SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
September 25th, 2011 15th Sunday after Pentecost
Epistle: Gal. 5: 25-26; 6, 1-10
Gospel: Luc. 7, 11-16
Mass schedule September 26th through September 30th
Monday-Feria-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-SS. Cosmas & Damian, Martyrs
Wednesday-Saint Wenceslaus, Duke & Martyr
Thursday-Dedication of Saint Michael the Archangel
Friday-Saint Jerome, Confessor & Doctor
The Latin Mass Community Confirmation date is October 23rd, 2011 at 7:00pm in Saint Agnes Cathedral. His Excellency Bishop James V. Johnston will officiate.
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” “Bear one another’s burdens; and so fulfill the law of Christ.” We have many brothers in Christ we must assist in time of need, by doing so we show our love for Christ Himself. We must also be willing to offer fraternal correction when necessary. This must be done with all humility and with an awareness of our own weaknesses and personal shortcomings. We can never take issue with another person’s sin without first acknowledging our own.
If we are not in the habit of asking God for Charity we must begin today. If we are not asking God for Charity we shouldn’t be surprised that we are so worldly. We must love our neighbor as ourselves if we want to show our love for God. Who is our neighbor? Absolutely everybody! Those who have wronged us, those who have injured our good name and even those who wish to do harm to us. We must love all of them as ourselves. We must rejoice when our enemies are successful. We must be sad when they suffer loss. If we do not do this and we do not believe it we are bad Christians!
So how do we know if we have Charity? Well, if we are not proud; if we are not controlling; if we refuse to judge other people’s behavior; if we don’t gossip. We have charity if we don’t question the motives of other people’s actions. We must never think that we are better than others. In fact, we must truly believe everyone else is better than us. We must not become disappointed when others have a poor opinion of us. A person who is charitable avoids hurting the feelings of others. He accepts the will of God in everything that happens to him, be it sickness or adversity. These things remind us we are sinners and that our lives here on earth are temporary.
We cannot work out our salvation without charity! When we have charity all the other virtues come with it. Charity purifies and sanctifies our actions. Charity perfects the soul. Saint Paul says in his epistle: “Brethren, If I speak with the tongues of men and of Angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. And if I should have prophecy, and should know all mysteries and all knowledge: and if I should have all faith so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And if I should distribute all my goods to feed the poor, and if I should deliver my body to be burned and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.”
Without Charity all other virtues are of no avail! Look at Jesus Christ Himself as our model. Look at what He did for all men, and even for those who killed Him. He prayed for mercy and forgiveness for them. He loved them. He offered up the merits and the sufferings of His death for them. He promised them pardon. If we do not have this kind of Charity we are only mock Christians!
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
