SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)
CELEBRANT Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
April 29th, 2012 Third Sunday after Easter
Epistle: 1 Pet. 2: 11-19—Gospel: Jn. 16: 16-22
Mass Schedule April 30th through May 4th
Monday-Saint Catherine of Siena, Virgin-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Saint Joseph the Worker
Wednesday-Saint Athanasius; Bishop, Confessor & Doctor
Thursday-SS. Alexander & Companions, Martyrs
Friday-Sacred Heart of Jesus
The New Testament places strong emphases on the unity of the Church. The Church is:
• one People of God (1 Pet 2.9f)
• one Body of Christ (1 Cor 12.2; Eph 4.4)
• one Temple of the Holy Ghost (Eph 2.21)
• one household of God (Eph 2.19)
• one flock of Christ (Jn 10.16)
• one bride of Christ (Eph 5.25-32).
Last Sunday, when Christ described Himself as the Good Shepherd, He spoke of His desire to unite all His sheep so that there will be but one flock and one shepherd:
“I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me…I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must lead them, too, and they shall hear my voice. There shall be one flock then, one shepherd.” (Jn 10. 14-16)
Jesus Christ also prayed at the Last Supper for unity when He said:
“I do not pray for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their word, that all may be one, as you, Father, are in me, and I in you; I pray that they may be one in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. I have given them the glory you gave me, that they may be one, as we are one—I living in them, you living in me—that their unity may be complete.” (Jn 17.20-23)
Finally, the Epistle to the Ephesians speaks emphatically about the unity which Christians are to preserve and the many bonds that make them one:
“Make every effort to preserve the unity which has the Spirit as its origin and peace as its binding force. There is but one body and one Spirit, just as there is but one hope given all of you by your call. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all, and works through all, and is in all.” (Eph 4.1-5)
Note: one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all! Pray for Christian unity!
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
