SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
December 4th, 2011 Second Sunday of Advent
Epistle: Rom. 15: 4-13
Gospel: Mt. 11: 2-10
Mass Schedule December 5th through December 9th
Monday-Feria of Advent-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Requiem Mass + Kennedy Creado
Wednesday-Saint Ambrose; Bishop, Confessor & Doctor
Thursday-Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary—Latin Mass @ 2:00pm
Friday-Feria of Advent
There will be a pot-luck dinner on Sunday, December 4th immediately following the 2:30pm Latin Mass in the school cafeteria. All are invited to attend. Bring water, candles, or any religious articles you wish to have blessed.
December 8th (Immaculate Conception) is a holy day of obligation. Mass in the Extraordinary Form will be at 2:00pm at Saint Agnes Cathedral.
John was in prison when he heard the works of Christ. He sent two of his disciples to ask Jesus if He is the one to come. Jesus said to them: “Go and relate to John what you have heard and seen. The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead rise again, the poor have the gospel preached to them…” Jesus goes on to say: “What went you out into the desert to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Behold they that are clothed in soft garments are in the houses of kings. But what went you out to see? A Prophet? Yea I tell you and more than a Prophet…”
In the synoptic gospels, the account of Jesus’ public ministry begins with a description of John the Baptist calling the people to repent in preparation for the coming of God’s Kingdom. The austerity of John’s life bore striking witness to his message. Saint Matthew tells us: “In those days John the Baptizer appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea and saying, Repent! For the kingdom of God is at hand. It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said a voice of one crying out in the desert: Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, and had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. At that time Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan were going out to him. They were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins” (Mt 3. 1-12).
People flocked to John the Baptist because they sensed he was a true man of God. He wasn’t concerned with people’s opinions, but only with fulfilling his God-given mission to prepare the way for Christ. Jesus Christ invites us to do the same.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
