) and not, like the wicked and slothful servants (cf. Mt 25:26), be ordered to depart into the eternal fire (cf. Mt 25:41), into the outer darkness where “men will weep and gnash their teeth” (Lumen gentium, 48).

In Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A Fasching

Bulletin 17

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

September 26, 2010; 18th Sunday after Pentecost
Epistle: 1 Cor. 1, 4-8
Gospel: Matth. 9, 1-8

Mass schedule September 27th through October 1st

Monday: SS. Cosmas & Damian, Martyrs, No Latin Mass
Tuesday: St. Wenceslaus, Duke & Martyr
Wednesday: Dedication of St. Michael the Archangel
Thursday: St. Jerome, Confessor & Doctor
Friday: Sacred Heart of Jesus

Important

Visit MoLatinMass.com to view the weekly bulletin.
Sunday, October 3rd immediately following Mass will be our next Pot-luck dinner. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Christ always concerns Himself with sin, which is always the underlying cause of any illness. Christ makes it clear that He wants us to always have a genuine concern for others. We must put charity into practice. In the words of Saint Thomas: “This paralytic symbolized the sinner lying in sin”; just as the paralytic cannot move, so the sinner cannot help himself. The people who bring the paralytic along represent those who, by giving him good advice, lead the sinner to God.” This same kind of daring is needed on our part if we want to get close to Christ.

In Old Testament times, it was believed that if one was suffering from an illness it was due to sin. When Christ says to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven”, He demonstrates His divine power. This is a power that His priests share in. “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained” (Jn 20: 22-23). “Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Mt 18:18). Priests act in the name of Christ in the Sacrament of Penance.

We must always approach the Sacrament of Penance with respect, veneration and gratitude. We should see Christ Himself in the person of His priest. We should receive the words of absolution firmly believing that it is Christ who is saying them through the priest. This is why the priest does not say: “Christ absolves you…”, but rather “I absolve you from your sins…” This is how fully identified the priest is with Jesus Christ Himself! Let us show ourselves to the priest.

Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 16

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

September 19, 2010; 17th Sunday after Pentecost
Epistle: Ephes. 4, 1-6
Gospel: Matth. 22, 34-46

Mass schedule September 20th through September 24th

Monday: Feria, Not Latin Mass
Tuesday: Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist
Wednesday: Saint Thomas of Villanova
Thursday: Saint Linus, Pope and Martyr
Friday: Our Lady of Ransom

Important

Visit MoLatinMass.com to view the weekly bulletin.
Sunday, October 3rd immediately following Mass will be our next Pot-luck dinner. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Our next scheduled server’s practice is Thursday, September 23rd at 7:00pm at the Cathedral. This practice is for those who sit in choir only and not the main servers.

The fact that we are baptized Christians means that we are all called to holiness. We must all respond to the grace that God offers and strive for personal holiness in our lives. Vatican II writes: “remember that their exalted condition results, not from their own merits, but from the grace of Christ. If they fail to respond in thought, word and deed to that grace, not only shall they not be saved, but they shall be the more severely judged (see Lk 12:48: ‘everyone to whom much is given, of him will much be required’; cf.Mt 5:19-20; 7:21-22; 25:41-46; Jas 2:14)” (Lumen gentium, 14).

Charity originates in God and not in man. “It is a supernatural virtue infused by God into our soul by which we love God above everything else for His own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for love of God” (St Pius X Catechism, 898). Vatican II states that “There can be no ecumenism worthy of the name without interior conversion. For it is from interior renewal of mind (cf. Eph 4:23), from self-denial and unstinted love, that desires of unity take their rise and develop in a mature way. We should therefore pray to the Holy Spirit for the grace to be genuinely self-denying, humble, gentle in the service of others and to have an attitude of brotherly generosity toward them” (Unitatis redintegratio, 7).

Charity is basic to the building up of a peaceful human society. Let us pray for peace in our world and in our hearts.

Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 15

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

September 12th, 2010 16th Sunday after Pentecost
Epistle: Ephes. 3, 13-21
Gospel: Luke 14, 1-11
Mass Schedule September 13th through September 17th

Monday: Feria No Latin Mass
Tuesday: Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Wednesday: Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Thursday: SS. Cornelius, Pope, & Cyprian, Martyrs
Friday: Stigmata of Saint Francis

Important

Visit MoLatinMass.com for the weekly bulletin.
Bulletins are also available on Sundays at the entrance to the Cathedral.

The essence of Catholic Christianity is a willingness to suffer. For a Christian, suffering offers an opportunity to embrace the Cross of Christ. The Cross is a source of true joy. Scripture says: “if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation” (2 Cor 1:6). Christ sends us crosses for our own spiritual growth. We may not understand why they are placed before us, but we can be sure that they come from God. Suffering strengthens our relationship with God. Saint Paul says: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:35, 38-39).

Saint Paul asks God to give Christians understanding of the “mystery of Christ.” The mystery in fact refers to the entire plan of salvation. The instrument of salvation which Christ used to show His love was the Cross. Christ’s blood has brought about our redemption and the forgiveness of our sins. The Cross is an inexhaustible source of grace and the mark of the true Christian. Many people pay lip service to Christ, but few are His true friends. Only true friends of Christ love the Cross.

The Church in its liturgy is always giving God honor and praising Him for the gifts which it receives in Jesus Christ and through the Cross. “Through Him, with Him, in Him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, almighty Father, for ever and ever. Amen.

Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 14

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

September 5th, 2010 15th Sunday of Pentecost

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

Mass Schedule September 6th through September 10th

Monday: Feria No Latin Mass
Tuesday: Feria
Wednesday: Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Thursday: Feria
Friday: Saint Nicholas of Tolentino, Confessor

Important

Visit MoLatinMass.com for the weekly bulletin.
Bulletins are also available on Sundays at the entrance to the Cathedral.

There will be no Pot-luck lunch after Mass this afternoon.


Christ was moved with pity for the woman who had lost her son. He was moved with emotion much the same way at the death of His close friend Lazarus. Christ shows that He was never insensitive to the suffering that is a result of love. It pains Christ to see children separated from their parents. Christ is willing to work miracles for us like He did for this woman, but he first demands that we admit His divine love is the source of all genuine Christian living.

Christ is well aware that the crowd surrounding Him will spread the news of His miracle working everywhere. Nevertheless Christ’s compassion is genuine and He says to the woman: “Do not weep.” He then works His miracle. But first He shows His compassion.

Saint Augustine writes the following: “Our Mother the Church rejoices every day when people are raised again in spirit. The young man had been dead physically; the latter, dead spiritually. The young man’s death was mourned visibly; the death of the latter was invisible and unmoured. He seeks them out Who knew them to be dead; only He can bring them back to life” (Sermon, 98, 2).


Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

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SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
August 29th, 2010 14th Sunday of Pentecost

Epistle: Gal: 5, 16-24
Gospel: Matth. 6, 24-33

Mass Schedule August 30th through September 3rd:

Monday: Saint Rose of Lima, Virgin No Latin Mass
Tuesday: Saint Raymond Nonnatus, Confessor
Wednesday: Feria
Thursday: Saint Stephen of Hungary, King and Confessor
Friday: Saint Pius X, Pope and Confessor

Important

Visit MoLatinMass.com for the weekly bulletin.
Bulletins are also available on Sundays at the entrance to the Cathedral.

Your prayers are asked for Michael Farrow. Michael has been under instruction in the Catholic faith and will be baptized and confirmed on Friday, August 27th after the daily Mass.

There will be no Pot-Luck Dinner following Mass on September 5, 2010.

All are invited to join my private blog. If you are interested send your e-mail address to jafashing@yahoo.com

It has been brought to my attention that there has been unnecessary traffic in the sanctuary of the Cathedral before and after the Sunday Mass. Remember that the sanctuary is a sacred space. In the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, only the ordained minister and servers need be in the sanctuary. There will be absolutely no traffic in the sacristy before or after Mass on Sunday unless you have my permission. Thank you for following this directive.

Our ultimate goal is God. If we want to realize this goal we must commit ourselves entirely. Many people do not have God as their ultimate goal. There is no way we can have two absolute and contrary goals. The righteousness of the Kingdom of God means living the life of grace God offers each one of us. This involves adhering to certain spiritual and moral values. Answering the call to holiness should be our primary purpose in life. Pope Paul VI says: “Why poverty? It is to give God, the Kingdom of God, the first place in the scale of values which are the object of human aspirations. Jesus says: ’Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness’. And he says this with regard to all other temporal goods, even necessary and legitimate ones, with which human desires are usually concerned. Christ’s poverty make possible that detachment from earthly things which allows us to place the relationship with God at the peak of human aspirations” (General Audience, 5 January 1977).

In Christ, Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 12

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

August 22nd 2010 Thirteenth Sunday of Pentecost

Gal: 3, 16-22 Gospel: Luc. 17, 11-19

Mass Schedule August 23th through August 27th

Monday: Saint Philip Benizi, Confessor No Latin Mass.
Tuesday: Saint Bartholomew, Apostle
Wednesday: Saint Louis IX, King
Thursday: Saint Zephyrinus, Pope and Martyr
Friday: Saint Joseph Calasance, Confessor

Important

Visit MoLatinMass.com for the weekly bulletin.
Bulletins are also available on Sundays at the entrance to the Cathedral.

Your prayers are asked for Michael Farrow. Michael has been under instruction in the Catholic faith and will be baptized and confirmed on Friday, August 27th after the daily Mass.

Saint Paul reminds us that God Himself is the “efficient cause” of our salvation. It is only by the shedding of the blood of Jesus Christ on the Cross that our salvation is merited. Faith is the instrument by which this redemption becomes effective in each individual person. God makes us righteous. Righteousness in now made manifest in the person of Christ and in the Gospel.

We should remember that salvation does not depend upon fulfillment of the law, but only faith in the Son of God merits our salvation. It is not the law which saves, but “faith in Jesus Christ.”

Faith in God and in His Church is therefore among our greatest gifts. We must always pray for an increase in faith. We must continue to nourish our faith, grow in it, and cherish it as one of our most prized possessions.



Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 11

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
August 15th, 2010 Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

EPISTLE
Judith 13, 22-25; 15, 10
GOSPEL
Luke 1, 41-50

Mass schedule August 16th through August 20th
Monday: Saint Joachim, Father of the Blessed Virgin Mary; No Latin Mass
Tuesday: Saint Hyacinth, Confessor
Wednesday: Saint Agapitus, Martyr
Thursday: Saint John Eudes, Confessor
Friday: Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Abbot and Doctor

Important:

Visit MoLatinMass.com to view the weekly bulletin.

From Father Fasching

The first fruits of the Holy Spirit are peace and joy. The Blessed Virgin Mary received within herself from God the fullness of the grace of the Holy Ghost. When God looks with favor upon Mary, her humble soul feels extreme joy and gratitude. Mary received more grace than any other human being. She was filled with peace and joy while she proclaimed her Magnificat.

Saint Bede writes: “It was fitting, then, that just as death entered the world through the pride of our first parents, the entry of Life should be manifested by the humility of Mary.” We should recognize once again the importance of humility in our own lives! It is not Mary’s faith, charity, or her immaculate purity that she speaks of in her hymn, but rather she sings: “Since He has looked on my humility, all generations will call me blessed.”

God rewards the Blessed Virgin Mary’s humility by all mankind’s recognition of her greatness: “All generations will call me blessed.” Herein we should see the infinite value of the Hail Mary. Every time someone says the Hail Mary the above prophecy is fulfilled. Mary is praised on earth continually and without interruption. Listen to the words of Lumen gentium: “From the earliest times the Blessed Virgin is honoured under the title of Mother of God, under whose protection the faithful take refuge together in prayer in all their perils and needs. Accordingly, following the Council of Ephesus, there was a remarkable growth in the cult of the people of God towards Mary, in veneration and love, in invocation and imitation, according to her own prophetic words: ‘all generations will call me blessed, for he who is mighty has done great things for me’”

In Christ, Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 10

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

August 8th, 2010; 11th Sunday after Pentecost
Epistle: I Cor. 15, 1-10 Gospel: Mark. 7, 31-37

Mass Schedule August 9th through August 13th

Monday: Vigil of Saint Laurence. No Latin Mass.
Tuesday: Saint Laurence, Deacon & Martyr
Wednesday: Feria, NO LATIN MASS
Thursday: Saint Clare, Virgin; NO LATIN MASS
Friday: Feria, NO LATIN MASS

Important

Visit MoLatinMass.com for the weekly bulletin.
Bulletins are also available on Sundays at the entrance to the Cathedral.

I will be on retreat from Tuesday, August 10th through Saturday, August 14th. NOTE THERE WILL BE NO LATIN MASS WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY AND FRIDAY OF NEXT WEEK.

The Latin Mass Community will be having a pot-luck picnic after Mass on Sunday, August 15th at Nathanael Greene Park. The park is located at 2400 South Scenic Avenue. The pavilion we have reserved seats about sixty-four people, so feel free to bring lawn chairs or picnic blankets. There are no facilities available to heat food, so plan accordingly.

From Father Fasching:

All four evangelists expressly mention that the body of Christ was buried. Saint Paul also reiterates this fact in his letter to the Corinthians, which was written very soon after the time, thereby confirming a tradition which had come down from the beginning. The fact that Christ’s body was buried eliminates any doubt about His death, hence the miracle of the Resurrection. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the essential doctrines of the Catholic faith. Jesus Christ rose by His own power, re-joining His soul with his body, and leaving the tomb with His same human body. This body was not merely the appearance of a body, but the same as it was when it was dead and buried, although after the resurrection Christ’s body was glorified and now had certain special properties. The Resurrection is therefore an objective, physical event as evidenced by the empty tomb. Our entire faith is based upon it.

In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Humility

In the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, the Gospel for today depicts the pride of the Pharisee and the humility of the publican. We must keep our hearts contrite and humble before Almighty God. We cannot attribute to ourselves any talent, any success, any good work, any gift of God. We must clearly distinguish within ourselves what is ours and what is God’s.

We must learn to love the hidden life and seek it. It is not brilliant talent, nor natural virtue, nor making much ado, that brings souls to God. Be humble in the presence of your neighbor. Bear his weaknesses, understand his infirmities, excuse his faults. Attract souls by patience, meekness and kindness in all that you do. Carry willingly another’s burden. Make yourself the servant of all. Christ came to serve, and not be served. We must learn to be humble in our own opinion, recognize our sins and accept the humiliations which are brought upon us by our incompetence, our lack of success, and our mistakes. Follow Christ on the road to Calvary.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 9

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

August 1st, 2010; 10th Sunday after Pentecost
Epistle: I Cor. 12, 2-11 Gospel: Luc. 18, 9-14

Mass Schedule August 2nd through August 6th

Monday: Saint Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop, Confessor & Doctor. No Latin Mass.
Tuesday: Feria
Wednesday: Saint Dominic, Confessor
Thursday: Jesus Christ the High Priest
Friday: Transfiguration of the Lord

Important
Visit MoLatinMass.com for the weekly bulletin.
Bulletins are also available on Sundays at the entrance to the Cathedral.

From Father Fasching:

The Second Vatican Council states: It is not only through the sacraments and the ministrations of the Church that the Holy Spirit makes holy the people, leads them and enriches them with His virtues. Allotting His gifs according as He wills (cf. Cor 12:11), He also distributes special graces among the faithful of every rank. By these gifts He makes them fit and ready to undertake various tasks and offices for the renewal and building up of the Church, as it is written, “the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Cor 12:7). Whether these charisms be very remarkable or more simple and widely diffused, they are to be received with thanksgiving and consolation since they are fitting and useful for the needs of the Church. Extraordinary gifts are not to be rashly desired, nor is it from them that the fruits of apostolic labours are to be presumptuously expected” (Lumen gentium, 12).

“It is the Holy Spirit, dwelling in those who believe and pervading and ruling over the entire Church, who brings about that wonderful communion of the faithful and joins them together so intimately in Christ that He is the principle of the Church’s unity. By distributing various kinds of spiritual gifts and ministries He enriches the Church of Jesus Christ with different functions ’in order to equip the saints for the work of service, so as to build up the body of Christ’ (Eph 4:12)” (Vatican II, Unitatis redintegratio, 2).

The Holy Spirit continues to act in the Church. Faith reminds us that God is always acting.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 8

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

July 25th, 2010; 9th Sunday after Pentecost
Epistle: I Cor. 10, 6-13 Gospel: Luc. 19, 41-47
Mass Schedule July 26th through July30th

Monday: Saint Anne, Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary; No Latin Mass
Tuesday: Feria
Wednesday: SS. Nazarius & Celsus, Martyrs; St. Victor I, Pope & Martyr, & St. Innocent I, Pope & Confessor
Thursday: Saint Martha, Virgin
Friday: SS. Abdon & Sennen, Martyrs

Important
Visit MoLatinMass.com for the weekly bulletin.
Bulletins are also available on Sundays at the entrance to the Cathedral.

From Father Fasching:

Saint Paul emphasizes that no matter how many benefits God bestows upon us, we must never take our salvation for granted. “The greater you are, the more you must humble yourself; so you will find favor in the sight of the Lord” (Sir 3:20). We must continually ask for God’s help, rather than rely upon our own strength. God never allows us to be tempted beyond our strength, and He always provides the grace for us to overcome temptation.

In the Gospel Christ looks out over the Holy City and He weeps because He knows that the city which He loves so much will soon be destroyed and all it citizens massacred. These events will be a punishment for Jerusalem’s failing to recognize the time of its visitation; the Jewish people failed to recognize the coming of their redeemer. Christ loved the Jews with a very special affection. They were the first to whom the Gospel was preached; to them He directed His ministry; and He lavished His Word and His miracles upon the Jews to prove to them He was the Son of God and the Messiah foretold in the Scriptures. Despite all this, the Jews failed to appreciate the grace the Lord was offering them, and the Jewish leaders called for His crucifixion.

The lesson for us is to remember that Christ visits each one of us. He teaches us through the preaching of the Church. He offers forgiveness and grace through the sacraments. We should never reject our Lord or remain indifferent to His visit.


Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A.Fasching

Bulletin 7

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

July 18th, 2010; 8th Sunday after Pentecost

Epistle: Rom. 8, 12-17 Gospel: Luc. 16, 1-9

Mass Schedule July 19th through July 23rd

Monday: Saint Vincent de Paul Confessor; No Latin Mass

Tuesday: Saint Jerome Emiliani; Confessor

Wednesday: Saint Laurence of Brindisi; Confessor & Doctor

Thursday: Saint Mary Magdalene; Penitent

Friday: Saint Apollinaris; Bishop & Martyr

Important

Visit MoLatinMass.com for the weekly bulletin.
Bulletins are also available on Sundays at the entrance to the Cathedral.

From Father Fasching:

As Christians we share in the life of Christ. Through baptism we have become children of God, therefore we have the right to share in Christ’s inheritance. We possess the first fruits of the Holy Ghost. In this pilgrim journey there is a tension between what we already possess and what we yearn for. We are not free from suffering and weakness as we anticipate eternal happiness in heaven.

In saving our soul and spreading the Kingdom of God, Christ expects us to be at least as zealous as we are when it comes to dealing with worldly affairs. God offers His grace, but we must use all our available human resources in cooperation with that grace in order to achieve sanctity. This will inevitably involve strenuous effort and even heroic sacrifice.

So many people dream of earthly honors and strive for riches. When we place the same zeal into the salvation of our souls, there can be nothing that stands in our way.


Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 6

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
July 11th, 2010 7th Sunday after Pentecost

EPISTLE
Rom. 6, 19-23
GOSPEL
Matth. 7, 15-21

Mass schedule July 12th through July 16th

Monday: Saint John Gualbert Abbot No Latin Mass
Tuesday: Feria
Wednesday: Saint Bonaventure Bishop, Confessor & Doctor
Thursday: Saint Henry Emperor & Confessor
Friday: Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Important:
Congratulations to Robert and Elizabeth Lowrance and their new baby Jeremiah!
Jeremiah’s Baptism will take place at Saint Agnes Cathedral on Sunday, July 11th 2010prior to the Traditional Latin Mass.
Your prayers are asked for the repose of the soul of Rose Xavier. Rose is the mother of James Xavier of our parish. Rose entered eternity on Wednesday, July 7th 2010. Pray for Mr. Xavier and his family.
Visit MoLatinMass.com to view the weekly bulletin.

From Father Fasching

The Old Testament contains many references to false prophets. The early Church Fathers saw these false prophets as heretics who produce no fruit. In contrast, a person who truly speaks the things of God shows faith, hope, charity, peace and understanding. A false prophet speaks of division, hatred, resentment, pride and sensuality (Galatians 5:16-25). A false prophet separates the people of God from the Magisterium of the Church, through which we receive Christ’s teaching. Christ clearly states that these heretics and deceivers are destined for eternal perdition. Do you know any people who teach contrary to the Magisterium and oppose the Vicar of Christ on earth? We must continue to pray for such as these.

If our prayer is to be genuine, we must also strive to do God’s will. Our actions must be consistent with what we say. “The Kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power” (1Cor 4:20); “Be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (Jas 1:22).

In Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

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SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
July 4th, 2010 External Solemnity of Saint Peter and Saint Paul
Epistle: Act. 12, 1-11--Gospel: Matth. 16, 13-19

Mass Schedule July 5th through July 9th

Monday: Saint Anthony Mary Zaccaria Confessor, No Latin Mass
Tuesday: Feria
Wednesday: Saints Cyril & Methodius Bishops & Confessors
Thursday: Saint Elizabeth of Portugal Queen and Widow
Friday: Feria

Important
Jeremiah Lowrance will be baptized on July 11, 2010 at 1:00pm at Saint Agnes Cathedral. Confessions will be heard immediately following the baptism as time permits. However, due to our Pot-Luck dinner immediately following Mass, I will not be available to hear confessions after Mass. I will be blessing water and religious articles after the dinner.

From Father Fasching: The Apostles Peter and Paul are the two Princes of the Apostles. Our focus is more on Saint Peter, the Bishop of Rome. Christ firmly established the Catholic Church upon Saint Peter as on a rock. After Pentecost Saint Peter preached the Gospel in Judea and was subsequently imprisoned by Herod Agrippa. An Angel of the Lord freed Peter and he established his see first at Antioch, then in Rome. Peter exercised the first Papacy for twenty-five years by the Supreme Authority vested in him by Christ Himself. Peter was eventually arrested and suffered martyrdom along with Saint Paul in the year 65.

The solemn Magisterium of the Church, in the First Vatican Council, defined the doctrine of the primacy of Peter and his successors in these terms: “We teach and declare, therefore, according to the testimony of the Gospel that the primacy of jurisdiction over the whole Church was immediately and directly promised to and conferred upon the blessed Apostle Peter by Christ the Lord. For to Simon, Christ had said, ’You shall be called Cephas’ (Jn 1:42). Then, after Simon had acknowledged Christ with the confession, ’You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’ (Mt 16:16), it was to Simon alone that the solemn words were spoken by the Lord: ’Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the powers of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and what you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven’ (Mt 16:17-19).

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

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

June 27th, 2010 5th Sunday after Pentecost

EPISTLE
1 Peter 3, 8-15
GOSPEL
Matth. 5, 20-24

Mass schedule June 28th through July 2nd.

Monday: Vigil of Saint Peter and Saint Paul; Apostles. No Latin Mass
Tuesday: Saint Peter and Saint Paul; Apostles
Wednesday: Commemoration of Saint Paul; Apostle
Thursday: Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Friday: Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Important:

Congratulations to Robert and Elizabeth Lowrance and their new baby Jeremiah!
Jeremiah’s Baptism will take place at Saint Agnes Cathedral on Sunday, July 11th 2010 prior to the Traditional Latin Mass.
Visit MoLatinMass.com to view the weekly bulletin.

From Father Fasching

In the New Covenant founded by Christ Himself, being reconciled means making use of the Sacrament of Penance. In this Sacrament we “obtain pardon from God’s mercy for the offence committed against Him, and are, at the same time, reconciled with the Church which they have wounded by their sins” Lumen gentium, 11).

Our greatest gift is the Eucharist. Along with our duty to go to Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation, we have a responsibility to always receive Holy Communion in a state of grace. We must remember that love of God takes precedence over all things. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength. This is the greatest and first commandment” (Mt 22:27-38). We must remember that there is an order of charity and God always comes first in our lives.


In Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

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SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
June 20th, 2010 4th Sunday after Pentecost

EPISTLE
Rom. 8, 18-23
GOSPEL
Luc. 5, 1-11

“Sacred Scripture teaches that man was created ‘in the image of God’, as able to know and love his Creator, and as set by him over all earthly creatures that he might rule them, and make use of them, while glorifying God” (Vatican II, Gaudium et spes, 12). Saint Paul says that creation is subject to futility due to the disorder resulting from sin. Material goods should be used as resources enabling us to attain our ultimate goal. If we use them in a disordered way we disconnect them from God and therefore turn them into instruments of sin.

Mass schedule June 21st through June 25th

Monday: Saint Aloysius Gonzaga; Confessor No Latin Mass
Tuesday: Saint Paulinus of Nola; Bishop & Confessor
Wednesday: Vigil of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
Thursday: Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
Friday: Saint William; Abbot

Important:

Congratulations to Robert and Elizabeth Lowrance and their new baby Jeremiah!
Visit MoLatinMass.com to view the weekly bulletin.

From Father Fasching

Peter does not want our Lord to leave him. Peter is aware of his sinfulness and he declares his unworthiness to be near Christ. Peter’s attitude is similar to that of the centurion who stated his unworthiness to have Christ come into his house. This is the same attitude we must have before receiving the Blessed Eucharist. We must also show due external reverence to the Blessed Sacrament when going to Communion. This is why Peter falls to his knees. Peter shows that internal adoration of God should be expressed externally as well.

In Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

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SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
June 13th, 2010 External Solemnity of the Sacred Heart

EPISTLE
Ephes. 3, 8-12 et 14-19
GOSPEL
John 19, 31-37

The Second Vatican Council teaches “The Church-that is, the kingdom of Christ-already present in mystery, grows visibly through the power of God in the world. The origin and growth of the Church are symbolized by the blood and water which flowed from the open side of the crucified Jesus” (Vatican II, Lumen gentium, 3).

Mass schedule June 14h through June 18th

Monday: Saint Basil the Great; Bishop, Confessor & Doctor. No Latin Mass.
Tuesday: SS. Vitus, Modestus & Crescentia; Martyrs
Wednesday: Feria
Thursday: Saint Gregory Barbarigo; Bishop & Confessor
Friday: Saint Ephrem of Syria; Deacon, Confessor, & Doctor

Important:

Congratulations to Elizabeth Jackson and her family. Elizabeth received her first Holy Communion on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi.
Visit my new Blog by logging on to MoLatinMass.com and clicking on “Pastor’s Blog.”

From Father Fasching

The focus of the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is the incomprehensible love which Jesus Christ shows us in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. We must grieve over the ingratitude of men and make reparation by acts of love and adoration for the Blessed Sacrament. Christ instituted the Eucharist for three reasons: 1) the desire He has to be continually with us. 2) The desire He has to share all His possessions with us. 3) The desire He has to unite Himself intimately with us. A good meditation for the day would be to consider the sentiments of Christ when He saw Himself abandoned by all the people for whom he had done favors, even His closest disciples. Consider Christ’s true presence in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar when almost everybody abandons Him for most of the day, or rarely visit Him. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Have mercy on us.


In Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

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

June 6th, 2010 External Solemnity of Corpus Christi

EPISTLE

I Cor. 11, 23-29

GOSPEL

John 6, 56-59

On the feast of Corpus Christi we have an opportunity to reverently expose our Lord not just to the faithful, but to any persons who may witness our procession of the Blessed Sacrament through the streets. We have a chance to demonstrate our love for Christ’s Real Presence by honoring Him in public. Our procession is therefore a great opportunity for charity since we will be bringing our Lord closer to those who may not otherwise have the opportunity.

Mass schedule June 7th through June 11th

Monday: Feria-No Latin Mass
Tuesday: Feria
Wednesday: Feria or SS Primus & Felicianus Martyrs
Thursday: St. Margaret of Scotland Queen and Widow
Friday: Sacred Heart of Jesus

Important:

Visit my new Blog by logging on to MoLatinMass.com and clicking on “Pastor’s Blog.”

From Father Fasching

The feast of Corpus Christi allows us the opportunity to focus solely on the Eucharist. Praying to Christ before the Blessed Sacrament has always drawn me closer to Him. It is why I became a priest and what sustains me in my priestly ministry. When a priest offers the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, he does so as one who is uniquely configured to the person of Christ. The Eucharist calls the priest to holiness. It is the most efficacious grace to that end for all of us. As I strive toward holiness of life, I offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass each day. Therefore, I am transformed into the One whom I love. Each day I ascend the altar I pronounce the words:

“HOC EST ENIM CORPUS MEUM.”

In Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Corpus Christi

The Feast of CORPUS CHRISTI

The feast of Corpus Christi allows us the opportunity to focus solely on the Eucharist. Praying to Christ before the Blessed Sacrament has always drawn me closer to Him. It is why I became a priest and what sustains me in my priestly ministry. When a priest offers the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, he does so as one who is uniquely configured to the person of Christ. The Eucharist calls the priest to holiness. It is the most efficacious grace to that end for all of us. As I strive toward holiness of life, I offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass each day. Therefore, I am transformed into the One whom I love. Each day I ascend the altar I pronounce the words:

"HOC EST ENIM CORPUS MEUM"

I invite you to join me and the Latin Mass Community of Springfield, MO this Sunday, June 6th 2010 at 2:30pm at the Cathedral of Saint Agnes as we celebrate the External Solemnity of Corpus Christi with Mass followed by a procession of the Blessed Sacrament.

Fr. Jeffery Fasching Interviewed

I've just been notified that Father Fasching has been interviewed by a popular Internet blog here.

Announcement: Father Jeffery Fasching Appointed To Latin Mass

OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: As of Sunday May 9th 2010, Father Jeffrey Fasching was appointed by Bishop James V. Johnston to be the celebrant of the Traditional Latin Mass (Extraordinary Form) at St. Agnes Cathedral in Springfield Missouri. The mass schedule will continue as before with confessions prior to mass. Father Fasching's appointment is perpetual.

Mass this Sunday

The Holy Mass in the Extraordinary Form will resume at St. Agnes Cathedral at 2:30 PM this Sunday April 25th. The celebrant is unannounced and we are still await word as to whether or not it will be a High Mass or a Low Mass. Please make plans to attend!

One Priest, One Bishop at a Time

Father Jeffery Fasching will offer his first Traditional Latin Mass tomorrow. While the Mass will be private in nature, future Masses will most certainly be publicly scheduled. Please pray for Father Fasching. This is truly a joyous moment for him as a Catholic and a priest.

March 7th Bulletin (Third Sunday of Lent)

St. Agnes Cathedral, Springfield, MO

NEWS FROM THE EXTRAORDINARY FORM MASS
March 7th- Third Sunday in Lent
--Epistle: Ephesians 5:1-9 --Gospel: Luke 11:14-28

Weekday Latin Mass Schedule & Martyrology:
Tuesday-Friday: 12:15 PM - Confession available from 11:30-12:00 noon

Mar 8: Monday of the Third Week in Lent

Mar 9: Tuesday of the Third Week in Lent

Mar. 10: Wednesday of the Third Week in Lent

Mar. 11: Thursday of the Third Week in Lent

Mar. 12: Friday of the Third Week in Lent

Mar.13: Saturday of the Third Week in Lent

REVISED SCHEDULE OF SUNDAY LITURGY

1:00-2:00- Confessions/2:30- Holy Mass

VOICE FOR LIFE- "You Can Stop Abortion" conference to be held March 11.　 Two identical sessions:　 10-12 at Pallotti Center, 601 S Jefferson (enter off parking lot) and 7:30 - 9:00 pm at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1415 S Holland, Springfield MO.　 Keynote speaker: Pam Fitcher, from St. Louis, Pres. of Missouri Right to Life (MRL), will speak on "The Challenges We Face."

　Rosie San Paolo, VFL founder, "Battle for Life," and Dave Plemmons, SWMO Reg. Chair of MRL speaks on "Crucial Nature of Activism." For further information, please contact Rosie at 417-883-0617 or

voiceforlife1@gmail.com

.

-To find out more information on the Latin mass in Springfield, please visit

www.molatinmass.com

Holy Water- A Means of Spiritual Wealth

Holy water is a sacramental that remits venial sin. Because of the blessing attached to it, Holy Church strongly urges its use upon Her children, especially when dangers threaten, such as fire, storms, sickness and other calamities. Every Catholic home should have always in it a supply of holy water.

Did we realize now, as we shall realize after death, the many benefits which may be derived from holy water, we would use it far more frequently, and with greater faith and reverence.

Holy water has its great power and efficacy from the prayers of the Church which its Divine Founder always accepts with complacency.

Some more facts on holy water:

--The devil hates holy water because of its power over him. He cannot long abide in a place or near a person that is often sprinkled with this blessed water.

--Holy water, sprinkled with faith and piety, can move the Sacred Heart to bless your loved ones and protect them from all harm of soul and body. When worry and fear take possession of your heart, hasten to your holy water font, and give your dear ones the benefit of the church’s prayers.

--Only in purgatory can one understand how ardently a poor soul longs for holy water. If we desire to make a host of intercessors for ourselves, let us try to realize now some of their yearning, and never forget them at the holy water font. The holy souls nearest to Heaven may need the sprinkling of only one drop to release their pining souls.

--Because holy water is one of the Church’s sacraments, it remits venial sin. Keep your soul beautifully pure in God’s sight be making the sign of the cross carefully while saying:

“By this holy water and by the Precious Blood wash away all my sins, O Lord.”

*Father Orthel will be blessing water, oil, salt, medals, or any religious items needing to be blessed after mass on the first Sunday of every month, at our monthly potlucks.

Dedication of FSSP Seminary Chapel

There is going to be a major event covered by EWTN tomorrow in its entirety. Beginning at 10 AM central time, the Dedication of the Seminary Chapel of the FSSP in Denton, Nebraska will be broadcasted live. Total coverage will be 5 hours, including the dedication and Solemn High Mass offered "in the presence of a greater prelate". This kind of ceremony is only foreseen by the rubrics of the Extraordinary Form when the Ordinary (bishop) of a Diocese attends the Mass from the throne or when a Cardinal is present. It is rare today, as one can imagine, but we will witness it on these shores with a Cardinal for what I believe is the first time since the liturgical reform. I believe the Holy Mass itself will begin around 1 PM central time.

Bulletin for 2/28

　

St. Agnes Cathedral, Springfield, MO

NEWS FROM THE EXTRAORDINARY FORM MASS
Feb.28th- Second Sunday in Lent
--Epistle: 1 Thess. 4:1-7 --Gospel: Matt. 17: 1-9

Weekday Latin Mass Schedule & Martyrology:
Tuesday-Friday: 12:15 PM - Confession available from 11:30-12:00 noon

Mar 1: Monday of the Second Week in Lent

Mar 2: Tuesday of the Second Week in Lent

Mar. 3: Wednesday of the Second Week in Lent

Mar. 4: Thursday of the Second Week in Lent

Mar. 5: Friday of the Second Week in Lent

Mar.6: Saturday of the Second Week in Lent

REVISED SCHEDULE OF SUNDAY LITURGY

1:00-2:00- Confessions/2:30- Holy Mass

*Important Notices:
-Anyone wishing to update the Contact List for our members can contact Fr. Orthel.　 The current list is becoming dated and might be expanded to include physical address locations.　Anyone knowing of a good Name/Address program please let Fr. Orthel know.

-To find out more information on the Latin mass in Springfield, please visit

www.molatinmass.com

On Slander

By Saint Francis de Sales

　

From rash judgments proceed mistrust, contempt for others, pride, and self-sufficiency, and numberless other pernicious results, among which stands forth prominently the sin of slander, which is a veritable pest of society. Oh, wherefore can I not take a live coal from God’s Altar, and touch the lips of men, so that their iniquity may be taken away and their sin purged, even as the Seraphim purged the lips of Isaiah. 　 He who could purge the world of slander would cleanse it from a great part of its sinfulness!

He who unjustly takes away his neighbour’s good name is guilty of sin, and is bound to make reparation, according to the nature of his evil speaking; since no man can enter into Heaven cumbered with stolen goods, and of all worldly possessions the most precious is a good name. Slander is a kind of murder; for we all have three lives—a spiritual life, which depends upon the Grace of God; a bodily life, depending on the soul; and a civil life, consisting in a good reputation. Sin deprives us of the first, death of the second, and slander of the third. But the slanderer commits three several murders with his idle tongue: he destroys his own soul and that of him who hearkens, as well as causing civil death to the object of his slander; for, as S. Bernard says, the Devil has possession both of the slanderer and of those who listen to him, of the tongue of the one, the ear of the other. And David says of slanderers, “They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips.”

Practice of Christian Perfection

By Saint Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort

　

Nothing is so necessary

　

Friends of the Cross, do you not flatter yourselves that you are, or desire to become, the friends of God? Well then, resolve to drink the cup that you must drink in order to become his friends: "They drank the cup of the Lord and became the friends of God." Benjamin, the beloved son of Jacob, was given the cup, while his other brothers received nothing but wheat. The beloved disciple of Christ, so dear to his Master's heart, went up to Calvary and drank of his cup. "Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?" To desire God's glory is excellent, but to desire and pray for it without resolving to suffer all things is both foolish and extravagant: "You do not know what you are asking..." "We must experience many hardships before we enter the kingdom of heaven." To enter this kingdom you must suffer many crosses and tribulations.

The Traditional Latin Mass on February 14th and 21st

The Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) will be offered at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton at 2:30 on Feb. 14th and 21st. There will be no TLM on these days at St. Agnes Cathedral. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is located at 2200 W Republic Rd. Springfield, MO.

Servers and choir members and those that set up are asked to please come on time, even a little earlier than usual as these will be new surroundings to us.

Ash Wednesday

The Holy Mass in the Extraordinary Form on Ash Wednesday (Feb. 17) this year in will be at 7 PM in the main Church of St. Agnes. There will be no 12:15 Extraordinary Form Mass on this day.

No Mass

Unfortunately, there will be no Extraordinary Form Mass offered on February 14th or 21st at St. Agnes Cathedral. The weekday Masses will continue on during this time on their normal schedule.

Choir Blog

The Choir will also be receiving a special section on this blog, although the entire community is encouraged to view its contents. Much of the music will be for "choir only" but on occasion a congregational hymn or Mass setting will be posted.

Bulletins Online!

Beginning this Sunday, February 7th, the bulletins from the Traditional Latin Mass at the Cathedral will be available on this blog. Please continue to take a "hard copy" every Sunday. They will be available online for convenience and reference.

Latin Mass Promotional Bumper Sticker!

The bumper sticker for our Latin Mass in Springfield should go through its final approval for the site it is hosted on, and then will be publicly posted here: www.zazzle.com/m_kramer_2004. Please do NOT order any as we will be buying them in bulk and receiving a discount. I posted this here so that people can go to the site and look at it before it comes. Enjoy!

Anglican Use In Springfield

It gives me great joy to be able to post this link here to a new prayer group forming in Springfield.

http://www.anglicanusecatholics.com/

The Holy Father has welcomed Anglicans back to the Church and given them a structure that will enable them to reintegrate smoothly. As people with an affinity for tradition, there is much in this group that we can appreciate. The Anglican Use itself shares many of our traditions such as facing east in prayer, rich liturgical language, receiving Holy Communion kneeling and on the tongue, and has many other textual elements of our Extraordinary Form Mass contained in it. Anglican errors have been rooted from the liturgical books and thus everything presented is Catholic in its whole and in its parts. This could offer a number of people a midweek opportunity for organized liturgical prayer with priests, especially the office of Vespers. Please take the time to visit the site, and also to consider it and the value it can have for you and your family.

Potential altar boys and choir members are asked to contact either myself or Shane Schaetzel at m_kramer_2004@yahoo.com or shane.schaetzel@gmail.com

The potential here for growth is huge if we stand together as two communities with our traditions, working together towards the same goal: beauty and reverence in the liturgy.

Mass XI

As many, if not all have noticed, we have moved from Mass VIII and Credo III to Mass XI and Credo I. This will be a permanent arrangement for Sunday's throughout the year where a particularly solemn feast or season is not celebrated, or where the choir does not have a polyphonic Mass prepared. Links will be posted soon for those whose missals do not contain this Mass setting and Creed.

Low Mass This Sunday

The Extraordinary Form will be offered as usual at 2:30 PM at St. Agnes Cathedral, but will be a Low Mass. For those who have never attended a Low Mass before, there is less singing, incense is not used, and the texts of the Mass itself is not sung. Properly understood, the Low Mass is very edifying and offers a wall-to-wall meditative environment, contra-pop culture.

A few notes:

During the reading of the Introit, the "Amen" is not spoken by the people, in keeping with the rest of the Introit, which is read by the priest alone.

The "Laus tibi Christe" is not said until Father kisses the missal.

It is imperative that the servers lead in the responses and the congregation follow. This will allow for a smooth recitation of the responses, instead of the regretable situation in some places where the servers follow the responses of the people and chaos ensues.

Unlike at daily Mass in the Extraordinary Form, the people do not join in the responses for the prayers at the foot of the altar, nor do they join the servers for the response during the Offertory. They are however, invited and encouraged to make all other responses that the servers make throughout the Holy Mass.