SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
February 5th, 2012 Septuagesima Sunday
Epistle: 1 Cor. 9:24-27; 10:1-5
Gospel: Mt 20: 1-16
Mass Schedule February 6th through February 10th
Monday-Saint Titus, Bishop & Confessor-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Saint Romuald, Abbot
Wednesday-Saint John of Matha, Confessor
Thursday-Saint Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop, Confessor and Doctor
Friday-Saint Scholastica, Virgin
The Latin Mass Community of Springfield, MO will hold its monthly pot-luck dinner in the Saint Agnes school cafeteria immediately following the 2:30pm Mass on Sunday, February 5th. All are invited to attend. You may bring any religious articles you wish to have blessed.
On February 3rd there is a blessing of throats at Mass in honor of Saint Blase. In addition, I will be available immediately after the 2:30pm Mass on February 5th for the blessing of throats.
On Sunday, February 12th Saint Agnes Cathedral has scheduled a wedding anniversary Mass at 2:30pm; therefore there will be NO LATIN MASS.
The discipline it takes to be a successful athlete spills over into the spiritual life. Unless we strive to develop and maintain a well-ordered, disciplined and regular life of prayer to God we cannot advance in the spiritual realm. “Brethren: Know you not that they that run in the race, all run indeed, but one receiveth the prize? So run that you may obtain. And every one that striveth for the mastery refraineth himself from all things: and they indeed that they may receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible one!”
We should approach the spiritual life with a competitive spirit. We should beg God that nobody is getting ahead of us. We should ask God for the grace to pray our rosaries more attentively than the next person. We should ask God each day that we are counted among His favorites. We must be ready and willing to sacrifice. We must not let anything get in our way of our relationship with God. There will always be obstacles, failures and personal limitations, but we can never grow discouraged.
Saint Paul says: “…but I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” Even our most serious sins should not discourage us because we have God in the Sacrament of Penance to grow holier through forgiveness. How many times in scripture do we see Jesus Christ our Lord moved by a sinner’s repentance?
Furthermore, we must never take our efforts for granted. Saint Paul says: “Let no one feel assured of this gift with an absolute certainty, although all ought to have most secure hope in the help of God. For unless we are unfaithful to His grace, God will bring the good work to perfection, just as He began it, working both the will and the performance (Phil 2:13).” Saint Paul reminds us of the necessity of physical mortification and self-control. When we make the effort, God will always help us with His grace. This we must do to earn our “crown of righteousness.”
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
