SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)
CELEBRANT Father Jeff Fasching
March 10th, 2013 Fourth Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday)
Epistle: Gal. 4: 22-31; Gospel: Jn. 6: 1-15
Mass schedule March 11th through March 15th
Monday—Feria of Lent-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday—Feria of Lent-NO LATIN MASS
Wednesday—Feria of Lent
Thursday—Feria of Lent
Friday—Feria of Lent
During the Fridays of Lent following the 12:15pm Mass, there will be Stations of the Cross with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction.
On each of the Fridays of Lent, a plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who, after Communion, recite the “Prayer before a Crucifix.”
Laws of Days of Abstinence: The Discipline of 1962
• Applies on one’s 7th birthday.
• Complete Abstinence: all Fridays of the year, Ash Wednesday, Holy Saturday, and the Vigil of Christmas.
• Partial Abstinence (meat and soup or gravy made from meat permitted once a day at the principle meal): all the days of Lent, the Ember Days of Wednesday and Saturday, and the Vigils of Pentecost and the Assumption.
• Abstinence from meat is dispensed on Holy Days of Obligation
Laws of Fast: The Discipline of 1962
• Applies for those aged 21 to 59, inclusive.
• Days of Lent from Ash Wednesday inclusive, Ember Days, and Vigils of Christmas, Pentecost, and the Assumption.
• One full meal permitted and two other meals may be taken which, when combined, are less than a full meal.
The Law of the Eucharistic Fast: The Discipline of 1962
• The complete fast from all food and drink (except for water or medicine) for three hours before the reception of Holy Communion. In the document reducing the fast to three hours, the Pope still encouraged those who were able to maintain the midnight fast which was the previous discipline.
The love Jesus Christ shows us is immense. Christ descended from Heaven to redeem us and save us from the power of Satan and the grip of Hell. “I am come that they may have life and may have it more abundantly” (John 10.10). Jesus came to earth not only to restore us to the life of grace without which we cannot hope to attain Heaven, but to give us an even better life that we had lost through our sin. Saint Leo once said that the benefits which we have received from the death of Jesus far outweigh the injury which Satan has done us by sin! This is why Saint Paul writes: “where sin abounded, grace did more abound” (Rom. 5.20).
There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. What more proof do we need of God’s love for us? We were reconciled to God by Christ Jesus when were still His enemies! Jesus came not to destroy evil mankind, but to save it. Christ teaches us to be meek, and to bear and pardon injuries. However, meekness is not to be equated with weakness. Rather, meekness involves embracing compassion, patience and humility. These are all qualities found in genuine and sincere Christians. Jesus came to find His sheep that were lost. Have you allowed Him to find you?
In Christ,
Fr. Jeff Fasching
