Saturday, February 26, 2011

Bulletin 39

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

February 27, 2011 Sexagesima Sunday

Epistle: 2 Cor. 11, 19-33; 12, 1-9
Gospel: Luc. 8, 4-15

Mass schedule February 28 through March 4

Monday------Feria----NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday------Feria
Wednesday--Feria
Thursday-----Feria
Friday--------Saint Casimir, Confessor

I believe many of us have really never understood what a tremendous and precious gift the word of God is to us. If we understood it correctly, we would want to receive it with much more reverence. When we hear the word of God it will either bear within us good fruit or bad fruit. It will bear good fruit within us if we are well-disposed to receiving it and we have a sincere desire to take heed to it. On the other hand, it will be bad if we hear it with indifference, distaste, or without our full attention. The word of God is meant to enlighten us and to show us how to fulfill our duties. For many, however, it is blinding and causes them to be cold and indifferent.

The Church Fathers, the prophets, Jesus Christ Himself, His Apostles and their followers all relied on the word of God to strengthen and spread the holy Catholic Faith. When Jonah preached repentance to the Ninevites it was the sacred word that changed their hearts from sinners to penitents! Saint John the Baptist preached the word of God to make know to the world the Messiah. Jesus Christ Himself made constant use of His sacred word among the crowds. It is the word of God that has made and continues to make all the great ones of this world forsake their possessions, their parents, and all their comforts to follow Christ.

The Gospel shows us that of all the people who hear the word of God, only few profit from it. Many hear it but refuse to change their lives or make the sacrifices which God asks of them, so that they might become good and pleasing to Him. They refuse to extricate themselves from toxic and sinful relationships. They won’t abandon people or places that are an occasion of sin for them.

Some people hear God’s word with joy but are not willing to do what it commands. Still others have hard and stubborn hearts. They find fault with God’s word and abuse it. Finally, however, there are those who ardently desire to hear God’s word. They embrace every opportunity God gives them to profit by it.

Let us carefully listen to the word of God. Let us stop sinning. Let us turn away from worldly pleasures, inordinate desires and passions. Let us embrace every opportunity to bear fruit for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Bulletin 38

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

February 20, 2011 Septuagesima Sunday

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

Mass schedule February 21 through February 25

Monday----Feria----NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday----Chair of Saint Peter
Wednesday----Saint Peter Damian; Bishop, Confessor & Doctor
Thursday----Saint Matthias; Apostle
Friday----Feria

The nature of the Christian’s life must involve a certain “interior” striving. We should really approach our spiritual life with a competitive spirit. We should also learn to guard our spirituality with a certain jealousy. In other words, we should foster a healthy striving toward becoming the saints that Christ is asking us to become. We must learn to face all sacrifices that our Lord asks of us head-on. As followers of Christ we cannot allow any obstacles, failures, limitations or temptations of any sort to discourage us. It should come as no surprise when we discover that pride, envy, jealousy, laziness, hatred and all other sins rise up from the depths of our own hearts. Listen to the words of Saint Paul: “I do not run aimlessly, I do not box as one beating the air, but I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” The point is we cannot become depressed by our failures, even if they are serious. We must have recourse to Christ is the Sacrament of Penance and begin again with a desire to improve. Christ understands our weakness and constantly calls us to Himself.

Saint Paul emphasizes the importance of perseverance. He points out the importance of the ascetical effort we have a responsibility to embrace. We must physically mortify our bodies to gain self-control of our sinful nature. As we begin today to prepare for the Lenten season, we must ask our Lord for the grace to deny ourselves. In this way we learn to bring Christ’s good work He has begun in us to perfection.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Bulletin 37

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

February 13, 2011 Sixth Sunday after Epiphany

Epistle: I Thess. 1: 2-10
Gospel: Matth. 13, 31-35

Mass schedule February 14 through February 18

Monday----Saint Valentine, Priest & Martyr----NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday----SS. Faustinus & Jovita, Martyrs---NO LATIN MASS
Wednesday----Feria
Thursday----Feria
Friday----Saint Simeon, Bishop & Martyr

No pot luck dinner this month.
Note that Mass on Sunday, February 13 will be at 7:00pm at Saint Agnes Cathedral.
Note that on Tuesday, February 15 there will be NO LATIN MASS.

God created us to be happy. Happiness cannot be found in wealth, honors, health or any other earthly satisfaction. Happiness may only be found in knowing and loving God. Original sin deprived man of sanctifying grace, but God loved us so much that He delivered us from Satan’s power through the death of His Son.

Saint Paul preached the Gospel foretold by the prophets and fulfilled by the Word made flesh and by His work of salvation. God called Saint Paul through the power of the Holy Spirit to carry on His work of salvation. Saint Paul’s preaching was effective due to the working of the Holy Spirit. The same is true of preachers today. It is the Holy Spirit working in them as well as in those who listen.

In the early years of the Church the proclamation of the Gospel was accompanied by special graces of the Holy Spirit, such as prophecy, miracles, or the gift of tongues. This meant the fulfillment of the ancient prophecies: “I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophecy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even upon the menservants and maidservants in those days, I will pour out my spirit” (Joel 3:1-3).

The dawn of the Christian era brought forth the activity of the Holy Spirit throughout the Church and the world. The Holy Sprit is the principal agent of evangelization. It is the Holy Spirit who impels each person to proclaim the Gospel. It is the Holy Spirit who causes the Word of salvation to be accepted and understood.

We all must therefore call upon the Holy Spirit to enlighten us. We must beseech the Holy Spirit to inspire us to be more effective evangelists. We must constantly fulfill our responsibility to proclaim the Gospel.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Friday, February 4, 2011

Bulletin 36

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

February 6, 2011 Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

Epistle: Col. 3, 12-17
Gospel: Matth. 13, 24-30

Mass schedule February 7 through February 11

Monday----Saint Romuald, Abbot----NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday----Saint John of Matha, Confessor
Wednesday----Saint Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop, Confessor & Doctor
Thursday----Saint Scholastica, Virgin
Friday----Our Lady of Lourdes

No Pot Luck Dinner this month.
MASS ON SUNDAY FEBRUARY 13 WILL BE AT 7:00 PM AT SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL


What a miracle of love it is when the Son of God, who is Almighty and Infinite, and whom the angels and saints reverently adore day and night, becomes our food in the Eucharist! To receive God within us and to unite our unworthy flesh and blood with His most sacred flesh and blood is a tremendous grace! God comes to dwell within us! How can we not feel the most profound reverence and adoration?

Our God is in the Holy Eucharist. He is present in the form of bread out of His infinite love for us. He does this so that He may unite Himself to us. He does not reveal His infinite glory while present in the sacred host so that we will not be frightened by the splendor of His divinity. In other words, God foregoes His own splendor and glory so that He may save sinners and be present in the sacred host.

What then do we owe God in return? Do we acknowledge His love and show our gratitude? Sadly, many do not. God manifests His greatest love, and yet here He often receives His greatest abuse. He often receives the utmost ingratitude. During the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass Christ offers Himself up for our sins to God the Father and begs God’s grace and mercy. What do we do in return? Many do not even think it worth while to attend this Sacrifice even if they easily can. Others attend, but without thinking what it is that is being done for them. Others act inappropriately during the Mass. They talk or find some excuse to get up and leave as soon as Mass begins. Others even make fun of the Mass. Christ sees all and yet He continues to make Himself present to appease the just wrath of God the Father.

Let us attend Mass with the utmost reverence and respect. Let us thank our God for the sacrifice of His Son.

In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching