St. Agnes Cathedral Latin Mass

Bulletin 90

2012-02-18T13:07:00.002-06:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

February 19, 2012 Quinquagesima Sunday

Epistle: 1Cor. 13:1-13
Gospel: Lk. 18:31-43

Mass Schedule February 20th through February 24th

Monday-------FERIA-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-------FERIA
Wednesday---Ash Wednesday (Mass at 2:00pm)
Thursday------Thursday after Ash Wednesday
Friday----------Friday after Ash Wednesday

February 22: Ash Wednesday. Latin Mass at 2:00pm. Ashes will be blessed and distributed before Mass. Ash Wednesday is a day of fast and abstinence.

Laws of Days of Abstinence: Current Practice
 Begins on one’s 14th birthday.
 Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent.
 Obliges abstention from flesh meat.

Laws of Days of Penance: Current Practice
 Applies to all the Faithful.
 Lent and Fridays outside of Lent

Laws of Days of Fast: Current Practice
 Applies to everyone aged 18 to 59, inclusive.
 One full meal permitted and two other meals may be taken which, when combined, are less than a full meal.
 Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

The obligation to do penance is lifted on Fridays which are also celebrated as a solemnity. The following is a list of Solemnities in the New Rite which can fall on a Friday:
 January 1: Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God; Solemnity of the Epiphany
 March 19: Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Spouse of Mary
 March 25: Solemnity of the Annunciation
 June 24: Solemnity of Saint John the Baptist
 June 29: Solemnity of Ss. Peter and Paul
 August 15: Solemnity of the Assumption
 November 1: Solemnity of All Saints
 December 8: Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
 December 25: Solemnity of Christmas
 Principal patron of a place (city, state, nation)
 Dedication of a particular church and the anniversary
 The Title, founder, or principal patron of a religious order or congregation

Laws of Days of Abstinence: The Discipline of 1962
 Applies on one’s 7th birthday.
 Complete Abstinence: all Fridays of the year, Ash Wednesday, 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.

Laws of the Eucharistic Fast: Current Legislation
Under the New Code of Canon Law, the Fast for Holy Communion is one hour before the reception of the Holy Eucharist. However, in the document reducing the fast to one hour, the Pope has encouraged those who were able to maintain the previous discipline.

The Law of the Eucharistic Fast: The Discipline of 1962
The complete fast from all food and drink (except 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.

On each of the Fridays of Lent, a plenary indulgence in granted to the faithful who, after Communion, recite the “Prayer Before a Crucifix”:

Look down upon me, good and gentle Jesus while before Thy face I humbly kneel and, with burning soul, pray and beseech Thee to fix deep in my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope and charity; true contrition for my sins; and a firm purpose of amendment; while I contemplate with great love and tender pity Thy five most precious wounds, pondering over them within me while I call to mind the words which David Thy prophet said of Thee, my Jesus: “They have pierced My hands and My feet, they have numbered all My bones.” Amen.

Saint Paul in his letter to the Corinthians speaks of the three theological virtues; faith, hope and love. The theological virtues are among our greatest gifts from God. They are infused into our hearts through divine grace. However, we must remember our responsibility to nourish these God-given gifts. We must always and everyday pray for them. We should beg God that we grow in them, never take them for granted, but instead cherish them as our most prized possessions.

We are all people of faith. Perhaps we may know somebody whom we believe to be a person of great faith. Chances are we know somebody who seems to have little, if any faith at all. Faith is a precious gift. The strength of our faith depends a great deal on how we ourselves nourish it. We should constantly ask God for an increase in faith.

We see in the Gospel another great example of Jesus Christ demanding faith from the blind man who wishes to see. Our Lord gives the blind man his sight because “thy faith hath made thee whole.” The blind man believed in his heart that Jesus had the power to heal him. Therefore when the blind man asked for his sight, it was given to him.

Our Lord wants the exact same faith from each one of us. One of the easiest and most effective ways of nourishing our faith and praying for the other virtues is meditating on the mysteries of the Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary. When we mediate upon the resurrection, for example, we must beg God for a greater faith. We should contemplate the unprecedented faith that was given to the Blessed Virgin Mary and ask God for a share in this same faith. When we focus on the ascension we should ask God for a greater hope that where He has gone, we will one day follow.

Saint Paul explains that virtues of faith and hope mean nothing if we do not put them into practice, therefore the greatest of these virtues is love. “Holy” people are people who exercise on a regular basis the virtue of charity. Hence, charity is the key to holiness and sanctity. We can find charitable things to do each and every day that help us grow in holiness. These can be the smallest of acts, because God looks at the intention of one’s heart, not the magnitude of the act.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 89

2012-02-13T07:06:00.006-06:00

Bulletin 88

2012-02-04T09:24:00.002-06:00

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

Bulletin 87

2012-01-26T21:48:00.003-06:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

January 29th, 2012 Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

Epistle: Rom. 13: 8-10
Gospel: Mt 18: 23-27

Mass Schedule January 30th through February 3rd

Monday-Saint Martina, Virgin & Martyr-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Saint John Bosco, Confessor-NO LATIN MASS
Wednesday-Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop & Martyr
Thursday-Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Friday-Saint Blase, Bishop & Martyr

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.

NOTE THERE WILL BE NO LATIN MASS ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 31ST.

Christ demands faith from all of us. For example, when we meditate on the fourth luminous mystery of the Holy Rosary we focus on Christ’s transfiguration. As with any mystery in the life of Christ we must always ask for a particular grace when we focus on the mystery. With the transfiguration we must beg God for the ability to see with His transforming vision rather than our own limited human vision. This grace is attainable for a person from any state of life, but we often hear more about those who have chosen to embrace a vocation to the priesthood or religious life that have great faith or practice heroic virtue.

So how can one recognize the way of life to which he is called by God? The most important factor is to embrace a regular habit of prayer with faith that God will make His will known to those who sincerely seek it. While praying, one must try to maintain an attitude of perfect detachment. One must fight against the tendency to lean toward one alternative rather than another before God manifests His will. One must maintain a spirit of generosity and willingness to embrace whatever God reveals to be His will. If one prays and reflects God will eventually let the person know what He wills for the person. God will allow the person to experience greater light, peace and certainty with regard to the way of life God wills for the person. This is how one will grow in conviction that this is God’s will.

In discerning God’s will in the choice of a way of life, one should place before one’s mind the one end and purpose for which one has been created by God, namely, to praise, reverence and serve God, and in this way to save one’s soul. Furthermore, one must be resolved not to allow any other consideration to sway one’s choice. With that in mind, one should ask oneself what way of life seems to offer the person, with his special gifts and graces, the best means for attaining that end. Which path is the best means for promoting the greater glory of God? Which way of life provides the best means for attaining holiness? Which way of life provides the best means for contributing to the well-being of the greater number of people and of helping them attain salvation?

Clarity often comes from imagining oneself on one’s death bed and asking the question which choice I would then wish that I had made. I should now make that choice. Imagine standing before God in judgment and having to render an account of one’s life. Which choice will I then wish I had made?

In Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 86

2012-01-21T09:39:00.003-06:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

January 22nd, 2012 Third Sunday after Epiphany

Epistle: Rom. 12: 16-21
Gospel: Mt 8: 1-13

Mass Schedule January 23rd through January 27th

Monday-Saint Raymond of Penafort, Confessor-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Saint Timothy, Bishop & Martyr
Wednesday-Conversion of Saint Paul
Thursday-Saint Polycarp, Bishop & Martyr
Friday-Saint John Chrysostom; Bishop, Confessor & Martyr

We are now celebrating the Church Unity Octave. January 18 to 25 inclusive focuses on the intention of the unity of the entire Catholic Church. The dogmatic constitution Pastor Aeternus proposed that the Roman Pontiff, as successor of Saint Peter, has primacy of jurisdiction over the whole Church and that he is infallible when defining doctrines of faith and morals as binding in faith on the universal Church. Christ established the Church in order to continue for all time the saving work of redemption…so that in the Church…all the faithful might be united together in the bond of one faith and one love.

Furthermore, Christ made Saint Peter head of the Church in order that Peter might be “the visible foundation of a twofold unity,” namely; “that the episcopate might be one and undivided, and that the whole multitude of believers might be preserved in unity of faith and communion…”

The council explains why it is necessary to define the Church’s teaching concerning “the establishment, the perpetuity, and nature of this sacred apostolic primacy.” The reason is to promote “the protection, the safety, and the increase of the Catholic flock,” and to strengthen the Church against the attacks that at that time were being made against her by her enemies. The council believed that the Church would be strengthened against these and other ills if the authority of the Supreme Pontiff, which was strongly supported by the vast majority of Catholics, were confirmed by its solemn decrees.

The council teaches that because the Roman Pontiff is head of the whole Church by divine right, he is supreme judge of the faithful in all matters pertaining to Church life. All cases referred to him, and no case decided by him can be reviewed by any other authority. His judgment is final. Once the pope has decided an issue, it is not permitted to appeal over his head to any other tribunal, not even to a general council.

The papal office exists to preserve the purity of the faith, to serve Christian unity, and to minister to the needs of the Catholic community. Let us pray during this octave for a unity of faith which is so desperately needed in our time.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 85

2012-01-14T08:22:00.001-06:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

January 15th, 2012 Second Sunday after Epiphany

Epistle: Rom. 12: 6-16
Gospel: Jn. 2: 1-11

Mass Schedule January 16, through January 20th

Monday-Saint Marcellus I, Pope & Martyr-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Saint Anthony, Abbot
Wednesday-Feria
Thursday-Feria
Friday-Requiem Mass + Michael Michado

The self-manifestation at the wedding of Cana is the second luminous mystery in the life of Jesus Christ. Before Jesus changed the water into wine His disciples already believed that Jesus was the Messiah. However, with this first public miracle the disciples began to experience a much deeper faith. At Cana, the Blessed Virgin Mary obtained from her Son the temporal need of providing for the guests at the wedding. This mystery emphasizes the importance of relying on the Blessed Virgin Mary’s prayers for all our own needs.

Mary’s prayers are unparalleled in effectiveness with God because they are the prayers of a Mother, whereas the prayers of the saints are prayers of servants. Since Jesus Christ has an infinite love for His Mother, Mary’s prayers cannot go unanswered. We have an opportunity to grow in our devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary whenever we choose. Let us beg God through her prayers to draw us closer to Christ our Savior.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 84

2012-01-07T09:00:00.001-06:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

January 8th, 2012 Holy Family

Epistle: Col. 3:12-17
Gospel: Lk. 2:42-52

Mass Schedule January 9th through January 13th

Monday-Feria of 1st Sunday after the Epiphany-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Feria of 1st Sunday after the Epiphany
Wednesday-Feria of 1st Sunday after the Epiphany
Thursday-Feria of 1st Sunday after the Epiphany
Friday-Commemoration of the Baptism of the Lord

There will be a pot-luck dinner in the school cafeteria immediately following the 2:30pm Mass on January 8th.

Jesus always had His heart set on doing the will of the Father. He teaches that our primary duty is to do the will of God, even over and above any human authority. Jesus therefore asks His parents in the gospel: “Did you not know that I must be about my Father’s business?”

Although Mary knew from the start that the Child Jesus was God, the Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple sums up Jesus’ life in Nazareth, which was one of obedience. He was subject to Joseph and Mary. Jesus, who is God, obeyed His parents.

Jesus lived a hidden life for many years in preparation for His years of public life. He has left us an example. Most of us can find holiness in doing the simple, every-day things of life extraordinarily well. This should be our aim in life each and every day. We must obey the will of God unselfishly.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 83

2011-12-31T07:19:00.001-06:00

January 1st, 2012 Octave Day of Christmas

Epistle: Tit. 2:11-15
Gospel: Lk. 2:21

Mass Schedule January 2nd through January 6th
SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Monday-Most Holy Name of Jesus-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Feria of Christmastide-NO LATIN MASS
Wednesday-Feria of Christmastide-NO LATIN MASS
Thursday-Feria in Christmastide-NO LATIN MASS
Friday-Epiphany of the Lord-NO LATIN MASS

There will be no daily Mass in the Extraordinary Form this week. The Latin Mass will resume with the Feast of the Holy Family on January 8th at 2:30pm. There will be a pot-luck dinner in the school cafeteria immediately following the 2:30pm Mass on January 8th.

The words of the dogmatic constitution on the Church of the Second Vatican Council (lumen gentium, nn. 61-62) remind us that:

This motherhood of Mary in the order of grace—from the consent which she gave in faith at the incarnation, and which she continued to give unhesitatingly at the foot of the cross—lasts without interruption until all the elect enter into eternal fulfillment. When she was taken up into heaven, she did not lay aside this saving role but she continues by her intercession for all to gain for us the gifts of eternal salvation. In her maternal love she cares for the brothers of her Son as they journey on earth in the midst of dangers and hardships, until they are brought safely home to the happiness of heaven. The Blessed Virgin is thus invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Auxiliatrix, Adjutrix and Mediatrix. These titles must not, however, be understood as in any way detracting from, or adding to, the dignity and effectiveness of Christ, the one Mediator.

No creature can ever be classed as an equal with the incarnate Word, the Redeemer. But just as the priesthood of Christ is shared in various ways by His ministers and His faithful people, and as the goodness of God, one though it is, is in different ways, really shared with creatures, so also the unique mediation of Christ does not exclude but brings about a variety of shared cooperation, deriving from the one unique source.

The Church does not hesitate to acknowledge this kind of subordinate role in the person of Mary. The Church has continuous experience of its effects, and commends it to the hearts of the faithful, so that as they lean on her motherly protection they may be brought into closer union with the Mediator, our Savior.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 82

2011-12-23T10:31:00.001-06:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

December 25, 2011 The Nativity of Our Lord

Epistle: Heb. 1: 1-12
Gospel: Jn. 1: 1-14

Mass Schedule December 26th through December 30th

Monday-Saint Stephen, Deacon & Protomartyr-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Saint John, Apostle & Evangelist-NO LATIN MASS
Wednesday-Holy Innocents
Thursday-5th Day in the Octave of Christmas
Friday-6th Day in the Octave of Christmas

Midnight Mass in the Extraordinary Form will be offered at Saint Anne Monastery in Springfield. The address is 424 E. Monastery Street. Mass on Christmas day in the Extraordinary Form will be at 2:30pm at Saint Agnes Cathedral.

Saint John describes two basic truths about the Word of God in his prologue—that He is Life and that He is Light. Jesus Christ is the Divine Life, the primary source of all life, natural and supernatural. Jesus says: “I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (Jn 8:12; cf. 12:46).

Saint John also says that the darkness has not overcome this light. There is a struggle between the two. There is an evil power at work in the world (satan) which envelops man’s mind and thus prevents him from knowing God. However, Saint Augustine writes:

But it may be, the dull hearts of some cannot yet receive this light. Their sins weigh them down, and they cannot discern it. Let them not think, however, that, because they cannot discern it, therefore it is not present with them. For they themselves, because of their sins, are darkness. Just as if you place a blind person in the sunshine, although the sun is present to him, yet he is absent from the sun; in the same way, every foolish man, every unrighteous man, every ungodly man, is blind in heart. What course then ought such a one to take? Let him cleanse the eyes of his heart, that he may be able to see God. He will see Wisdom, for God is Wisdom itself, and it is written: “Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God.” There is no doubt that sin obscures man’s spiritual vision, rendering him unable to see and enjoy the things of God.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 81

2011-12-14T06:10:00.001-06:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

December 18, 2011 Fourth Sunday of Advent (Rorate Sunday)

Epistle: I Cor. 4: 1-5
Gospel: Lk. 3: 1-6

Mass Schedule December 19th through December 23rd

Monday-Greater Feria of Advent-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Requiem Mass + Salvador Jensuan
Wednesday-Saint Thomas, Apostle
Thursday-Greater Feria of Advent
Friday-Greater Feria of Advent

“…The Word of the Lord was made unto John, the son of Zachary, in the desert. And he came into the hill country about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of penance for the remission of sins, as it was written in the book of the sayings of Isaias the Prophet: A voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord…”

Advent is a time of preparation and penance. We anticipate Christ’s birth, but we also prepare for His coming as Judge. John the Baptist was an outstanding example of austerity. He perfectly prepared the way of Christ and recognized his role in doing so. When Christ comes in judgment the world as we know it will change.

Saint Paul says “the form of this world is passing away,” but he does not say that this world will be annihilated at the end of time. Rather he implies that all creation will be renewed, for he writes that “the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God…because creation itself will be set free from its bondage to death and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Rom 8.19,21).

In the Book of Revelations we read:

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband, and I heard a great voice from the throne saying, “Behold the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away.” Advent is therefore also a time of joy! Let us live this joy during this holy season.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 80

2011-12-06T14:29:00.002-06:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

December 11th, 2011 Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday)

Epistle: Phil. 4: 4-7
Gospel: Jn. 1: 19-28

Mass Schedule December 12th through December 16th

Monday-Feria of Advent-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Saint Lucy, Virgin & Martyr
Wednesday-Ember Wednesday
Thursday-Requiem Mass + Deacon Bill McNamee
Friday-Ember Friday

Christians are a people of joy! When we sin we lose our joy because we offend God. However, if we repent and purify ourselves in the sacrament of penance God will always forgive us. True peace and joy is the result of nothing other than remaining faithful to God and embracing the Cross. We must remember that Advent is a season of repentance and penance. Those who know God realize that enduring afflictions with patience and faith will always strengthen our faith and ultimately lead to joy.

John the Baptist preached repentance and exemplified a life of penance. Concerning the value of penance, the Council of Trent teaches: “…penances greatly detach penitents from sin; they act like a bridle to keep them in check, and make them more cautious and vigilant in the future. They also heal the after-effects of sin and destroy evil habits acquired through a bad life…Besides, when we suffer in satisfaction for our sins we conform ourselves to Christ Jesus who made satisfaction for our sins (cf. Rom. 5.10; 1 Jn. 2.1f)…; this gives us the surest pledge that, while suffering with him, we shall also be glorified with him (Rom. 8.17).”

Penance atones for sin, satisfies the demands of God’s holiness and justice, pays the debt of temporal punishment due to sin, restores glory to God, and averts divine punishment. It focuses the penitent’s mind more clearly on God and increases sensitivity to spiritual values. Penance intensifies sorrow for sin and desire for holiness. It repairs and heals the harmful effects which sin has done to one’s self, to other persons, and to the social order. Furthermore, penance weakens the bonds of sinful attachments. It gives the penitent better control over unruly nature and deters the penitent from committing sin in the future. Penance strengthens the penitent’s resolve to overcome sin and advance in virtue. Finally, penance conforms the penitent to the likeness of Christ’s passion and therefore prepares the penitent to share the glory of His resurrection!

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 79

2011-12-03T07:15:00.002-06:00

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

Bulletin 78

2011-11-25T06:55:00.003-06:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

November 27th, 2011 First Sunday of Advent

Epistle: Rom. 13: 11-14
Gospel: Lk. 21: 25-33

Mass Schedule November 28th through December 2nd.

Monday-Feria of Advent-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Feria of Advent
Wednesday-Saint Andrew, Apostle
Thursday-Feria of Advent
Friday-Sacred Heart of Jesus

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.

As we begin the season of Advent, Christ speaks in the Gospel of His coming in glory at the end of time. Mankind will see Christ’s power and glory when He comes to judge the living and the dead. God’s justice and mercy to men throughout history will shine for all to see.

The second coming of Christ is a day of terror for evildoers and of joy for those who have remained faithful to Christ. Christ’s victory on the cross over sin, satan, and death will be seen clearly. Saint Paul therefore encourages us to be “awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”

As we await the coming of Jesus Christ we must remember that the Advent season is a time of preparation and repentance. We prepare ourselves by reforming our lives. We must beg God for true contrition for our sins and for a sincere transformation. This transformation involves putting our old life of sin behind us once and for all.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 77

2011-11-20T01:59:00.006-06:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

November 20th, 2011 23rd Sunday after Pentecost

Epistle: Phil. 3: 17-21; 4: 1-3
Gospel: Mt. 19: 18-26

Mass Schedule November 21st through November 25th

Monday-Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Requiem Mass + Catherine Diaz
Wednesday-Requiem Mass + Charlie Diaz
Thursday-Saint John of the Cross, Confessor & Doctor-MASS AT 11:00AM
Friday-Saint Catherine of Alexandria, Virgin & Martyr-NO LATIN MASS

MASS ON THANKSGIVING DAY WILL BE AT 11:00AM AT SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL. THERE WILL BE NO LATIN MASS ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25TH.

Because of the physical and mental suffering that it brings, and the threat that it poses to human existence, sickness is one of the greatest trials that human beings must experience. We often ask the question in times of great suffering why human life is subject to such a painful ordeal. Why does God place this burden upon us?

Although Scripture gives us no clear answer to these questions, Christian tradition has generally regarded sickness not as belonging to humanity’s original condition but as resulting from humanity’s rebellion against God. Before that event, described in the book of Genesis, Adam and Eve had access to the Tree of Life, the fruit of which would ward off death, and presumably sickness that leads to death. After the fall, the Lord God pronounced a sentence upon the couple. Woman would suffer pain in giving birth and Man would have to toil by the sweat of his brow to make a living from the earth that has been cursed by God. Both Man and Woman were denied access to the Tree of Life and now must return to the earth from which they came. In interpreting the Genesis story, Christian tradition has generally seen sickness, suffering and death as consequences of Adam’s sin. These painful realities belong to humanity’s present fallen condition, but will have no place in the world to come, where “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, for the old order has passed away” (Rev 21.4).

Sickness is part of that distressful condition from which Christ has come to deliver mankind. He certainly did so in the Gospel today when the woman with the flow of blood touched His clothing. In fact, it is Christ’s own sufferings that have not only freed us from sin, but have given strength and courage to those afflicted with sickness. Christ gives them hope that by patiently accepting their ordeal in union with Him they may share in His redemptive work. This is the mystery of the Cross! In order to share in Christ’s resurrection, we must be willing to share in His Cross.

In Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 76

2011-11-12T08:37:00.003-06:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

November 13th, 2011 22nd Sunday after Pentecost

Epistle: Phil. 1:6-11
Gospel: Mt. 22:15-21

Mass Schedule November 14th through November 18th:

Monday-Saint Josaphat, Bishop & Martyr-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Saint Albert the Great, Bishop, Confessor & Doctor
Wednesday-Requiem Mass + Annie Machado
Thursday-Requiem Mass + Deceased Relatives of James Family
Friday-Dedication of the Basilicas of SS Peter & Paul

MASS ON THANKSGIVING DAY WILL BE AT 11:00AM AT SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL. THERE WILL BE NO LATIN MASS ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25TH.

In the Book of Exodus, God revealed Himself to Moses and spoke the words: “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.” God’s faithfulness means we should always completely surrender to God without fear because He always keeps His promises and is true to His word.

We must constantly foster a personal relationship with Jesus Christ though prayer. We must strive to receive the sacraments frequently. We owe God our very lives through service and self-sacrifice. We must obey His commandments. To do so, we must foster personal love and commitment toward Jesus Christ.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 75

2011-11-03T14:27:00.002-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

November 6th, 2011 21st Sunday after Pentecost

Epistle: Eph. 6: 10-17
Gospel: Mt. 18: 23-35

Mass Schedule November 7th through November 11th:

Monday-Feria-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Requiem Mass + Mary Dsouza
Wednesday-Dedication of the Archbasilica of Our Holy Savior
Thursday-Saint Andrew Avellino, Confessor
Friday-Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop & Confessor

The month of November is dedicated to the Holy Souls. On all days from November 1 through November 8 inclusive, a plenary indulgence, applicable only to the Poor Souls, is granted to those who visit a cemetery and pray, even if only mentally, for the departed. Partial indulgences are granted to those who recite Lauds or Vespers of the Office of the Dead, and to those who recite the prayer “Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domini, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Requiescant in pace” (“Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace”).

“An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints.” Paul VI, apostolic constitution, Indulgentiarum doctrina, Norm 1.

An indulgence is partial or plenary according as it removes either part or all of the temporal punishment due to sin. The faithful can gain indulgences for themselves, or apply them to the dead.

Saint Paul reminds us we must all be prepared to struggle “against the principalities” of this world, namely those angels who rebelled against God whom Christ has won victory over. We must fight with spiritual weapons; truth, righteousness, peace and faith. These weapons guarantee our victory! Our fight should therefore be fought with joy and confidence!

Satan is constantly seeking to bring about man’s eternal damnation. However, since Christ has defeated satan through the power of the cross, satan no longer has power over us. We must, however, still contend with the enemy. Prayer is the single most important weapon for fighting the enemy. Prayer helps us to conquer evil passions and temptations brought about by the devil. It is not enough simply to go through the motions. We must constantly pray from the heart.

In Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 74

2011-10-29T05:39:00.002-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

October 30th, 2011 Feast of the Kingship of our Lord Jesus Christ

Epistle: Col. 1: 12-20
Gospel: Jn. 18: 33-37

THERE WILL BE A POT-LUCK DINNER ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3OTH AFTER THE 2:30PM LATIN MASS IN THE SAINT AGNES SCHOOL CAFETERIA. THIS WILL BE AN ALL SAINTS DAY PARTY.

MASS ON ALL SAINTS DAY WILL BE AT 12:15pm

Mass schedule October 31st through November 4th:

Monday-Feria-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-All Saints
Wednesday-Commemoration of All Souls
Thursday-Requiem Mass, Carmelina Machado
Friday-Requiem Mass, Carol Stanton

On the Feast of the Kingship of Our Lord Jesus Christ one may gain a plenary indulgence by the public recitation of the Act of Consecration of the Human Race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

All Saints Day is a holy day of obligation in the Universal Church and in the United States.

The month of November is dedicated to the Holy Souls. On all days from November 1 through November 8 inclusive, a plenary indulgence, applicable only to the Poor Souls, is granted to those who visit a cemetery and pray, even if only mentally, for the departed. Partial indulgences are granted to those who recite Lauds or Vespers of the Office of the Dead, and to those who recite the prayer “Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domini, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Requiescant in pace” (“Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace”).

On All Souls Day a plenary indulgence, applicable only to the Poor Souls, is granted to those who visit any parish church or public oratory and there recite an Our Father and one Credo.

“An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints.” Paul VI, apostolic constitution, Indulgentiarum doctrina, Norm 1.

An indulgence is partial or plenary according as it removes either part or all of the temporal punishment due to sin. The faithful can gain indulgences for themselves, or apply them to the dead.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 73

2011-10-20T09:25:00.005-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

October 23rd, 2011 19th Sunday after Pentecost

Epistle: Eph. 4: 23-28
Gospel: Mt. 22: 1-14

THERE WILL BE NO LATIN MASS OCTOBER 24TH THROUGH OCTOBER 28TH

THE DIOCESE OF SPRINGFIELD-CAPE GIRARDEAU WILL HOLD ITS ANNUAL PRIEST INSTITUTE FROM OCTOBER 24TH THROUGH OCTOBER 28TH IN BRANSON, MO. THERE WILL BE NO LATIN MASS DURING THIS WEEK.

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.

THERE WILL BE A POT-LUCK DINNER ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3OTH AFTER THE 2:30PM LATIN MASS IN THE SAINT AGNES SCHOOL CAFETERIA. THIS WILL BE AN ALL SAINTS DAY PARTY.

Mass Schedule October 24th through October 28th:

Monday through Friday NO LATIN MASS

Conversion is a life-long process. God desires that we put our old life of sin behind and be renewed in heart and spirit. We must make use of confession and penance. This involves an inner renewal that takes a lifetime. It is a response to God’s grace. In His infinite love for men, Christ patiently seeks the conversion of every soul He has created. However, He also respects our freedom. Man is absolutely free to reject God’s grace.

The proclamation of God’s mercy and forgiveness also formed a prominent part of Saint Paul’s teaching: “God has reconciled us to Himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” (2 Cor 18-20)

Among the many things we petition God for in our prayers, at the top of the list must be a willingness to amend our lives and “put on the new man.”

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 72

2011-10-13T01:36:00.005-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

October 16th, 2011 18th Sunday after Pentecost

Epistle: I Cor. 1:4-8
Gospel: Mt. 9:1-8

Mass schedule October 17th through October 21st

Monday-Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, Virgin-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Saint Luke, Evangelist
Wednesday-Saint Peter of Alcantara, Confessor
Thursday-Saint John Cantius, Confessor
Friday-Feria

THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF SPRINGFIELD-CAPE GIRARDEAU WILL HOLD ITS ANNUAL PRIEST INSTITUTE FROM OCTOBER 24TH THROUGH OCTOBER 28TH IN BRANSON, MO. THERE WILL BE NO LATIN MASS DURING THIS WEEK.

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.

There will be no pot-luck lunch this month. We will have a social event following Mass on October 23rd prior to the Confirmation ceremony.

Congratulations to Joshua Faust & his family. Josh received his first Holy Communion this past Sunday.

People believed that Jesus had supernatural powers because of the many miracles He performed on their behalf. However, Jesus was always concerned with the reality of forgiving one’s sins more than any physical cure He might perform.

Christ demanded that people have a lively faith in order to be cured. The people who bring Christ the paralytic in the Gospel are leading a sinner to God. This is what Christ desires. If we want to be close to Christ we must do the same.

The Jews believed that any illness was the result of personal sin. They accused Christ of blasphemy when He said to the paralytic “Your sins are forgiven.” If only God can forgive sins, they reasoned, this man is claiming to have power that belongs to God alone. Jesus cures the paralytic simply by uttering a word. He has the power to cure the effects of sin which is what the Jews believed disease to be. He thus also has the power to cure the cause of illness, or sin. Jesus therefore demonstrates that He has divine power.

Jesus Christ passed on to the Apostles and their successors in the priestly ministry the power to forgive sins. Priests exercise this power in the sacrament of Penance. Priests act in the person of Christ Himself as instruments of the Lord.

We should therefore always approach the sacrament of Penance with respect and gratitude. Christ forgives sins through His priests. The words of absolution are spoken by Christ through the priest. When the priest pronounces these words he speaks in the first person because he is so fully identified with Christ himself. The priest does not say “Christ absolves you…”, but rather “I absolve you from your sins…”

Let us take advantage of this great gift of God's mercy. Let us beg Him for true contrition for our sins.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 71

2011-10-05T09:14:00.003-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

October 9th, 2011 17th Sunday after Pentecost

Epistle: Ephes. 4, 1-6
Gospel: Matth. 22, 34-46

Mass schedule October 10th through October 14th

Monday-Saint Francis Borgia, Confessor-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Wednesday-Feria
Thursday-Saint Edward the Confessor, King
Friday-Saint Callistus I, Pope & Martyr

You are invited to join the 2011 Public Square Rosary Crusade. Join us in praying for our nation on October 15th at 12:00pm in front of Saint Agnes Cathedral. Contact Anna James at 417-889-5831 for more information.

Your prayers are asked for Josh Faust and his family. Josh will receive his first Holy Communion this Sunday, October 9th at the 2:30pm Latin Mass.

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.

There will be no pot-luck lunch this month. We will have a social event following Mass on October 23rd prior to the Confirmation ceremony.

Theologians generally enumerate four principle ends for which we offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass: adoration, thanksgiving, propitiation (satisfaction, expiation, atonement, reparation), and petition. In the Mass we offer profound adoration to God, acknowledging Him as our creator, submitting to Him as our supreme Lord, and directing our lives to Him as our final end.

We offer praise and thanksgiving (eucharistia) to God for all of His gifts, especially for the love He has shown us in Christ and for the blessings that come to us through Christ’s paschal mystery. We also offer the propitiatory (expiatory, atoning) value of Christ’s sacrifice for the remission of sin and punishment due for sin, on behalf of the living and the dead. To propitiate is to atone for or make up for an offense one has committed. According to the Council of Trent, Christ instituted the Eucharist in order that “the bloody sacrifice which He was once for all to accomplish on the cross would be represented…and its salutary power applied for the forgiveness of the sins which we daily commit.”

Finally, through Christ we implore God’s graces and blessings for our every need. Because the Mass is the sacramental renewal of the sacrifice of the cross, it has the same value as the cross and makes available to us the infinite treasures of that perfect sacrifice. However, individuals will receive from this boundless treasure only what God freely chooses to give and what each is disposed to receive.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 70

2011-09-29T20:42:00.003-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

October 2nd, 2011 External Solemnity of Our Lady of the Rosary

Epistle: Prov. 8:22-24, 32-35
Gospel: Luc. 1:26-38

Mass schedule October 3rd through October 7th

Monday-Saint Theresa of the Infant Jesus, Virgin-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Saint Francis of Assisi, Confessor
Wednesday-Saint Placid & Companions, Martyrs
Thursday-Saint Bruno, Confessor
Friday-Our Lady of the Rosary

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.

The following is an excerpt from the “Life of Union with Mary” by Emil Neubert, S.M., S.T.D.

Consecrate Yourself to Mary

An explicit consecration to Mary is not indispensable for a life of union with her. With the realization that one is a child of Mary comes the natural impulse to live in union with her, just as any child desires to be close to his mother. Saint Teresa of the Child Jesus, who passed her life in such intimacy with the Blessed Virgin, seems never to have made any special act of consecration to her.

Experience teaches, however, that a soul particularly devoted to Mary generally feels that his consecration will impel him with greater generosity to an even deeper life of union with her who is so dear to him.

Consecration to Mary is somewhat akin to the baptismal vows. Even without renewing these vows the baptized person belongs to God for life. But in order to live this belonging to God in every circumstance of life, it is helpful at a solemn moment of his life to renew his baptismal vows and even, according to a recommendation of the Council of Trent, to make this renewal often. Especially in certain critical moments will this renewal aid him in emphasizing the conviction that he has already renounced Satan and chosen Jesus Christ for his sole Master. Similarly, a solemn consecration to the Blessed Virgin recalls for the son of Mary his obligations to his Mother in heaven, and, if the act is frequently renewed, it is a powerful help to living that consecration with ever increasing perfection.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 69

2011-09-24T08:19:00.002-05:00

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

Bulletin 68

2011-09-17T07:29:00.000-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

September 18th, 2011 14th Sunday after Pentecost

Epistle: Gal. 5: 16-24
Gospel: Mt. 6: 24-33

Mass schedule September 19th through September 23rd

Monday-Saint Januarius & Companions, Martyrs-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Feria
Wednesday-Saint Matthew, Apostle & Evangelist
Thursday-Saint Thomas of Villanova, Bishop & Confessor
Friday-Ember Friday

Make careful use of the gift of God. Behold now is the acceptable time. Now is the day of salvation! God will soon come upon us and then we shall have to render an account of the use of every moment of our lives! Blessed shall you be if in the fulfillment of your daily duties you have been faithful in little things. But what disaster it will be if God finds you wasting the goods of His house!

You live, no, not you, it is Christ Who lives in you by His grace. That grace is a participation in the Divine Nature. It has sanctified His humanity and He shares it with all those who love Him. Christ’s grace penetrates to the very essence of your soul, ennobling it and making it divine. Christ is thus with you as a new being, the Christian, together you have one and same principle activity, namely to love.

Your heart should always rest with Christ. Do not permit your heart to open freely and attach itself to everything that attracts it. Without that safeguard, your life will be absorbed in other things.

Seek God's kingdom first, and everything else will be given to you.

In Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 67

2011-09-08T08:41:00.001-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

September 11th, 2011 13th Sunday after Pentecost

Epistle: Gal. 3: 16-22
Gospel: Lk. 17: 11-19

Mass schedule September 12th through September 16th

Monday-Most Holy Name of Mary-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Feria
Wednesday-Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Thursday-Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Friday-SS. Cornelius, Pope, & Cyprian, Bishop & Martyrs

Our goal in this life is to serve God perfectly. We must not only believe in God, but we must also believe in everything that the Catholic Church teaches us. Faith is absolutely necessary in order to be saved. Hope is also necessary in order to have pure and upright motives so that we please God in all our actions. But Charity urges us to love God because He is infinitely good and He deserves to be loved.

What is Charity? It is a theological virtue that God infuses into our heart by which we learn to love God with our whole heart and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God. We should pray everyday that we learn to love God above all things, even ourselves. To love God above all things means to be willing to lose fortune, good name, parents, friends children, husband, wife, and even our own life, than to lose God by committing a mortal sin.

Saint Augustine says that to love God perfectly means to love Him without measure, even if there were no heaven to hope for or no hell to fear. Saint Paul knew all too well that to really love God means that neither sufferings, persecutions, contempt, life, or death are capable of taking this love away from us. We owe this kind of love to God.

We were created only for God. God alone is capable of satisfying us and making us truly happy. We are often so blind. We cling to life, to the world and its goods and pleasures. We cling to the very things which make us unhappy. The Saints despised all these things and clung to God alone!

Those who possess Charity do not strive to accumulate the goods of this world. The things of this world are nothing to them. They realize that those who cling to this world’s good’s are unhappy people. They strive constantly to atone for their sins through good works. They are kind to everybody. This is the example that Jesus Christ gives us in the Gospel. In return, He expects that we show our gratitude by treating others the very same way.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 66

2011-09-03T06:24:00.003-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

September 4th, 2011 12th Sunday after Pentecost

Epistle: II Cor. 3: 4-9
Gospel: Lk. 10: 23-27

Mass schedule September 5th through September 9th

Monday-Saint Lawrence Justinian; Bishop & Confessor-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Feria
Wednesday-Feria
Thursday-Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Friday-Saint Gorgonius, Martyr

There has never been, nor will there ever be, a nobler or more magnanimous love than that which God has shown us in the Sacrament of His love. There is absolutely nothing in heaven or on earth that can be compared to it. We are so very fortunate to have Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar, yet He is still so little appreciated! It was so that we could come to Him whenever we want that induced Jesus Christ to condescend to be present in our churches day and night!

What then do we do to repay this love?! We must appear before Him with the greatest reverence. We often appreciate our God so very little, we regard Him with indifference, and time spent in His presence passes ever so slowly for us! The first Christians would have considered it the most blissful time of their lives if they could have spent days and nights in the church, to praise God and weep for their sins! Nowadays it is so very different! It is so hard for us to spend just a few minutes in God’s presence and we see so much indifference and frivolity in our Catholic churches.

Think of the last time a friend did something nice for you. Whatever it may have been, that friend can never do what Jesus Christ has done for you. We must therefore make reparation to Him for all the indifference with which He is so often treated in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar.

We know that our God and Redeemer is truly present in the Most Blessed Sacrament and that He speaks to our hearts, and awakens good thoughts and good resolutions within us. He asks: “Why not give up this abominable sin which raises a barrier between us?” “Will you force me to condemn you to eternal punishment?” “I will forgive your transgressions if you would but repent of them!”

Brethren, we should consider those moments spent before the Blessed Sacrament as the happiest of our lives! Let us pray with tears and sorrow for the forgiveness of our sins and we will certainly obtain it. When we are forgiven let us ask for the gift of perseverance. Let us truly be able to say we would rather die than offend God again! As long as you do not love God best and above all you will never be content. Everything will trouble and weary you. But if you learn to love God you will lead a happy life and be well prepared for death!

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 65

2011-08-27T08:28:00.001-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

August 28th, 2011 11th Sunday after Pentecost

Epistle: I Cor. 15:1-10
Gospel: Mk. 7:31-37

Mass schedule August 29th through September 2nd

Monday-Beheading of Saint John the Baptist-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Saint Rose of Lima, Virgin
Wednesday-Saint Raymond Nonnatus, Confessor-NO LATIN MASS
Thursday-Saint Giles, Confessor
Friday-Sacred Heart of Jesus

The website for the Latin Mass Community has been upgraded to include a mobile version for iPhones, BlackBerrys and other smart phones. Information, bulletins and updates for the Latin Mass Community will now be easily accessible and easily readable on these devices. The website remains the same.

ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31ST THE BISHOP IS REQUIRING ALL PRIESTS TO ATTEND A ROMAN MISSAL WORKSHOP FROM 11:00 AM UNTIL 4:30 PM. THIS WORKSHOP WILL INVOLVE REVIEWING THE NEW ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF THE ROMAN MISSAL.

Christ has done all things well. He made the deaf hear and the dumb to speak. He worked countless miracles during His public ministry. Despite all His great works we should marvel even more at His infinite humility, and not His humility as man, but rather as God. For God to be good, holy and merciful is not a virtue, but rather His very nature. Humility is only a virtue. God cannot exalt Himself above what He is as the most high Being, but He can humble Himself:

“Though He was in the form of God, Jesus did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, He emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness, and found human in appearance” (Phil. 2:6-7). No greater example of humility can be given than that of the Only Son of God when “the Word was made Flesh.” “In the beginning was the Word.” “And the Word was made Flesh.”

In order for us to live this necessary humility we must learn to fear the justice of God. This holy fear is the beginning of wisdom and the beginning of true humility. “Where humility is, there is also wisdom” (Prov. 11:2).

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 64

2011-08-17T09:15:00.003-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

August 21st, 2011 10th Sunday after Pentecost

Epistle: I Cor. 12: 2-11
Gospel: Lk. 18: 9-14

Mass schedule August 22nd through August 26th

Monday-Immaculate Heart of Mary-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Saint Philip Benizi, Confessor
Wednesday-Saint Bartholomew, Apostle
Thursday-Saint Louis IX, King
Friday-Saint Zephyrinus, Pope & Martyr

The website for the Latin Mass Community has been upgraded to include a mobile version for iPhones, BlackBerrys and other smart phones. Information, bulletins and updates for the Latin Mass Community will now be easily accessible and easily readable on these devices. The website remains the same.

Examine yourself well and figure out whether or not you have true humility. If you do not, you should do everything in your power to attain it because without it you cannot enter into heaven. Jesus says: “Learn of Me, because I am meek and humble of heart.” Christ gives us the power to imitate His humility. A whole multitude of things are worthy of imitation when it comes to our Lord, but He only asks us to imitate His humility.

Christ abased Himself before the Majesty of His Father in heaven. He has taken on the form of a servant. He has willed to be thought of as the lowest of men, a man of sorrow. Christ has taken upon Himself the sins of all men. If Christ has thus been justly treated for having taken on Himself the sins of others, what has he not deserved who committed the sin?

Is it not fitting that we should always strive to embrace the virtue of humility? We must keep our hearts contrite and humble before God. We cannot attribute to ourselves any talent, success, or any good work. Above all, we must not pride ourselves on being elevated to the great dignity of baptized and confirmed Catholic Christians. We have received this great gift without payment of price.

“Learn from Me, because I am meek and humble of heart and you shall find rest for your soul.”

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 63

2011-08-14T06:50:00.002-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

August 14th, 2011 9th Sunday after Pentecost

Epistle: I Cor. 10: 6-13
Gospel: Lk. 19: 41-47

Mass schedule August 15th through August 19th

Monday-Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Saint Joachim, Father of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Wednesday-Saint Hyacinth, Confessor
Thursday-Saint Agapitus, Martyr
Friday-Saint John Eudes, Confessor

If you wish to have a Mass offered for a particular intention or person you must see me first.

The website for the Latin Mass Community has been upgraded to include a mobile version for iPhones, BlackBerrys and other smart phones. Information, bulletins and updates for the Latin Mass Community will now be easily accessible and easily readable on these devices. The website remains the same.

While the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a holy day of obligation, in the United States the obligation to attend Mass is abrogated this year because the Feast falls on a Monday. I encourage all who are able to attend Mass, however, THERE WILL BE NO LATIN MASS ON THE FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION.

We will have a pot-luck dinner immediately following Mass in the Saint Agnes school cafeteria on Sunday, August 14th. All are invited to attend.

In the Gospel Jesus Christ says My house will be a house of prayer! You, who are faithful to Christ, welcome Him into your soul. Let Christ rest in you and find comfort for the many deceits that are practiced on His Heart. You are always with Christ and all that He has is yours. He takes delight in you; you are His home, His temple. Meditate often upon the mystery of love which envelops you and penetrates your every faculty.

Blessed is he who walks in truth. Blessed is he who understands that the kingdom of God is within himself, and who participates in everlasting life. Man does not understand the things of God. He is absorbed in the world of the senses, which is only a deceitful sham, a veil concealing the realities beyond. But you at least, a faithful son of Christ, should keep Him as your guest in your inmost soul. Be united with Him as the members are united together in the body, as the branches are united to the vine.

You live, no, not you, it is Christ Who lives in you by His grace. That grace is a participation in the Divine Nature. It has sanctified His humanity and He shares it with all those who love Him. Christ’s grace penetrates to the very essence of your soul, ennobling it and making it divine. Christ is thus with you as a new being, the Christian man, together you have one and same principle twofold activity, namely to pray and to love.

All that you do in union with Christ proceeds from you and from Him as from one and the same cause. Thus He continues to live on earth, and to work and to extend His kingdom to the end of time, through each of His faithful sons. All your trials borne with Christ’s help are yours together, for you two are but one. Thus Christ continues His Passion on earth. Every soul that suffers in patience helps Christ to fill up that which is still wanting in His life as victim.

Together you glorify the Father, you thank Him, you love Him; together in heaven you will sit at His right hand and you will enjoy the same happiness. Christ’s son, He has been with you a long time and yet you scarcely know Him. He invites you again today to rejoice lovingly at your union with Him by grace and through Him with the most Holy Trinity. Enter into yourself by a simple movement of your intelligence and of your will. You need not force your imagination or your feelings.

God is Spirit and He wishes to be adored in spirit and in truth. What happy hours you will spend together if you will but learn to do His will; what secrets He will whisper to you to make you holy and successful in all your endeavors! The three Divine Persons will dwell in you, for He has given you His grace. They have made heaven within you and They live in you Their infinitely happy life.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 62

2011-08-05T17:41:00.003-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

August 7th, 2011 8th Sunday after Pentecost

Epistle: Rom. 8: 12-17
Gospel: Lk 16: 1-9

Mass schedule August 8th through August 12th

Monday-Saint John Mary Vianney-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Vigil of Saint Lawrence, Martyr-NO LATIN MASS
Wednesday-Saint Lawrence, Martyr
Thursday-Saint Tiburtius, Martyr
Friday-Saint Clair, Virgin

THERE WILL BE NO LATIN MASS ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 9th

If you wish to have a Mass offered for a particular intention or person you must see me first.

The website for the Latin Mass Community has been upgraded to include a mobile version for iPhones, BlackBerrys and other smart phones. Information, bulletins and updates for the Latin Mass Community will now be easily accessible and easily readable on these devices. The website remains the same.

God has given us talents which we must go and make productive. These precious talents are the days of our lives. If we spend our short lives profitably, we will enjoy an eternity of glory and happiness. If we misuse this gift of our life, we will endure an eternity of shame. God has placed before us water and fire. We must choose. Before us are life and death, good and evil. Whichever we wish will be given to us. If we bury our talents in the earth, we will lose our souls.

Make careful use of the gift of God. Behold now is the acceptable time. Now is the day of salvation! God will soon come upon us and then we shall have to render an account of the use of every moment of our lives! Blessed shall you be if in the fulfillment of your daily duties you have been faithful in little things. But what disaster it will be if God finds you wasting the goods of His house!

Do not seek rest here below. When time shall be no more we shall take our rest together in the bosom of God. Satan knows no rest. He pursues with fury each one of us, knowing that there remains to him but little time. The wicked are mad in their desire to destroy souls, to dechristianize society, to uproot the family, to sow everywhere hatred of God’s holy name. How can we give ourselves over to sloth, or take our ease, to think of leisure for ourselves or to indulge in useless pastimes?

The parable of the unjust steward reminds us of our duty not to be outdone by the children of this world in zeal.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Sincerely in Christ,

Bulletin 61

2011-07-31T07:08:00.002-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

July 31st, 2011 7th Sunday after Pentecost

Epistle: Rom. 6:19-23
Gospel: Mt. 7:15-21

Mass schedule August 1st through August 5th

THERE WILL BE NO LATIN MASS FROM MONDAY, AUGUST 1ST THROUGH FRIDAY, AUGUST 5TH.

If you wish to have a Mass offered for a particular intention or person you must see me first.

The website for the Latin Mass Community has been upgraded to include a mobile version for iPhones, BlackBerrys and other smart phones. Information, bulletins and updates for the Latin Mass Community will now be easily accessible and easily readable on these devices. The website remains the same.

Christ warns His disciples to beware of false prophets. What is the difference between a genuine prophet and a false prophet? Christ says you will know them by the fruits they produce. A person who genuinely speaks the things of God sows faith, hope, charity, peace and understanding. A false prophet, on the other hand, sows division, hatred, resentment, pride and sensuality. A false prophet separates the people of God from the Magisterium of the Church.

We know that Christ’s teaching is declared to the world through the teaching body of the Church. When we pray we must have a spirit that desires to unite our will to the will of God. We can be sure of the will of God when we adhere to the Magisterium of the Church. Christ speaks to us through our Holy Father, the Vicar of Christ on earth. We owe our Pope our prayers. We must beg God that our minds and hearts will always be in conformity with his.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 60

2011-07-22T07:12:00.003-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

July 24th, 2011 6th Sunday after Pentecost

Epistle: Rom. 6:3-11
Gospel: Matth. 8:1-9

Mass schedule July 25th through July 29th

Monday-Saint James the Greater; Apostle-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Saint Anne; Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Wednesday-Feria
Thursday-SS. Nazarius & Celsus, Martyrs; Saint Victor I, Pope & Martyr; & Saint Innocent I, Pope & Confessor
Friday-Saint Martha; Virgin

If you wish to have a Mass offered for a particular intention or person you must see me first.

The website for the Latin Mass Community has been upgraded to include a mobile version for iPhones, BlackBerrys and other smart phones. Information, bulletins and updates for the Latin Mass Community will now be easily accessible and easily readable on these devices. The website remains the same.

THERE WILL BE NO LATIN MASS FROM MONDAY, AUGUST 1ST THROUGH FRIDAY, AUGUST 5TH.

Through Baptism we are freed from the control of sin. We die to sin and are born into a new life of grace in Jesus Christ. We are newly created. Through baptism God removes every trace of sin and He also remits the penalties that these sins incur. Baptism unites a person to Christ and the Church by way of grace, thus making us children of God.

Jesus Christ bore all the consequences of sin on the Cross even though He was sinless. His death on the Cross and His glorious resurrection freed us from the dominion of death. All who have been baptized have had their past sins wiped out by the action of grace. We must now remain dead to sin by our own personal effort in cooperation with God’s grace.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 59

2011-07-16T12:23:00.001-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

July 17th, 2011 5th Sunday after Pentecost

Epistle: I Petri 3, 8-15
Gospel: Matth. 5, 20-24

Mass schedule July 18th through July 22nd

Monday-Saint Camillus de Lellis; Confessor-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Saint Vincent de Paul; Confessor
Wednesday-Saint Jerome Emiliani; Confessor
Thursday-Saint Laurence of Brindisi; Confessor & Doctor
Friday-Saint Mary Magdalene; Penitent

If you wish to have a Mass offered for a particular intention or person you must see me first.

The website for the Latin Mass Community has been upgraded to include a mobile version for iPhones, BlackBerrys and other smart phones. Information, bulletins and updates for the Latin Mass Community will now be easily accessible and easily readable on these devices. The website remains the same.

Every baptized Christian is called to share in the paschal mystery of Christ. This includes both suffering and glory. Trials in our lives should therefore not come as a surprise. We should expect them. They are meant to fill us with joy when we unite them with the sufferings of Jesus Christ. The only way we can share in Christ’s glory is by first embracing suffering when it happens to come our way.

Suffering can be a tremendous opportunity for us to grow closer to Jesus Christ. Since Christ was a suffering servant He expects us, in turn, to learn patience through our trials in life. Many Christians claim allegiance to Christ, but only do so by lip service. They are not true friends of Christ because they are not willing to embrace suffering.

If, as Saint Paul says, we must rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep, we must in our own lives always be prepared to take the good with the bad. Furthermore, we must learn to always remain on an even keel. We should never allow ourselves to be over joyful in times of prosperity or too dejected in times of adversity.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 58

2011-07-09T07:18:00.007-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

July 10th, 2011 4th Sunday after Pentecost

Epistle: Rom. 8:18-23
Gospel: Lk. 5:1-11

Mass schedule July 11th through July 15th:

Monday-Feria-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Saint John Gualbert; Abbot
Wednesday-Feria
Thursday-Saint Bonaventure; Bishop, Confessor & Doctor
Friday-Saint Henry; Emperor & Confessor

The Gospel passage for Mass has very much to do with the life of the Church. The bishop of Rome is the vicar of Christ on earth because he represents Christ on earth and acts for Christ in the government of the Church. Jesus Christ asks all of us to search for souls. The harvest is plenty, but the laborers are few. We must constantly ask the Lord to send out laborers!

It takes courage to respond the the call of discipleship from Christ. We cannot make excuses. We cannot say we are not qualified. We must stop saying the job belongs to someone else. We must all respond to Christ's apostolic mission. We must respond to His call to the priesthood.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 57

2011-07-02T08:16:00.002-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

July 3rd, 2011 External Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Epistle: Eph. 3:8-12, 14-19
Gospel: Jn. 19: 31-37

Mass schedule July 4th through July 8th

Monday-Feria-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Saint Anthony Mary Zaccaria, Confessor
Wednesday-Requiem Mass + Rosamma Xavier
Thursday-SS. Cyril & Methodius, Bishops & Confessors
Friday-Saint Elizabeth of Portugal, Queen & Widow

If you wish to have a Mass offered for a particular intention or person you must see me first.

The website for the Latin Mass Community has been upgraded to include a mobile version for iPhones, BlackBerrys and other smart phones. Information, bulletins and updates for the Latin Mass Community will now be easily accessible and easily readable on these devices. The website remains the same.

Saint Paul was the epitome of humble abandonment to the action of God in his life. For this Saint Paul was able to label himself as the very lowest of all Christians. He only takes credit for the grace that God has given him! What a great example Saint Paul is for the Christian today. He was able to mirror his life precisely after Jesus his master. We should do the same!

“I bow my knees” says Saint Paul. In doing so Saint Paul expresses the intensity of prayer and the humility which inspires it. Bodily gestures such as genuflexions, bowing of the head and beating the breast should always be sincere expressions of devotion. They all allow the entire person, body and soul, to express his love for God. Ideally, our outward actions should always match our interior dispositions. We must be genuine and sincere, particularly when it comes to prayer.

Christ’s love for us is infinite. For all He has done and continues to do for us we owe Him our prayer and adoration. We owe Him our lives.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 56

2011-06-22T10:10:00.003-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

June 26th, 2011 External Solemnity of Corpus Christi

Epistle: 1 Cor. 11: 23-29
Gospel: Jn. 6: 56-59

Mass schedule June 27th through July 1st

Monday-Feria-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Vigil of SS. Peter & Paul-NO LATIN MASS
Wednesday-SS. Peter & Paul, Apostles
Thursday-Commemoration of Saint Paul, Apostle
Friday-Sacred Heart of Jesus

If you wish to have a Mass offered for a particular intention or person you must see me first.

The website for the Latin Mass Community has been upgraded to include a mobile version for iPhones, BlackBerrys and other smart phones. Information, bulletins and updates for the Latin Mass Community will now be easily accessible and easily readable on these devices. The website remains the same.

THIS SUNDAY ON THE FEAST OF CORPUS CHRISTI MASS WILL BE OFFERED BEFORE THE BLESSED SACRAMENT EXPOSED. THERE WILL BE A PROCESSION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING MASS.

NOTE THAT ON TUESDAY, JUNE 28th THERE WILL BE NO LATIN MASS AT 12:15pm.

Saint Augustine asks: “Could God have been able to give us anything more precious than what He has given us in the Blessed Sacrament? Do you know, dear brethren, what induced Jesus Christ to condescend to be present in our churches day and night? It was that we might be able to come to Him whenever we wanted to…What, dear brethren, is more consoling for a Christian than to feel he adores a God who is really and truly present body and soul? What is it that makes our churches so sacred and so venerable? Is it not the presence of Jesus Christ? What an immense privilege we Christians enjoy!”

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 55

2011-06-17T09:17:00.002-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

June 19th, 2011 Trinity Sunday

Epistle: Rom. 11: 33-36
Gospel: Mt. 28: 18-20

Mass schedule June 20th through June 24th

Monday-Feria-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, Confessor
Wednesday-Saint Paulinus of Nola, Bishop and Confessor
Thursday-Corpus Christi
Friday-Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

If you wish to have a Mass offered for a particular intention or person you must see me first.

The website for the Latin Mass Community has been upgraded to include a mobile version for iPhones, BlackBerrys and other smart phones. Information, bulletins and updates for the Latin Mass Community will now be easily accessible and easily readable on these devices. The website remains the same.

Christ’s disciples adore and worship Him as God. In the Gospel passage for Trinity Sunday they finally see Christ as the Son of God. They are both joyful and amazed at what they are now witnessing. Jesus says to His disciples: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Jesus Christ is omnipotent. Christ tells His disciples that the authority He is giving them to proclaim the Gospel comes from Him.

This reminds us that the authority of the Church comes directly from Jesus Christ. This authority in the sphere of faith and morals is above any other authority on earth. The Apostles receive the task of teaching the world what Jesus taught them. The Church therefore has the duty to proclaim the same faith the Apostles themselves received. This mission belongs especially to the Bishops.

The teachings of the Pope and the Bishops therefore should always be accepted by everyone with assent and obedience. The mission of the Church is to continue the work of Christ. We must teach the truths of God and the duty we have to embrace these truths. We must rely on the grace of the sacraments. Christ has promised to never leave His Church.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 54

2011-06-08T17:41:00.001-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

June 12th, 2011 Pentecost Sunday

Epistle: Acts 2: 1-11
Gospel: Jn. 14: 23-31

Mass schedule June 13th through June 17th

Monday-Pentecost Monday-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Pentecost Tuesday
Wednesday-Ember Wednesday in the Octave of Pentecost
Thursday-Thursday in the Octave of Pentecost
Friday-Ember Friday in the Octave of Pentecost

If you wish to have a Mass offered for a particular intention or person you must see me first.

The website for the Latin Mass Community has been upgraded to include a mobile version for iPhones, BlackBerrys and other smart phones. Information, bulletins and updates for the Latin Mass Community will now be easily accessible and easily readable on these devices. The website remains the same.

The mystery of Pentecost is so significant that Holy Mother Church places it on the same plane as the paschal solemnity itself. Easter is the redemption of man by the victory of Christ over sin and Satan. Pentecost is the Holy Ghost taking possession of man redeemed. The Ascension of Christ prepares the mission of the Holy Ghost to our earth. This mission could not take place until Jesus had been glorified.

The coming of the Holy Ghost is not just an event that affects mankind as a whole. Each individual is invited to receive this same visit. This visit renews the face of the earth. God wants to be close to all of us. Christ asks only that we love Him and keep His Word. If we do this, He promises us that His Father will love us and take up His abode in our soul!

We have a great opportunity once again to be filled with the Holy Ghost! Come Holy Ghost! Let us make our prayer to God that we will truly be transformed by the power of the Holy Ghost.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 53

2011-06-05T19:37:00.001-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

June 5th, 2011 Sunday after the Ascension

Epistle: I Pet. 4: 7-11
Gospel: Jn. 15: 26, 27; 16: 1-4

Mass schedule June 6 through June 10

Monday-Saint Norbert, Bishop & Confessor-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Feria in Ascensiontide
Wednesday-Feria in Ascensiontide
Thursday-SS. Primus & Felicianus, Martyrs
Friday-Saint Margaret of Scotland, Queen & Widow

If you wish to have a Mass offered for a particular intention or person you must see me first.

Jesus Christ has ascended into heaven! We step into another phase of the mystery of Easter. Jesus is triumphant in His Resurrection. The Ascension of Christ into heaven to take His seat on His rightful throne prompts men and angels to pay Him due adoration and glory. At the name of Jesus, Son of Man and Son of God, Saint Paul says that: “Every knee shall bend, in heaven, on earth and in hell.”

This Man Jesus, child of Adam through the Immaculate Blessed Virgin Mary, is the masterpiece of God’s omnipotence. The angels love to fix their gaze upon Him; the blessed Trinity is well-pleased with Him; the gifts of grace bestowed upon Him surpass all that men and angels together have ever received. Saint Paul writes: “He humbled Himself, becoming obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross; for which cause God also hath exalted Him, and hath given Him a name, which is above all names.”

We must remember today that Jesus Christ in all His glory is still very much active in the world and in our lives. He is appointed Judge of the living and the dead. We must all render Him an account of our lives one day. Furthermore, the angels who appeared to His apostles after His Ascension told us that Christ is to come again. He will descend through the clouds for the last judgment for all mankind to witness.

Today let us pray for all those who have lost all idea of true authority. Let us pray for those who refuse to acknowledge Jesus Christ.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 52

2011-05-26T06:48:00.001-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

May 29th, 2011 Fifth Sunday after Easter

Epistle: Jas. 1: 22-27
Gospel: Jn. 16: 22-30

Mass schedule May 30 through June 3

Monday-Feria in Paschaltide-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Queenship of Mary-NO LATIN MASS
Wednesday-Vigil of the Ascension-NO LATIN MASS
Thursday-Ascension of the Lord-NO LATIN MASS
Friday-Sacred Heart of Jesus-NO LATIN MASS

If you wish to have a Mass offered for a particular intention or person you must see me first.

I will be on retreat from Monday the 30th through Friday the 3rd of June. THERE WILL BE NO LATIN MASS THIS WEEK. MASS WILL RESUME ON SUNDAY, JUNE 5TH.

On Easter morning the holy women went to the tomb to find it empty. Immediately they ran to tell Peter and the other Apostles. During this wonderful season everything points toward new life and spiritual renewal. We lead this new life in union with our risen Lord. Saint James is considered to be the apostle of Paschal Time and the apostle of good works. He has taught us that faith without works is a dead faith. Faith alone will not save us.

Saint James also emphasizes the importance of guarding the truths we have been taught. We must cherish our God-given faith. We must always pray for it. We must never take it for granted. Many people each year who have received the grace of the wonderful Easter mystery fail to persevere. They allow the world to choke them. It consumes their time and energy. We must never forget where our focus must be. We must imitate our risen Lord at all times!

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 51

2011-05-21T08:02:00.001-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

May 22, 2011 Fourth Sunday of Easter

Epistle: Jas. 1: 17-21
Gospel: Jn. 16: 5-14

Mass schedule May 23 through May 27

Monday-Feria in Paschaltide-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Feria in Paschaltide
Wednesday-Saint Gregory VII, Pope & Confessor
Thursday-Saint Philip Neri, Confessor
Friday-Saint Augustine of Canterbury, Bishop & Confessor

If you wish to have a Mass offered for a particular intention or person you must see me first.

I will be on retreat from Monday the 30th through Friday the 3rd of June. THERE WILL BE NO LATIN MASS THIS WEEK. MASS WILL RESUME ON SUNDAY, JUNE 5TH.

The Doctrine of the Blessed Trinity is something we can never fully comprehend. Our God is one God in three persons; Father, Son and Holy Ghost. The three Divine Persons of the Holy Trinity all possess the same nature. Jesus reminds us of this in the Gospel when He says that “everything that the Father has belongs to the Son, and everything the Son has belongs to the Father.” Furthermore, the Holy Ghost also possesses everything that God the Father and God the Son possess. The particular role of the Holy Ghost is to glorify the Son.

We are soon approaching the celebration of our Lord’s Ascension into heaven. We know that it was only after our Lord had ascended into heaven that He was able to send His Holy Ghost upon His disciples. The disciples then received the power to carry on Christ’s mission with boldness and confidence under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. They were thus able to give glory to Christ. The same is true for us today as Christ’s followers. We have received the very same Holy Ghost by virtue or our baptism and confirmation. We have the same power that the Apostles had because we have received the same Holy Ghost of God.

We continue to rejoice this Easter season because of the great gift God gives us in receiving the Holy Ghost. We continue to glorify God by bearing witness to His Son Jesus Christ.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 50

2011-05-14T06:56:00.004-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

May 15, 2011 Third Sunday after Easter

Epistle: I Pet. 2: 11-19
Gospel: Jn. 16: 16-22

Mass schedule May 16 through May 20

Monday-Saint Ubald, Bishop and Confessor-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Saint Paschal Baylon, Confessor
Wednesday-Saint Venantius, Martyr
Thursday-Saint Peter Celestine, Pope & Confessor
Friday-Saint Bernardine of Siena, Confessor

THERE IS NO LATIN MASS THIS SUNDAY, MAY 15 AT 2:30pm. A FIRST COMMUNION MASS HAS BEEN SCHEDULED IN PLACE OF THE LATIN MASS.

In the Gospel Christ reminds His disciples that He is not leaving them for good. He reassures them that He will come back to stay with them. Christ reminds His disciples that even though they are sad that He is leaving, later they will rejoice.

We must remember even in the midst of the joy of the Easter season that Christ came to suffer for our redemption. In fact, there can be no true rejoicing and glory without suffering first. Our life in this valley of tears involves much suffering. However, we must hold fast to our faith in the Resurrection. We must truly believe there will be a speedy end to our suffering. We must embrace our suffering and focus on the Resurrected Christ.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 49

2011-05-05T02:47:00.001-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

May 8, 2011 Second Sunday after Easter (Good Shepherd Sunday)

Epistle: I Pet. 2: 21-25
Gospel: Jn. 10: 11-16

Mass schedule May 9 through May 13

Monday-Saint Gregory of Nazianzen; Bishop, Confessor & Doctor-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Saint Antoninus; Bishop & Confessor
Wednesday-SS. Philip & James; Apostles
Thursday-SS. Nereus, Achilleus, Domitilla (Virgin), & Pancras; Martyrs
Friday-Saint Robert Bellarmine; Bishop, Confessor & Doctor

If you wish to have a Mass offered for a particular intention or person you must see me first.

Pot-luck dinner immediately following Mass in the cafeteria on May 8.

Saint John reminds us that the good shepherd lays down His life for His sheep. In giving His life for us, Christ did exactly what He always said He would do. Christ continues to nourish us with His flesh and blood in the Holy Eucharist. We must remember the significance of the priesthood of Jesus Christ. Without God’s priests, there can be no Eucharist. We therefore have a responsibility to pray that God will provide His Church with good shepherds.

The mission of Jesus Christ extends to absolutely everyone. Christ sent His Apostles to preach the Gospel to all nations. The unity of the Church is of course to be found under one visible head. Vatican II states: “it was to the Apostolic College alone, of which Peter is the head, that we believe that our Lord entrusted all the blessings of the New Covenant, in order to establish on earth the one body of Christ into which all those should be fully incorporated who belong in any way to the people of God.” Our prayer is that everyone be united in faith in the true, Catholic Church of Jesus Christ. Today let us pray for Christian unity.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 48

2011-04-30T07:07:00.006-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

May 1st, 2011 LOW SUNDAY; The Octave Day of Easter

Epistle: I Jn. 5:4-10
Gospel: Jn. 20: 19-31

Mass schedule May 2 through May 6

Monday-Saint Joseph the Worker-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Feria in Paschaltide
Wednesday-Saint Monica, Widow
Thursday-Saint Pius V, Pope & Confessor
Friday-Sacred Heart of Jesus

If you wish to have a Mass offered for a particular intention or person you must see me first.

Pot luck dinner next Sunday May 8 immediately following Mass.

May 1, 2011, Divine Mercy Sunday; A plenary indulgence is granted to those who take part in the prayers and devotions held in honor of Divine Mercy, or who, in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament exposed or in the tabernacle, recite one Our Father and the Creed, adding a devout prayer to the merciful Lord Jesus. Those who for a just cause cannot get to church can gain the same indulgence by reciting one Our Father, the Creed, and a devout prayer to the merciful Lord Jesus before an image of the Divine Mercy.

Immediately following Mass on May 1st the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed and we will join together in reciting the Divine Mercy Chaplet with benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

The Church has always understood and has defined that Jesus Christ in today's Gospel conferred on the Apostles authority to forgive sins. This power is exercised in the Sacrament of Penance. The Sacrament of Penance is the most sublime expression of God's love and mercy towards men. The Lord is always waiting for us to repent. He will always forgive us and restore to us our dignity.

The Popes have consistently recommended Christians to have regular recourse to the Sacrament of Penance. Penance helps us to grow in a true knowledge of ourselves and in Christian humility. We root out bad habits and keep from neglecting our spiritual life through penance. Our conscience is strengthened and purified through the Sacrament of Penance.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 47

2011-04-23T07:51:00.003-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

April 24, 2011 Easter Sunday

Epistle: I Cor. 5: 7-8
Gospel: Mk. 16: 1-7

Mass schedule April 25 through April 29

Monday-Easter Monday-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Easter Tuesday
Wednesday-Easter Wednesday
Thursday-Easter Thursday
Friday-Easter Friday

If you wish to have a Mass offered for a particular intention or person you must see me first.

May 1, 2011, Divine Mercy Sunday; A plenary indulgence is granted to those who take part in the prayers and devotions held in honor of Divine Mercy, or who, in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament exposed or in the tabernacle, recite one Our Father and the Creed, adding a devout prayer to the merciful Lord Jesus. Those who for a just cause cannot get to church can gain the same indulgence by reciting one Our Father, the Creed, and a devout prayer to the merciful Lord Jesus before an image of the Divine Mercy.

Mary of Magdala and Mary of Cleophas and Salome all are urged by their sensitive love to go and anoint the dead body of our Lord Jesus Christ. They do so without giving thought to all the difficulties involved. As a result, they were the first to hear the news of Christ’s resurrection. The fact is that in the terrifying moments of Christ’s passion and death these women proved to be stronger than the men. We must learn to love as they did.

The glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ is of course the central mystery of our faith. “If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Col 3: 1-2). Saint Pius X writes: “Rising with Christ through grace means that just as Jesus Christ through His resurrection began a new immortal and heavenly life, so we must begin a new life according to the Sprit, once and for all renouncing sin and everything that leads us to sin, loving only God and everything that leads to God."

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 46

2011-04-15T09:57:00.002-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

April 17, 2011 Palm Sunday

Epistle: Phil. 2: 5-11
Gospel: Mt. 26: 36-75; 27: 1-60

Mass schedule April 18 through April 22

Monday-Monday of Holy Week-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Tuesday of Holy Week
Wednesday-Wednesday of Holy Week
Thursday-Holy Thursday-NO LATIN MASS
Friday-Good Friday-NO LATIN LITURGY OF THE PASSION

If you wish to have a Mass offered for a particular intention or person you must see me first.

May 1, 2011, Divine Mercy Sunday; A plenary indulgence is granted to those who take part in the prayers and devotions held in honor of Divine Mercy, or who, in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament exposed or in the tabernacle, recite one Our Father and the Creed, adding a devout prayer to the merciful Lord Jesus. Those who for a just cause cannot get to church can gain the same indulgence by reciting one Our Father, the Creed, and a devout prayer to the merciful Lord Jesus before an image of the Divine Mercy.

In His agony in the garden Christ saw all the sins committed by mankind. We should express sorrow for our own sins and for those of all men because they are responsible for Jesus’ death. Christ’s life and death should be our motivation for our own life and self-sacrifice.

Christ “yielded up His Ghost.” This is a way of saying that Christ really died. His soul was then separated from His body. Christ surrendered His will to the will of His Father for the salvation of mankind. Christ’s fidelity to the point of dying should encourage us to realize that only when we are true until death will we receive the crown of life.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 45

2011-04-09T06:35:00.003-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

April 10, 2011 Passion Sunday

Epistle: Heb. 9: 11-15
Gospel: Jn. 8: 46-59

Mass schedule April 11 through April 15

Monday-Feria of Passiontide-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Feria of Passiontide-NO LATIN MASS
Wednesday-Feria of Passiontide
Thursday-Feria of Passiontide
Friday-Feria of Passiontide

Pot Luck Dinner Sunday, April 10 immediately following Mass in the cafeteria.

If you wish to have a Mass offered for a particular intention or person you must see me first.

NOTE THAT THERE WILL BE NO LATIN MASS ON TUESDAY, APRIL 12th.

Pope John Paul II has emphasized the presence of the Holy Spirit in the sacrifice that Christ offered on Calvary: “In the sacrifice of the Son of Man the Holy Spirit is present and active just as He acted in Jesus’ conception, in His coming into the world, in His hidden life and in His public ministry. According to the Letter to the Hebrews, on the way to His departure through Gethsemani and Golgotha, the same Jesus Christ in His own humanity opened Himself totally to this action of the Spirit-Paraclete, who from suffering enables eternal salvific love to spring forth” (Dominum et Vivificantem, 40).

In other words, Christ desired that the Holy Spirit should turn His death into a perfect sacrifice. Christ’s sacrifice purifies us completely. This is the only way we are made fit to worship the living God. As we approach the celebration of the Passion and death of our Lord Jesus Christ, we must call upon the Holy Spirit to strengthen our own will to suffer for Christ. Suffering is the only way we can expect to share in Christ’s glorious resurrection.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 44

2011-03-31T17:28:00.001-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

April 3, 2011 Fourth Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday)

Epistle: Gal. 4: 22-31
Gospel: Jn. 6:1-15

Mass schedule April 4 through April 8

Monday-Feria of Lent-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Feria of Lent
Wednesday-Feria of Lent
Thursday-Feria of Lent
Friday-Feria of Lent

Pot Luck Dinner Sunday, April 10 immediately following Mass in the cafeteria.

The Church teaches that the Blessed Virgin Mary is the Mother of all Christians. She is an example we should all follow. If we become identified with Mary and imitate her virtues, we will be able to bring Christ to life, through grace, in the souls of others. From the dogmatic constitution on the Church of the Second Vatican Council:

Mary, because she has entered intimately into the history of salvation, in a certain sense gathers up in her own person the great truths of the faith and awakens their resonance when she is the object of preaching and veneration; she summons the faithful to her Son, to His sacrifice and to the Father’s love. In seeking to further the glory of Christ, the Church becomes more and more like Mary, its exalted type, as it continues its progress in faith, hope and charity, seeking and fulfilling the divine will in all things.

So also in its apostolic task the Church rightly looks to the one who bore Christ, Christ who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin in order that He might also be born and grow in the hearts of the faithful. In her whole life this virgin mother showed herself as an example of that motherly love that must animate all who share in the apostolic mission of the Church for the regeneration of mankind. (Lumen gentium, nn. 63-65)

Saint Cyril of Alexandria writes: “Mary, Mother of God, we salute you. Precious vessel, worthy of the whole world’s reverence, you are an ever shining light, the crown of virginity, the symbol of orthodoxy, and indestructible temple, the place that held Him whom no place can contain, mother and virgin. Because of you the holy gospels could say: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 43

2011-03-24T10:24:00.002-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

March 27, 2011 Third Sunday of Lent

Epistle: Ephes. 5, 1-9
Gospel: Luc. 11, 14-28

Mass schedule March 28 through April 1

Monday-Feria of Lent-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Feria of Lent
Wednesday-Feria of Lent
Thursday-Feria of Lent
Friday-Feria of Lent

Saint Paul reminds us that we are temples of the Holy Spirit and members of Christ’s body. We therefore have a grave responsibility to resist immoral practices in all forms.

Saint Paul in fact warns us that “immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you.” We must practice chastity out of love for God and respect for one’s own body.

Along with chastity comes both modesty and refinement. We must keep guard over our senses and our heart. We must avoid the occasions to sin. We must strive to frequent the sacraments, particularly the sacrament of Confession. We must foster devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. All these help us to live a holy life.

Saint Paul also reminds us of the importance of fighting against greed. We cannot become attached to things of this world. We must first seek the Kingdom of God. When we do this we soon realize our obligation to be lights for Christ. We realize our obligation to help those around us. The salvation of souls is at stake. If we want to be faithful Christians we do all we can to bring others to Christ, especially by the witness of our lives.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 42

2011-03-19T09:24:00.002-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

March 20, 2011 Second Sunday of Lent

Epistle: I Thess. 4:1-7
Gospel: Mt. 17: 1-9

Mass schedule March 21 through March 25

Monday-Feria of Lent-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Feria of Lent
Wednesday-Feria of Lent
Thursday-Feria of Lent
Friday-Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

NO LATIN MASS ON SUNDAY, MARCH 20. THE RITE OF ELECTION TAKES PLACE AT 3 AND 7:00pm AT SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL

On each of the Fridays of Lent, a plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who, after Communion, recite the “Prayer before a Crucifix” before an image of Christ crucified:

Look down upon me, good and gentle Jesus while before Thy face I humbly kneel and, with burning soul, pray and beseech Thee to fix deep in my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope, and charity; true contrition for my sins; and a firm purpose of amendment; while I contemplate with great love and tender pity Thy five most precious wounds, pondering over them within me while I call to mind the words which David Thy prophet said of Thee, my Jesus; “They have pierced My hands and My feet, they have numbered all My bones.” Amen.

Bulletin 41

2011-03-10T18:26:00.002-06:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

March 13, 2011 First Sunday of Lent

Epistle: II Cor. 6: 1-10
Gospel: Mt. 4:1-11

Mass schedule March 14 through March 18

Monday-Feria of Lent-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Feria of Lent
Wednesday-Ember Wednesday
Thursday-Feria of Lent
Friday-Ember Friday

NO LATIN MASS ON SUNDAY, MARCH 20. THE RITE OF ELECTION TAKES PLACE AT SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL AT 3:00 AND 7:00PM.

On each of the Fridays of Lent, a plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who, after Communion, recite the “Prayer before a Crucifix” before an image of Christ crucified:

Look down upon me, good and gentle Jesus while before Thy face I humbly kneel and, with burning soul, pray and beseech Thee to fix deep in my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope, and charity; true contrition for my sins; and a firm purpose of amendment; while I contemplate with great love and tender pity Thy five most precious wounds, pondering over them within me while I call to mind the words which David Thy prophet said of Thee, my Jesus; “They have pierced My hands and My feet, they have numbered all My bones.” Amen.

Saint Matthew reminds us that Jesus allowed Himself to be tempted by the devil on several occasions. We should be happy and grateful to our Lord for allowing Himself to be subjected to these temptations because they show us how we too can gain victory over our own temptations. Saint Matthew’s Gospel shows us that temptation in necessary for us because it teaches us a greater knowledge of ourselves.

Temptation is necessary to convince ourselves of our unworthiness. Temptation prevents us from being mastered by pride. Consider the life of Saint Augustine. While he chose to live his life in sin, he did not know what temptation was. He believed he was at peace. But from the time Augustine chose to reject Satan, the devil attacked him for the better part of five years. God eventually gave him the grace to win the victory over his struggle with sin.

Saint Augustine teaches us that everything we do without overcoming temptation in this life is of little value. We should never allow temptation to discourage us. On the contrary, we should thank God and continue to fight the good fight. Victory is ours is we choose it.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 40

2011-03-05T09:17:00.005-06:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

March 6, 2011 Quinquagesima Sunday

Epistle: 1 Cor. 13, 1-13
Gospel: Luc. 18, 31-43

Mass schedule March 7 through March 11

Monday-Saint Thomas Aquinas; Confessor & Doctor-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Saint John of God; Confessor
Wednesday-Ash Wednesday; NO LATIN MASS
Thursday-Thursday after Ash Wednesday
Friday-Friday after Ash Wednesday

We will have our monthly pot-luck dinner immediately following Mass on March 6th.

Note that Saint Agnes Cathedral has scheduled a Mass for Ash Wednesday at the regularly scheduled Mass time for the Latin Mass (12:15pm). I will be in Mansfield and Mountain Grove for Ash Wednesday Masses; therefore there will be no Latin Mass on Ash Wednesday.

Laws of Abstinence:
-Complete abstinence is defined as abstaining from meat and soup or gravy made from meat.
-Partial abstinence is defined as allowing meat and soup or gravy made from meat, only once a day at the principal meal.
-Abstinence applies to all those over seven years.

Laws of Fast:
-On days of Fast, only one full meal is allowed, two other meatless meals are allowed in addition to the principal meal but the total quantity of food for these two small repasts should not equal the amount taken at a full meal.
-Partial abstinence is required on all days of Fast, except on days of COMPLETE abstinence.
-Eating between meals in not permitted though liquids may be taken.
-Days of Fast apply to all those over 21 and under 59 years of age.
-Laws of fasting and abstinence are not binding on those with medical conditions or those whose ability to work would be impaired.
-There is no obligation for fast or abstinence on a Holy Day of Obligation even though it may fall on a Friday.

In the new Code of Canon Law, USCCB usage, fasting and complete abstinence are limited to Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Complete abstinence is obligatory on all Fridays of Lent. Abstinence applies to those over the age of 14. Fasting is obligatory for those between the ages of 18 and 59, inclusive.

Saint Paul emphasizes the fact that the virtue of charity is so important that without it all other gifts make no sense. Charity towards our neighbor is an expression of our love for God Himself. Love is enduring. Love will never fade away. This is why charity is greater than all God’s other gifts to man. Saint Paul is constantly reminding us to actively pursue the virtue of charity. All the saints teach us the very same message.

Faith, hope and charity are the most important virtues in the Christian life. These are called the “theological” virtues. God infuses them into our hearts together with sanctifying grace. Charity is superior to both faith and hope because charity is the virtue that most directly unites one to good. In the words of Saint Thomas Aquinas: “Faith and hope attain God in so far as we derive from Him the knowledge of truth or the acquisition of good; whereas charity attains God Himself that it may rest in Him, not that something else should come to us from Him (Summa theologiae, II-II, q. 23, a. 6).

In Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 39

2011-02-26T09:17:00.002-06:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

February 27, 2011 Sexagesima Sunday

Epistle: 2 Cor. 11, 19-33; 12, 1-9
Gospel: Luc. 8, 4-15

Mass schedule February 28 through March 4

Monday------Feria----NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday------Feria
Wednesday--Feria
Thursday-----Feria
Friday--------Saint Casimir, Confessor

I believe many of us have really never understood what a tremendous and precious gift the word of God is to us. If we understood it correctly, we would want to receive it with much more reverence. When we hear the word of God it will either bear within us good fruit or bad fruit. It will bear good fruit within us if we are well-disposed to receiving it and we have a sincere desire to take heed to it. On the other hand, it will be bad if we hear it with indifference, distaste, or without our full attention. The word of God is meant to enlighten us and to show us how to fulfill our duties. For many, however, it is blinding and causes them to be cold and indifferent.

The Church Fathers, the prophets, Jesus Christ Himself, His Apostles and their followers all relied on the word of God to strengthen and spread the holy Catholic Faith. When Jonah preached repentance to the Ninevites it was the sacred word that changed their hearts from sinners to penitents! Saint John the Baptist preached the word of God to make know to the world the Messiah. Jesus Christ Himself made constant use of His sacred word among the crowds. It is the word of God that has made and continues to make all the great ones of this world forsake their possessions, their parents, and all their comforts to follow Christ.

The Gospel shows us that of all the people who hear the word of God, only few profit from it. Many hear it but refuse to change their lives or make the sacrifices which God asks of them, so that they might become good and pleasing to Him. They refuse to extricate themselves from toxic and sinful relationships. They won’t abandon people or places that are an occasion of sin for them.

Some people hear God’s word with joy but are not willing to do what it commands. Still others have hard and stubborn hearts. They find fault with God’s word and abuse it. Finally, however, there are those who ardently desire to hear God’s word. They embrace every opportunity God gives them to profit by it.

Let us carefully listen to the word of God. Let us stop sinning. Let us turn away from worldly pleasures, inordinate desires and passions. Let us embrace every opportunity to bear fruit for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 38

2011-02-19T07:27:00.003-06:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

February 20, 2011 Septuagesima Sunday

Epistle: I Cor. 9:24-27; 10:1-5
Gospel: Matth. 20: 1-16

Mass schedule February 21 through February 25

Monday----Feria----NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday----Chair of Saint Peter
Wednesday----Saint Peter Damian; Bishop, Confessor & Doctor
Thursday----Saint Matthias; Apostle
Friday----Feria

The nature of the Christian’s life must involve a certain “interior” striving. We should really approach our spiritual life with a competitive spirit. We should also learn to guard our spirituality with a certain jealousy. In other words, we should foster a healthy striving toward becoming the saints that Christ is asking us to become. We must learn to face all sacrifices that our Lord asks of us head-on. As followers of Christ we cannot allow any obstacles, failures, limitations or temptations of any sort to discourage us. It should come as no surprise when we discover that pride, envy, jealousy, laziness, hatred and all other sins rise up from the depths of our own hearts. Listen to the words of Saint Paul: “I do not run aimlessly, I do not box as one beating the air, but I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” The point is we cannot become depressed by our failures, even if they are serious. We must have recourse to Christ is the Sacrament of Penance and begin again with a desire to improve. Christ understands our weakness and constantly calls us to Himself.

Saint Paul emphasizes the importance of perseverance. He points out the importance of the ascetical effort we have a responsibility to embrace. We must physically mortify our bodies to gain self-control of our sinful nature. As we begin today to prepare for the Lenten season, we must ask our Lord for the grace to deny ourselves. In this way we learn to bring Christ’s good work He has begun in us to perfection.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 37

2011-02-10T14:27:00.002-06:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

February 13, 2011 Sixth Sunday after Epiphany

Epistle: I Thess. 1: 2-10
Gospel: Matth. 13, 31-35

Mass schedule February 14 through February 18

Monday----Saint Valentine, Priest & Martyr----NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday----SS. Faustinus & Jovita, Martyrs---NO LATIN MASS
Wednesday----Feria
Thursday----Feria
Friday----Saint Simeon, Bishop & Martyr

No pot luck dinner this month.
Note that Mass on Sunday, February 13 will be at 7:00pm at Saint Agnes Cathedral.
Note that on Tuesday, February 15 there will be NO LATIN MASS.

God created us to be happy. Happiness cannot be found in wealth, honors, health or any other earthly satisfaction. Happiness may only be found in knowing and loving God. Original sin deprived man of sanctifying grace, but God loved us so much that He delivered us from Satan’s power through the death of His Son.

Saint Paul preached the Gospel foretold by the prophets and fulfilled by the Word made flesh and by His work of salvation. God called Saint Paul through the power of the Holy Spirit to carry on His work of salvation. Saint Paul’s preaching was effective due to the working of the Holy Spirit. The same is true of preachers today. It is the Holy Spirit working in them as well as in those who listen.

In the early years of the Church the proclamation of the Gospel was accompanied by special graces of the Holy Spirit, such as prophecy, miracles, or the gift of tongues. This meant the fulfillment of the ancient prophecies: “I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophecy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even upon the menservants and maidservants in those days, I will pour out my spirit” (Joel 3:1-3).

The dawn of the Christian era brought forth the activity of the Holy Spirit throughout the Church and the world. The Holy Sprit is the principal agent of evangelization. It is the Holy Spirit who impels each person to proclaim the Gospel. It is the Holy Spirit who causes the Word of salvation to be accepted and understood.

We all must therefore call upon the Holy Spirit to enlighten us. We must beseech the Holy Spirit to inspire us to be more effective evangelists. We must constantly fulfill our responsibility to proclaim the Gospel.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 36

2011-02-04T09:56:00.001-06:00

AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

February 6, 2011 Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

Epistle: Col. 3, 12-17
Gospel: Matth. 13, 24-30

Mass schedule February 7 through February 11

Monday----Saint Romuald, Abbot----NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday----Saint John of Matha, Confessor
Wednesday----Saint Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop, Confessor & Doctor
Thursday----Saint Scholastica, Virgin
Friday----Our Lady of Lourdes

No Pot Luck Dinner this month.
MASS ON SUNDAY FEBRUARY 13 WILL BE AT 7:00 PM AT SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL

What a miracle of love it is when the Son of God, who is Almighty and Infinite, and whom the angels and saints reverently adore day and night, becomes our food in the Eucharist! To receive God within us and to unite our unworthy flesh and blood with His most sacred flesh and blood is a tremendous grace! God comes to dwell within us! How can we not feel the most profound reverence and adoration?

Our God is in the Holy Eucharist. He is present in the form of bread out of His infinite love for us. He does this so that He may unite Himself to us. He does not reveal His infinite glory while present in the sacred host so that we will not be frightened by the splendor of His divinity. In other words, God foregoes His own splendor and glory so that He may save sinners and be present in the sacred host.

What then do we owe God in return? Do we acknowledge His love and show our gratitude? Sadly, many do not. God manifests His greatest love, and yet here He often receives His greatest abuse. He often receives the utmost ingratitude. During the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass Christ offers Himself up for our sins to God the Father and begs God’s grace and mercy. What do we do in return? Many do not even think it worth while to attend this Sacrifice even if they easily can. Others attend, but without thinking what it is that is being done for them. Others act inappropriately during the Mass. They talk or find some excuse to get up and leave as soon as Mass begins. Others even make fun of the Mass. Christ sees all and yet He continues to make Himself present to appease the just wrath of God the Father.

Let us attend Mass with the utmost reverence and respect. Let us thank our God for the sacrifice of His Son.

In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 35

2011-01-29T06:46:00.001-06:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

January 30, 2011 Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

Epistle: Rom. 13, 8-10
Gospel: Matth. 8, 23-27

Mass schedule January 31 through February 4

Monday-Saint John Bosco, Confessor—NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday—Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop & Martyr
Wednesday—Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Thursday—Saint Blasé, Bishop & Martyr
Friday—Sacred Heart of Jesus

Your prayers are asked for the mother of James Gillet and the grandmother of Chad Koenig.

In order to keep God’s Commandments perfectly, we must rely on God’s grace to love Him and love our neighbor as well. Ideally, we should be motivated in all we do because of our love for God. If we truly love God it is much easier to love our neighbor. This is really the key to answering the “universal call to holiness” in the Church.

Turning to today’s Gospel, Christ works a miracle that has a huge impact on His disciples. The boat they are on is being swamped by huge waves. The boat represents the Church, which has always had to make its way around those who would attack her. From earliest times, Christians were persecuted and misunderstood. Jesus’ sleeping through the storm has been applied to the fact that sometimes God allows the Church to suffer persecution without coming to her aid. Just as the Apostles in the boat cried to Jesus for help, so should we. Christ will always show His power when it seems we can bear hardships no longer. He rebuked the winds and the sea and there was great calm. But He first rebuked His Apostles for their lack of faith.

If we want God to work miracles in our lives or answer our prayer requests, He always demands that we have faith.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 34

2011-01-22T09:49:00.001-06:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

January 23, 2011 Third Sunday after Epiphany

Epistle: Rom. 12, 16-21
Gospel: Matth. 8, 1-13

Mass schedule January 24 through January 28

Monday--Saint Timothy, Bishop & Martyr—NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday—Conversion of Saint Paul
Wednesday—Saint Polycarp, Bishop & Martyr
Thursday—Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop, Confessor & Doctor
Friday--Saint Peter Nolasco, Confessor

The presence of evil is always a reality on this earth. If we are honest, there is sometimes an evil that rises up from the depths of our own hearts. How do we fight against this evil? The lesson that our Lord gives us is simple, yet often very difficult to carry out. Christ invites us to be gentle in the face of evil. We must strive to live in peace with everyone. We must strive to forgive everyone. When we experience injustice in the world we must name it for what it is. When we experience an offense against God we must name it for what it is as well. We cannot reply with evil when we are confronted with evil. Saint Paul reminds us that we must bless our persecutors and pray for those who would harm us.

In today’s Gospel we see illustrated the great popularity of Jesus. Huge crowds gathered around to listen to Him. The Jewish leaders dared not arrest Christ for fear of what the crowds might do. However, the elders opposed Christ and called for His execution.

Christ cures the man with leprosy. The Church Fathers have pointed out that leprosy is a vivid image of the reality of sin. Sin is ugly, disgusting, contagious and difficult to cure. We are all sinners and in need of God’s forgiveness and grace. The leper in the Gospel knelt down before Christ and begged to be made clean. He begged with humility and confidence. Christ thus answered the leper’s plea. If we turn to Christ with this same faith, He will always sanctify our souls.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 33

2011-01-15T08:40:00.002-06:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

January 16, 2011 Second Sunday after Epiphany

Epistle: Rom. 12, 6-16
Gospel: Jn. 2, 1-11

Mass schedule January 17 through January 21

Monday--Saint Anthony, Abbot—NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday--Feria
Wednesday--Feria
Thursday--SS. Fabian, Pope & Sebastian, Martyrs
Friday--Saint Agnes, Virgin & Martyr

Saint Paul teaches us that the virtue of charity is common to all people. Charity always involves seeking what is good and avoiding what is evil. Our love for our brethren should absolutely affect everything we do, think and say. We must never be judgmental of anyone. We must never speak ill of our brethren. Finally, we must never do or say anything that would scandalize them.

God has first loved us. We should show our love for Him by a joyful, strong and persevering spirit. This means we must be willing and able to accept trials and tribulations with joy and hope. Joy in the midst of sufferings is one of the most notable signs that the love of God is truly influencing everything we do. We also show our love for God by loving our brothers. Unless we serve our brothers whom we are able to see, we cannot serve the God we do not see.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 32

2011-01-08T07:05:00.004-06:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Holy Family

Epistle, Col. 3, 12-17
Gospel, Luc. 2, 42-52

Pot luck dinner immediately following Mass

Monday: Feria after Epiphany NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday: Feria after Epiphany
Wednesday: Feria after Epiphany
Thursday: Commemoration of the Baptism of the Lord
Friday: Saint Hilary, Bishop, Confessor & Doctor

The Gospel sums up Jesus’ life in Nazareth in just three words: erat subditus illis, He was obedient to them. “Jesus obeys, and He obeys Joseph and Mary. God has come to the world to obey, and to obey creatures. Admittedly they are very perfect creatures--Holy Mary, our mother, greater than all but God Himself; and that most chaste man Joseph. But still they are only creatures, and yet Jesus, who is God, obeyed them. We have to love God so as to love His will and desire to respond to His calls. They come to us through the duties of our ordinary life--duties of state, profession, work, family, social life, our own and other people’s difficulties, friendship, eagerness to do what is right and just” (Bl. J. Escriva, Christ is passing by, 17).

Jesus lived like any other citizen of Nazareth. He worked as a carpenter and earned His living by the sweat of His brow. He was obedient unto death. Obeying God’s will always means being unselfish. Obedience is also the first stage of wisdom. We know that Jesus during His hidden life all those years in Nazareth grew in wisdom and grace. This was because He always obeyed. We must follow His example of obedience particularly with regard to the teachings of His Church.

When we obey God’s commands we exercise wisdom and show our love for Him. Let us imitate Christ our Lord who was obedient unto death. Let us submit to the will of God in all things.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 31

2011-01-01T07:11:00.003-06:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

January 2, 2011 Most Holy Name of Jesus

Epistle: Act. 4, 8-12
Gospel: Luc, 2, 21

Pot Luck dinner Sunday, January 9 2011 immediately following Mass

Mass schedule January 3 through January 7

Monday —Feria of Christmastide—NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday —Feria in Christmastide
Wednesday —Feria in Christmastide
Thursday —Epiphany of the Lord
Friday —Sacred Heart of Jesus

"that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil 2:10-11). St. Bernardine of Siena promoted devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus through the inscription of the monogram of the Holy Name IHS (Iesus Hominum Salvator).

Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, hear us.
Jesus, graciously hear us.

God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Jesus, Son of the living God, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Splendor of the Father, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Brightness of eternal Light, have mercy on us.
Jesus, King of Glory, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Sun of Justice, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Son of the Virgin Mary, have mercy on us.
Jesus, most amiable, have mercy on us.
Jesus, most admirable, have mercy on us.
Jesus, the mighty God, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Father of the world to come, have mercy on us.
Jesus, angel of great counsel, have mercy on us.
Jesus, most powerful, have mercy on us.
Jesus, most patient, have mercy on us.
Jesus, most obedient, have mercy on us.
Jesus, meek and humble of heart, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Lover of Chastity, have mercy on us.
Jesus, our Lover, have mercy on us .
Jesus, God of Peace, have mercy on us .
Jesus, Author of Life, have mercy on us .
Jesus, Model of Virtues, have mercy on us .
Jesus, zealous for souls, have mercy on us .
Jesus, our God, have mercy on us .
Jesus, our Refuge, have mercy on us .
Jesus, Father of the Poor, have mercy on us .
Jesus, Treasure of the Faithful, have mercy on us .
Jesus, good Shepherd, have mercy on us .
Jesus, true Light, have mercy on us .
Jesus, eternal Wisdom, have mercy on us .
Jesus, infinite Goodness, have mercy on us .
Jesus, our Way and our Life, have mercy on us .
Jesus, joy of the Angels, have mercy on us .
Jesus, King of the Patriarchs, have mercy on us .
Jesus, Master of the Apostles, have mercy on us .
Jesus, Teacher of the Evangelists, have mercy on us .
Jesus, Strength of Martyrs, have mercy on us .
Jesus, Light of Confessors, have mercy on us .
Jesus, Purity of Virgins, have mercy on us .
Jesus, Crown of all Saints, have mercy on us .

Be merciful, spare us, O Jesus!
Be merciful, graciously hear us, O Jesus!
From all evil, deliver us, O Jesus .
From all sin, deliver us, O Jesus .
From your wrath, deliver us, O Jesus .
From the snares of the devil, deliver us, O Jesus .
From the spirit of fornication, deliver us, O Jesus .
From everlasting death, deliver us, O Jesus .
From the neglect of your inspirations, deliver us, O Jesus .
Through the mystery of your holy Incarnation,
deliver us, O Jesus .
Through your Nativity, deliver us, O Jesus .
Through your Infancy, deliver us, O Jesus .
Through your most divine Life, deliver us, O Jesus .
Through your Labors, deliver us, O Jesus .
Through your Agony and Passion, deliver us, O Jesus.
Through your Cross and Dereliction, deliver us, O Jesus.
Through your Sufferings, deliver us, O Jesus.
Through your Death and Burial, deliver us, O Jesus.
Through your Resurrection, deliver us, O Jesus.
Through your Ascension, deliver us, O Jesus.
Through your Institution of the Most Holy Eucharist,
deliver us, O Jesus.
Through your Joys, deliver us, O Jesus.
Through your Glory, deliver us, O Jesus.

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
spare us, O Jesus!
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
graciously hear us, O Jesus!
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us, O Jesus!
Jesus, hear us.
Jesus, graciously hear us.

Let us pray.

O Lord Jesus Christ, you have said, "Ask and you shall receive; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you"; mercifully attend to our supplications, and grant us the grace of your most divine love, that we may love you with all our hearts, and in all our words and actions, and never cease to praise you.
Make us, O Lord, to have a perpetual fear and love of your holy name, for you never fail to govern those whom you solidly establish in your love. You, who live and reign forever and ever. R. Amen.

Bulletin 30

2010-12-24T09:41:00.003-06:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

December 26th, 2010---Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity of our Lord
Epistle: Gal. 4:1-7---Gospel: Lk. 2:33-40

THERE WILL BE NO LATIN MASS FROM DECEMBER 27th THROUGH DECEMBER 31st

Saturday, January 1st is the Octave Day of Christmas. I will be traveling to Gainesville and Ava this weekend. There will be no Latin Mass on January 1st, 2011

Mass schedule December 27th through December 31st

Monday —Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist—--NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday —Holy Innocents, Martyrs--------------NO LATIN MASS
Wednesday -5th Day in the Octave of Christmas---NO LATIN MASS
Thursday —6th Day in the Octave of Christmas---NO LATIN MASS
Friday —7th Day in the Octave of Christmas---NO LATIN MASS

From a sermon by Saint Leo the Great, pope:

Dearly beloved, today our Savior is born; let us rejoice. Sadness should have no place on the birthday of life. The fear of death has been swallowed up; life brings us joy with the promise of eternal happiness.

No one is shut out from this joy; all share the same reason for rejoicing. Our Lord, victor over sin and death, finding no man free from sin, came to free us all. Let the saint rejoice as he sees the palm of victory at hand. Let the sinner be glad as he receives the offer of forgiveness. Let the pagan take courage as he is summoned to life.

In the fullness of time, chosen in the unfathomable depths of God’s wisdom, the Son of God took for Himself our common humanity in order to reconcile it with its creator. He came to overthrow the devil, the origin of death, in that very nature by which he had overthrown mankind.

And so at the birth of our Lord the angels sing in joy: Glory to God in the highest, and they proclaim peace to His people on earth as they see the heavenly Jerusalem being built from all the nations of the world. When the angels on high are so exultant at this marvelous work of God’s goodness, what joy should it not bring to the lowly hearts of men?

Beloved, let us give thanks to God the Father, through His Son, in the Holy Ghost, because in His great love for us He took pity on us, and when we were dead in our sins He brought us to life with Christ, so that in Him we might be a new creation. Let us throw off our old nature and all its ways and, as we have come to birth in Christ, let us renounce the works of the flesh.

Christian, remember your dignity, and now that you share in God’s own nature, do not return by sin to your former base condition. Bear in mind who is your head and of whose body you are a member. Do not forget that you have been rescued from the power of darkness and brought into the light of God’s kingdom.

Through the sacrament of baptism you have become a temple of the Holy Ghost. Do not drive away so great a guest by evil conduct and become again a slave to the devil, for your liberty was brought by the blood of Christ.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 29

2010-12-17T08:34:00.003-06:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Epistle: I Cor. 4:1-5
Gospel: Luke 3:1-6

Monday: Greater Feria of Advent No Latin Mass
Tuesday: Saint Thomas, Apostle
Wednesday: Greater Feria of Advent
Thursday: Greater Feria of Advent
Friday: Vigil of Christmas; Midnight Mass at the Carmelite Monastery
Saturday: The Nativity of Our Lord, Mass @ 2:30pm @ Saint Agnes Cathedral

--A plenary indulgence may be gained by publicly saying or singing the Te Deum in thanksgiving on the last day of the year (December 31). A plenary indulgence may also be gained by publicly saying or singing the Veni Creator Spiritus on the first day of the year, (January 1).

Saint Luke formally introduces John the Baptist in today’s Gospel passage. Christ praises John the Baptist for his strength of will and his commitment to his God-given mission. Humility, austerity, courage and a spirit of prayer are all a part of John the Baptist’s personality. John was so faithful to his mission of preparing the way for the Messiah that Christ said of him: he is the greatest of those born of woman, “a burning and shining lamp.”

John the Baptist preached the need for repentance. He prepared the way of the Lord. He simply announced that salvation was on its way. He knew that his role was to decrease, and Christ’s must increase. Our Lord’s coming is imminent. We must prepare ourselves spiritually for that coming. We must prepare ourselves by doing penance for our sins. We must open our hearts to receive the Divine grace our Lord is offering us.

Now is the time of year once again during Advent to proclaim the coming of Jesus Christ, our Savior. We must purify our souls by a new interior conversion.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 28

2010-12-10T08:25:00.004-06:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

December 12, 2010-Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday)

Epistle: Philipp. 4, 4-7
Gospel: Ioann. I, 19-28

Visit MoLatinMass.com to view the weekly bulletin.
Pot-luck dinner immediately following Mass Sunday, December 12th.

Mass schedule December 13th through December 17th

Monday —Saint Lucy, Virgin & Martyr—NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday —Feria of Advent
Wednesday —Ember Wednesday
Thursday —Saint Eusebius, Bishop & Martyr
Friday —Ember Friday

The Third Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete comes from the Latin verb gaudere (to rejoice). It is an imperative plural form of the verb. In other words, we are commanded to rejoice! As we anticipate the greatest event in the whole history of the world, namely the Incarnation, we are to do so with great joy! We also look to the joy that is yet to come. As we continue with the penitential nature of the Advent season, Gaudete Sunday gives us a brief rest as we focus on our hope Christ offers at His coming into the world.

Advent is about not only the Incarnation, but Christ’s second coming as well. Unfortunately, for many that day will be a day of terror. Christ is coming to judge and He will do so without mercy. This is what we are anticipating with our penance. We want to be prepared and make Christ’s second coming a day of joyful anticipation rather than one of fear. All will bend their knees at the second coming of Christ. Many who knowingly reject Christ will do so in terror. But this is not what God wants for us.

Let us rejoice today at the wonderful works God has wrought for us in the person of His Son! Let us look forward with joyful hope to Christ’s coming in glory at the end of time! Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus!

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 27

2010-12-04T10:06:00.001-06:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Second Sunday of Advent

Epistle: Rom. 15, 4-13
Gospel: Matth. 11, 2-10

Mass Schedule December 6th through December 10th

Monday: Saint Nicholas, Bishop & Confessor; NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday: Saint Ambrose, Bishop, Confessor & Doctor
Wednesday: Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary; Mass & 7:00pm
Thursday: Feria of Advent
Friday: Feria of Advent

--Visit MoLatinMass.com to view the weekly bulletin.
--Mass for the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be offered at 7:00pm in the Cathedral on Wednesday, December 12th. This will be a High Mass.
--Pot luck dinner immediately following Mass on December 12th.
--The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of the six days of obligation in the United States. See the Canons of the Code of Canon Law for Sundays and Holy Days.

Christ comes to us through Word and Sacrament. God is the author of all Sacred Scripture. This gives to Sacred Scripture a character of excellence we cannot ignore. Christ is truly present when the Scriptures are proclaimed. Scripture is of the highest order since it is in fact the Word of God. Scripture helps to instruct us in the faith. It also gives us hope and consolation in times of trial. There are many examples in Scripture which encourage us to be patient and spur us on to fight the good fight. We must constantly reflect on the Scriptures particularly when God asks sacrifice from us. He does so because He has a greater reward in store for us in heaven.

We have a responsibility to listen to God’s word attentively. Through prayer we must then discern what God is asking of us. Receiving the Eucharist gives us the strength and courage to carry out God’s will in our lives.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 26

2010-11-27T05:36:00.004-06:00

Saint AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

November 28, 2010-First Sunday of Advent

Epistle: Romans 13: 11-14
Gospel: Luke 21: 25-33

Visit MoLatinMass.com to view the weekly bulletin.

Mass schedule November 29th through December 3rd

Monday—Feria of Advent—NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday—Saint Andrew, Apostle
Wednesday—Feria of Advent
Thursday—Saint Bibiana, Virgin and Martyr
Friday—Sacred Heart of Jesus

The Church gives us the Advent season to help us prepare for the coming of the Lord. Christ came into the world through His incarnation. He also comes to us through grace. At His second coming He will come as judge. Christ has brought light into the world formerly enveloped in darkness and sin. He continues to dispel whatever darkness remains in our souls whenever we allow Him to. He longs to be the King and Master of our hearts.

Souls who have been baptized into the Church are always in need of conversion. In fact, we must realize that conversion is a life-long process. An excellent way to help this conversion process is making frequent use of the Sacrament of Penance. We “put on” Christ at Baptism. We are constantly transformed into Him by frequently receiving the sacraments, particularly the Sacrament of Penance.

Our souls are at stake and we must keep constant guard over them. The sacrament of Penance also helps us to receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist in a more fruitful manner. The better condition our soul is in, the more fruit we will draw from receiving the Flesh and Blood of Christ.

“Induimini Donimum Iesum Christum.” Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, says Saint Paul to the Romans. It is in the Sacrament of Penance that we put on Jesus Christ and His merits.

In Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 25

2010-11-20T05:37:00.002-06:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

November 21st, 2010; 24th Sunday after Pentecost

Epistle: Col. I, 9-14
Gospel: Matth. 24, 15-35

Mass Schedule November 22nd through November 26th

Monday Saint Cecilia, Virgin & Martyr; NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday Saint Clement I, Pope & Martyr
Wednesday Saint John of the Cross, Confessor & Doctor
Thursday Saint Catherine of Alexandria, Virgin & Martyr
Friday Saint Sylvester, Abbot; NO LATIN MASS

Visit MoLatinMass.com to view the weekly bulletin.

Note there will be NO LATIN MASS on Friday, November 26th, 2010.

Saint Paul was always thrilled when the brethren were advancing in the way of holiness. He encourages the Colossians to pray more fervently and to keep up their effort. The same holds true for us today. We must strive for holiness first and foremost through prayer. We need the Holy Spirit to enlighten us with the gifts of wisdom and understanding.

There is a “dominion of darkness” that exists for those who choose to be mastered by the devil and enslaved to the state of sin. On the other hand, “Light” is a symbol of the risen Christ and the graces He won for us through His Paschal Mystery. Light brings with it goodness, righteousness and truth.

The struggle between light and the power of darkness is found in many places in Sacred Scripture. Darkness refers to both evil and the power of Satan. We must constantly be aware of this reality and embrace the Light that is Jesus Christ. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and the tyranny of the Evil One.

We as Christians should always be grateful to God for His great mercy in freeing us from the power of darkness and Satan. God has forgiven us and made us worthy to “share in the inheritance of the saints.” This sharing enables us to draw upon the immense treasury of spiritual goods which the Church is continually applying to its members, namely prayers, sacrifices and various meritorious actions. God has brought us out of darkness into His own wonderful light!

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 24

2010-11-13T17:59:00.001-06:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

November 14th, 2010; Resumed 6th Sunday after Epiphany

Epistle: I Thess. 1: 2-10

Gospel: Matth. 13, 31-35

Mass Schedule November 15th through November 19th

Monday Saint Albert the Great, Bishop, Confessor & Doctor; NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday Saint Gertrude the Great, Virgin
Wednesday Saint Gregory the Wonderworker, Bishop & Confessor
Thursday Dedication of the Basilicas of SS. Peter & Paul
Friday Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Widow

Visit MoLatinMass.com to view the weekly bulletin.

Saint Paul became a master of the spiritual life. He shows that the spiritual life of the Christian is based on the practice of the theological virtues of faith, hope and love. Saint James wrote that faith without works is dead. Faith thus needs to be reflected in our conduct and our entire lives.

The service of others for God’s sake is proof of our charity. Charity is part of our two-fold duty to God, along with our responsibility to pray. Finally, hope is a virtue which enables us to endure trials and adversity. Saint Paul says that we must rejoice in hope and be patient in all trials. Hope fills the soul with joy and gives it the strength to bear all difficulties for the love of God.

Joy is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. To fully experience joy one must unconditionally accept the Word of God. This is what helps a person to overcome any obstacle he or she may encounter. It is possible to be joyful despite lashes and blows, as Saint Paul shows us by his saintly example. A feature of the Holy Spirit is that it causes an experience of happiness to grow even in the midst of affliction and sorrow. Naturally, afflictions do not produce joy, but joy is experienced by those who accept their sufferings for the sake of Jesus Christ. This is one of the great things bestowed upon us by the Holy Spirit!

We must pray for a joyful disposition. We must also realize that true joy is only experienced when we accept suffering in our lives for the love of Christ.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 23

2010-11-06T09:32:00.004-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

November 7th, 2010

Resumed 5th Sunday after Epiphany

Epistle: Coloss. 3, 12-17

Gospel: Matth. 13, 24-30

Mass Schedule November 8th through November 12th

Monday Daily Mass for the Dead, No Latin Mass
Tuesday Dedication of the Archbasilica of Our Holy Savior
Wednesday Saint Andrew Avellino, Confessor
Thursday Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop & Confessor
Friday Saint Martin I, Pope & Martyr

Visit MoLatinMass.com to view the weekly bulletin.

Pot Luck dinner following Mass on November 7th.

Putting on the “new man” is a transfiguration that involves the whole person—soul and body, mind and will. Our willingness to live a Christian life takes daily effort and struggle. Conversion is a life-long process.

The virtue of charity is a gift from God and must be nurtured. Saint Paul refers to other virtues which are in one way or another all expressions of charity. Meekness, patience, forgiveness and gratefulness are all a result of the virtue of all virtues—humility. Only if we are humble can we be forgiving and thankful.

If we want to achieve holiness we must make every effort to practice charity. Charity involves a real, concrete expression of one’s self-service to God and men. If we want to experience the true peace of Christ we must practice charity.

The Second Vatican Council states: “Lay people, while meeting their human obligations in the ordinary conditions of life, should not separate their union with Christ from their ordinary life; through the very performance of their tasks, which are God’s will for them, they actually promote the growth of their union with Him. This is the path along which lay people must advance, fervently, joyfully” (Apostolicam actuositatem, 4).

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 22

2010-10-30T08:51:00.003-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

October 31st, 2010 Christ the King: Epistle: Coloss. I, 12-20; Gospel: John 18, 33-37

Mass Schedule November 1st through November 6th

Monday All Saints MASS IS AT 7:00 pm
Tuesday Commemoration of All Souls
Wednesday Feria
Thursday Saint Charles Borromeo
Friday Sacred Heart of Jesus

Visit MoLatinMass.com to view the weekly bulletin

On the feast of Christ the King one may gain a plenary indulgence by the public recitation of the Act of Consecration of the Human Race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

All Saints Day is a holy day of obligation in the Universal Church and in the United States.

The month of November is dedicated to the Holy Souls. On all days from November 1 through November 8 inclusive, a plenary indulgence, applicable only to the Poor Souls, is granted to those who visit a cemetery and pray, even if only mentally, for the departed. Partial indulgences are granted to those who recite Lauds or Vespers of the Office of the Dead, and to those who recite the prayer “Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domini, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Requiescant in pace” (“Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace”).

On All Souls Day a plenary indulgence, applicable only to the Poor Souls, is granted to those who visit any parish church or public oratory and there recite an Our Father and one Credo.

“An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints.” Paul VI, apostolic constitution, Indulgentiarum doctrina, Norm 1.

An indulgence is partial or plenary according as it removes either part or all of the temporal punishment due to sin. The faithful can gain indulgences for themselves or apply them to the dead.

Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 21

2010-10-23T09:29:00.003-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

October 24th, 2010; 22nd Sunday after Pentecost

Epistle: Philipp. I, 6-11
Gospel: Matth. 22, 15-21

NO LATIN MASS October 25th through October 29th

Visit MoLatinMass.com to view the weekly bulletin.

The Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau will be holding its annual Priest’s Institute at Rock Lane Resort near Branson, Missouri Monday, October 25th through Friday, October 29th. There will be no Latin Mass during this week. Your prayers are requested for the priests of the diocese.

Sunday, October 31st is the feast of the Kingship of Our Lord Jesus Christ. One may gain a plenary indulgence by the public recitation of the Act of Consecration of the Human Race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The text of the prayer is as follows:

Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us, humbly prostrate before Thine altar. We are Thine and Thine we wish to be; but to be more surely united with Thee, behold each one of us freely consecrates himself today to Thy Most Sacred Heart.
Many, indeed, have never known Thee; many, too, despising Thy precepts, have rejected Thee. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to Thy Sacred Heart. Be Thou King, O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken Thee, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned Thee, grant that they may quickly return to their Father's house, lest they die of wretchedness and hunger.
Be Thou King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof and call them back to the harbour of truth and unity of faith, so that soon there may be but one flock and one shepherd. Be Thou King of all those who even now sit in the shadow of idolatry or Islam, and refuse not Thou to bring them into the light of Thy kingdom.
Look, finally, with eyes of pity upon the children of that race, which was for so long a time Thy chosen people; and let Thy Blood, which was once invoked upon them in vengeance, now descend upon them also in a cleansing flood of redemption and eternal life. Grant, O Lord, to Thy Church, assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give peace and order to all nations, and make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry: Praise to the Divine Heart that wrought our salvation: to it be glory and honour forever. Amen.

In Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 20

2010-10-16T07:30:00.004-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

October 17th, 2010; 21st Sunday after Pentecost

Epistle: Ephes. 6, 10-17
Gospel: Matth. 18, 23-35

Mass schedule October 18th through October 22nd

Monday: Saint Luke, Evangelist; No Latin Mass
Tuesday: Saint Peter of Alcantara, Confessor
Wednesday: Saint John Cantius, Confessor
Thursday: Feria
Friday: Feria

Important

Visit MoLatinMass.com to view the weekly bulletin.
Saturday, October 16th there will be a gathering on the steps of the Cathedral at noon to pray the Holy Rosary for life. All are invited.

From Father Fasching:

Saint Paul says we must be prepared to struggle “against the principalities” of this world. We must contend with those angels who rebelled against God, but whom Christ has already overcome. Saint Paul reminds us that these “world rulers” who have to be striven against can only be defeated with spiritual weapons—truth, righteousness, peace and faith. We must also remember the need for constant prayer.

Satan never ceases to try and find ways to bring about man’s eternal damnation. However, we must remember that Christ has won the victory upon the Cross and Satan no longer has power over us as long as we use in our struggle against him the weapons God has given us. These include faith and a complete trust in God.

In the words of Saint John of Avila: “Since this enemy is stronger than we are, we must avail of the ‘shield of faith’, which is something supernatural, whether it be by using a word of God, or receiving the sacraments or (countering the devil with) a doctrine of the Church. We need to believe firmly with our mind that all our strength comes from God” (Audi filia, 30).

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 19

2010-10-07T16:52:00.001-05:00

ESAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

October 10th, 2010; 20th Sunday after Pentecost

Epistle: Ephes. 5, 15-21
Gospel: 4, 46-53

Mass schedule October 11th through October 15th

Monday: Motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary; No Latin Mass
Tuesday: Feria
Wednesday: Saint Edward the Confessor, King
Thursday: Saint Callistus I, Pope and Martyr
Friday: Saint Teresa of Avila, Virgin and Doctor

Important

Visit MoLatinMass.com to view the weekly bulletin.
Next Saturday, October 16th there will be a gathering on the steps of the Cathedral at noon to pray the Holy Rosary for life. All are invited.

From Father Fasching:

In the Gospel Christ addresses the people of Galilee who flock to Him because they want to see Him perform miracles. In Matthew’s Gospel Jesus reproaches the towns of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum because of their lack of faith. The Galileans would have rather watched Christ perform miracles than listen to Him preach. The people eventually want to make Christ king after he multiplies the loaves and fish, but are slow to believe when He teaches them about the Eucharist.

Christ demands that people have a strong faith. He demands that we be committed to that faith. However, He also emphasizes that a strong, committed faith does not require witnessing miracles. The Gospels are filled with miracles to confirm our faith. We too would see such miracles if we but had faith!

The royal official begs Christ to come down before his child dies. Christ responds because of the official’s perseverance and humility. He rewards the man because of his faith. The miracle Christ works in healing the official’s child makes the whole family believers. It is a reminder that all parents have the responsibility to bring their own families to the faith. Parents are the primary educators of their children when it comes to matters of faith.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 18

2010-10-02T06:09:00.003-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

October 3rd, 2010; 19th Sunday after Pentecost
Epistle: Ephes. 4, 23-28
Gospel: Matth. 22, 1-14

Mass schedule October 4th through October 8th

Monday: Saint Francis of Assisi, Confessor; No Latin Mass
Tuesday: Feria
Wednesday: Saint Bruno, Confessor
Thursday: Our Lady of the Rosary
Friday: Saint Bridget of Sweden, Widow

Important

Visit MoLatinMass.com to view the weekly bulletin.
Sunday, October 3rd immediately following Mass will be our next Pot-luck dinner. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.

From Father Fasching

God desires the salvation of all men. The banquet in the Gospel parable is the Kingdom of heaven. When an individual willingly rejects the invitation to attend it results in malice so vicious that it merits eternal punishment. We must answer God’s call to conversion and the life of faith in Him.

The “marriage” is the wedding of Christ and His Church. The garment is the virtue of charity. If one goes into the feast without a wedding garment he believes in the Church but does not have charity. There are certain dispositions we must have in order to enter the Kingdom of heaven. Although we may belong to the Church, if we do not have these dispositions we will be condemned on the day of judgment. We must always respond to God’s grace.

The Second Vatican Council reminds us of the doctrine of the “last things.” “Since we know not the day or the hour, we should follow the advice of the Lord and watch constantly so that, when the single course of our earthly life is completed (cf. Heb 9:27), we may merit to enter with him into the marriage feast and be numbered among the blessed (cf. Mt 25:31-46) and not, like the wicked and slothful servants (cf. Mt 25:26), be ordered to depart into the eternal fire (cf. Mt 25:41), into the outer darkness where “men will weep and gnash their teeth” (Lumen gentium, 48).

In Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A Fasching

Bulletin 17

2010-09-25T18:47:00.001-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

September 26, 2010; 18th Sunday after Pentecost
Epistle: 1 Cor. 1, 4-8
Gospel: Matth. 9, 1-8

Mass schedule September 27th through October 1st

Monday: SS. Cosmas & Damian, Martyrs, No Latin Mass
Tuesday: St. Wenceslaus, Duke & Martyr
Wednesday: Dedication of St. Michael the Archangel
Thursday: St. Jerome, Confessor & Doctor
Friday: Sacred Heart of Jesus

Important

Visit MoLatinMass.com to view the weekly bulletin.
Sunday, October 3rd immediately following Mass will be our next Pot-luck dinner. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Christ always concerns Himself with sin, which is always the underlying cause of any illness. Christ makes it clear that He wants us to always have a genuine concern for others. We must put charity into practice. In the words of Saint Thomas: “This paralytic symbolized the sinner lying in sin”; just as the paralytic cannot move, so the sinner cannot help himself. The people who bring the paralytic along represent those who, by giving him good advice, lead the sinner to God.” This same kind of daring is needed on our part if we want to get close to Christ.

In Old Testament times, it was believed that if one was suffering from an illness it was due to sin. When Christ says to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven”, He demonstrates His divine power. This is a power that His priests share in. “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained” (Jn 20: 22-23). “Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Mt 18:18). Priests act in the name of Christ in the Sacrament of Penance.

We must always approach the Sacrament of Penance with respect, veneration and gratitude. We should see Christ Himself in the person of His priest. We should receive the words of absolution firmly believing that it is Christ who is saying them through the priest. This is why the priest does not say: “Christ absolves you…”, but rather “I absolve you from your sins…” This is how fully identified the priest is with Jesus Christ Himself! Let us show ourselves to the priest.

Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 16

2010-09-18T06:06:00.002-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

September 19, 2010; 17th Sunday after Pentecost
Epistle: Ephes. 4, 1-6
Gospel: Matth. 22, 34-46

Mass schedule September 20th through September 24th

Monday: Feria, Not Latin Mass
Tuesday: Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist
Wednesday: Saint Thomas of Villanova
Thursday: Saint Linus, Pope and Martyr
Friday: Our Lady of Ransom

Important

Visit MoLatinMass.com to view the weekly bulletin.
Sunday, October 3rd immediately following Mass will be our next Pot-luck dinner. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Our next scheduled server’s practice is Thursday, September 23rd at 7:00pm at the Cathedral. This practice is for those who sit in choir only and not the main servers.

The fact that we are baptized Christians means that we are all called to holiness. We must all respond to the grace that God offers and strive for personal holiness in our lives. Vatican II writes: “remember that their exalted condition results, not from their own merits, but from the grace of Christ. If they fail to respond in thought, word and deed to that grace, not only shall they not be saved, but they shall be the more severely judged (see Lk 12:48: ‘everyone to whom much is given, of him will much be required’; cf.Mt 5:19-20; 7:21-22; 25:41-46; Jas 2:14)” (Lumen gentium, 14).

Charity originates in God and not in man. “It is a supernatural virtue infused by God into our soul by which we love God above everything else for His own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for love of God” (St Pius X Catechism, 898). Vatican II states that “There can be no ecumenism worthy of the name without interior conversion. For it is from interior renewal of mind (cf. Eph 4:23), from self-denial and unstinted love, that desires of unity take their rise and develop in a mature way. We should therefore pray to the Holy Spirit for the grace to be genuinely self-denying, humble, gentle in the service of others and to have an attitude of brotherly generosity toward them” (Unitatis redintegratio, 7).

Charity is basic to the building up of a peaceful human society. Let us pray for peace in our world and in our hearts.

Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 15

2010-09-09T05:40:00.001-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

September 12th, 2010 16th Sunday after Pentecost
Epistle: Ephes. 3, 13-21
Gospel: Luke 14, 1-11
Mass Schedule September 13th through September 17th

Monday: Feria No Latin Mass
Tuesday: Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Wednesday: Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Thursday: SS. Cornelius, Pope, & Cyprian, Martyrs
Friday: Stigmata of Saint Francis

Important

Visit MoLatinMass.com for the weekly bulletin.
Bulletins are also available on Sundays at the entrance to the Cathedral.

The essence of Catholic Christianity is a willingness to suffer. For a Christian, suffering offers an opportunity to embrace the Cross of Christ. The Cross is a source of true joy. Scripture says: “if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation” (2 Cor 1:6). Christ sends us crosses for our own spiritual growth. We may not understand why they are placed before us, but we can be sure that they come from God. Suffering strengthens our relationship with God. Saint Paul says: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:35, 38-39).

Saint Paul asks God to give Christians understanding of the “mystery of Christ.” The mystery in fact refers to the entire plan of salvation. The instrument of salvation which Christ used to show His love was the Cross. Christ’s blood has brought about our redemption and the forgiveness of our sins. The Cross is an inexhaustible source of grace and the mark of the true Christian. Many people pay lip service to Christ, but few are His true friends. Only true friends of Christ love the Cross.

The Church in its liturgy is always giving God honor and praising Him for the gifts which it receives in Jesus Christ and through the Cross. “Through Him, with Him, in Him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, almighty Father, for ever and ever. Amen.

Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 14

2010-09-03T06:39:00.002-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

September 5th, 2010 15th Sunday of Pentecost

Epistle: Gal 5, 25-26; 6, 1-10
Gospel: Luke 7, 11-16

Mass Schedule September 6th through September 10th

Monday: Feria No Latin Mass
Tuesday: Feria
Wednesday: Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Thursday: Feria
Friday: Saint Nicholas of Tolentino, Confessor

Important

Visit MoLatinMass.com for the weekly bulletin.
Bulletins are also available on Sundays at the entrance to the Cathedral.

There will be no Pot-luck lunch after Mass this afternoon.

Christ was moved with pity for the woman who had lost her son. He was moved with emotion much the same way at the death of His close friend Lazarus. Christ shows that He was never insensitive to the suffering that is a result of love. It pains Christ to see children separated from their parents. Christ is willing to work miracles for us like He did for this woman, but he first demands that we admit His divine love is the source of all genuine Christian living.

Christ is well aware that the crowd surrounding Him will spread the news of His miracle working everywhere. Nevertheless Christ’s compassion is genuine and He says to the woman: “Do not weep.” He then works His miracle. But first He shows His compassion.

Saint Augustine writes the following: “Our Mother the Church rejoices every day when people are raised again in spirit. The young man had been dead physically; the latter, dead spiritually. The young man’s death was mourned visibly; the death of the latter was invisible and unmoured. He seeks them out Who knew them to be dead; only He can bring them back to life” (Sermon, 98, 2).

Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

bulletin 13

2010-08-26T06:44:00.003-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
August 29th, 2010 14th Sunday of Pentecost

Epistle: Gal: 5, 16-24
Gospel: Matth. 6, 24-33

Mass Schedule August 30th through September 3rd:

Monday: Saint Rose of Lima, Virgin No Latin Mass
Tuesday: Saint Raymond Nonnatus, Confessor
Wednesday: Feria
Thursday: Saint Stephen of Hungary, King and Confessor
Friday: Saint Pius X, Pope and Confessor

Important

Visit MoLatinMass.com for the weekly bulletin.
Bulletins are also available on Sundays at the entrance to the Cathedral.

Your prayers are asked for Michael Farrow. Michael has been under instruction in the Catholic faith and will be baptized and confirmed on Friday, August 27th after the daily Mass.

There will be no Pot-Luck Dinner following Mass on September 5, 2010.

All are invited to join my private blog. If you are interested send your e-mail address to jafashing@yahoo.com

It has been brought to my attention that there has been unnecessary traffic in the sanctuary of the Cathedral before and after the Sunday Mass. Remember that the sanctuary is a sacred space. In the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, only the ordained minister and servers need be in the sanctuary. There will be absolutely no traffic in the sacristy before or after Mass on Sunday unless you have my permission. Thank you for following this directive.

Our ultimate goal is God. If we want to realize this goal we must commit ourselves entirely. Many people do not have God as their ultimate goal. There is no way we can have two absolute and contrary goals. The righteousness of the Kingdom of God means living the life of grace God offers each one of us. This involves adhering to certain spiritual and moral values. Answering the call to holiness should be our primary purpose in life. Pope Paul VI says: “Why poverty? It is to give God, the Kingdom of God, the first place in the scale of values which are the object of human aspirations. Jesus says: ’Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness’. And he says this with regard to all other temporal goods, even necessary and legitimate ones, with which human desires are usually concerned. Christ’s poverty make possible that detachment from earthly things which allows us to place the relationship with God at the peak of human aspirations” (General Audience, 5 January 1977).

In Christ, Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 12

2010-08-20T05:59:00.000-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

August 22nd 2010 Thirteenth Sunday of Pentecost

Gal: 3, 16-22 Gospel: Luc. 17, 11-19

Mass Schedule August 23th through August 27th

Monday: Saint Philip Benizi, Confessor No Latin Mass.
Tuesday: Saint Bartholomew, Apostle
Wednesday: Saint Louis IX, King
Thursday: Saint Zephyrinus, Pope and Martyr
Friday: Saint Joseph Calasance, Confessor

Important

Visit MoLatinMass.com for the weekly bulletin.
Bulletins are also available on Sundays at the entrance to the Cathedral.

Your prayers are asked for Michael Farrow. Michael has been under instruction in the Catholic faith and will be baptized and confirmed on Friday, August 27th after the daily Mass.

Saint Paul reminds us that God Himself is the “efficient cause” of our salvation. It is only by the shedding of the blood of Jesus Christ on the Cross that our salvation is merited. Faith is the instrument by which this redemption becomes effective in each individual person. God makes us righteous. Righteousness in now made manifest in the person of Christ and in the Gospel.

We should remember that salvation does not depend upon fulfillment of the law, but only faith in the Son of God merits our salvation. It is not the law which saves, but “faith in Jesus Christ.”

Faith in God and in His Church is therefore among our greatest gifts. We must always pray for an increase in faith. We must continue to nourish our faith, grow in it, and cherish it as one of our most prized possessions.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 11

2010-08-13T13:02:00.002-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
August 15th, 2010 Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

EPISTLE
Judith 13, 22-25; 15, 10
GOSPEL
Luke 1, 41-50

Mass schedule August 16th through August 20th
Monday: Saint Joachim, Father of the Blessed Virgin Mary; No Latin Mass
Tuesday: Saint Hyacinth, Confessor
Wednesday: Saint Agapitus, Martyr
Thursday: Saint John Eudes, Confessor
Friday: Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Abbot and Doctor

Important:

Visit MoLatinMass.com to view the weekly bulletin.

From Father Fasching

The first fruits of the Holy Spirit are peace and joy. The Blessed Virgin Mary received within herself from God the fullness of the grace of the Holy Ghost. When God looks with favor upon Mary, her humble soul feels extreme joy and gratitude. Mary received more grace than any other human being. She was filled with peace and joy while she proclaimed her Magnificat.

Saint Bede writes: “It was fitting, then, that just as death entered the world through the pride of our first parents, the entry of Life should be manifested by the humility of Mary.” We should recognize once again the importance of humility in our own lives! It is not Mary’s faith, charity, or her immaculate purity that she speaks of in her hymn, but rather she sings: “Since He has looked on my humility, all generations will call me blessed.”

God rewards the Blessed Virgin Mary’s humility by all mankind’s recognition of her greatness: “All generations will call me blessed.” Herein we should see the infinite value of the Hail Mary. Every time someone says the Hail Mary the above prophecy is fulfilled. Mary is praised on earth continually and without interruption. Listen to the words of Lumen gentium: “From the earliest times the Blessed Virgin is honoured under the title of Mother of God, under whose protection the faithful take refuge together in prayer in all their perils and needs. Accordingly, following the Council of Ephesus, there was a remarkable growth in the cult of the people of God towards Mary, in veneration and love, in invocation and imitation, according to her own prophetic words: ‘all generations will call me blessed, for he who is mighty has done great things for me’”

In Christ, Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 10

2010-08-06T07:12:00.001-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

August 8th, 2010; 11th Sunday after Pentecost
Epistle: I Cor. 15, 1-10 Gospel: Mark. 7, 31-37

Mass Schedule August 9th through August 13th

Monday: Vigil of Saint Laurence. No Latin Mass.
Tuesday: Saint Laurence, Deacon & Martyr
Wednesday: Feria, NO LATIN MASS
Thursday: Saint Clare, Virgin; NO LATIN MASS
Friday: Feria, NO LATIN MASS

Important

Visit MoLatinMass.com for the weekly bulletin.
Bulletins are also available on Sundays at the entrance to the Cathedral.

I will be on retreat from Tuesday, August 10th through Saturday, August 14th. NOTE THERE WILL BE NO LATIN MASS WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY AND FRIDAY OF NEXT WEEK.

The Latin Mass Community will be having a pot-luck picnic after Mass on Sunday, August 15th at Nathanael Greene Park. The park is located at 2400 South Scenic Avenue. The pavilion we have reserved seats about sixty-four people, so feel free to bring lawn chairs or picnic blankets. There are no facilities available to heat food, so plan accordingly.

From Father Fasching:

All four evangelists expressly mention that the body of Christ was buried. Saint Paul also reiterates this fact in his letter to the Corinthians, which was written very soon after the time, thereby confirming a tradition which had come down from the beginning. The fact that Christ’s body was buried eliminates any doubt about His death, hence the miracle of the Resurrection. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the essential doctrines of the Catholic faith. Jesus Christ rose by His own power, re-joining His soul with his body, and leaving the tomb with His same human body. This body was not merely the appearance of a body, but the same as it was when it was dead and buried, although after the resurrection Christ’s body was glorified and now had certain special properties. The Resurrection is therefore an objective, physical event as evidenced by the empty tomb. Our entire faith is based upon it.

In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Humility

2010-08-01T05:11:00.003-05:00

In the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, the Gospel for today depicts the pride of the Pharisee and the humility of the publican. We must keep our hearts contrite and humble before Almighty God. We cannot attribute to ourselves any talent, any success, any good work, any gift of God. We must clearly distinguish within ourselves what is ours and what is God’s.

We must learn to love the hidden life and seek it. It is not brilliant talent, nor natural virtue, nor making much ado, that brings souls to God. Be humble in the presence of your neighbor. Bear his weaknesses, understand his infirmities, excuse his faults. Attract souls by patience, meekness and kindness in all that you do. Carry willingly another’s burden. Make yourself the servant of all. Christ came to serve, and not be served. We must learn to be humble in our own opinion, recognize our sins and accept the humiliations which are brought upon us by our incompetence, our lack of success, and our mistakes. Follow Christ on the road to Calvary.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 9

2010-07-28T20:08:00.004-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

August 1st, 2010; 10th Sunday after Pentecost
Epistle: I Cor. 12, 2-11 Gospel: Luc. 18, 9-14

Mass Schedule August 2nd through August 6th

Monday: Saint Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop, Confessor & Doctor. No Latin Mass.
Tuesday: Feria
Wednesday: Saint Dominic, Confessor
Thursday: Jesus Christ the High Priest
Friday: Transfiguration of the Lord

Important
Visit MoLatinMass.com for the weekly bulletin.
Bulletins are also available on Sundays at the entrance to the Cathedral.

From Father Fasching:

The Second Vatican Council states: It is not only through the sacraments and the ministrations of the Church that the Holy Spirit makes holy the people, leads them and enriches them with His virtues. Allotting His gifs according as He wills (cf. Cor 12:11), He also distributes special graces among the faithful of every rank. By these gifts He makes them fit and ready to undertake various tasks and offices for the renewal and building up of the Church, as it is written, “the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Cor 12:7). Whether these charisms be very remarkable or more simple and widely diffused, they are to be received with thanksgiving and consolation since they are fitting and useful for the needs of the Church. Extraordinary gifts are not to be rashly desired, nor is it from them that the fruits of apostolic labours are to be presumptuously expected” (Lumen gentium, 12).

“It is the Holy Spirit, dwelling in those who believe and pervading and ruling over the entire Church, who brings about that wonderful communion of the faithful and joins them together so intimately in Christ that He is the principle of the Church’s unity. By distributing various kinds of spiritual gifts and ministries He enriches the Church of Jesus Christ with different functions ’in order to equip the saints for the work of service, so as to build up the body of Christ’ (Eph 4:12)” (Vatican II, Unitatis redintegratio, 2).

The Holy Spirit continues to act in the Church. Faith reminds us that God is always acting.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 8

2010-07-23T05:49:00.002-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

July 25th, 2010; 9th Sunday after Pentecost
Epistle: I Cor. 10, 6-13 Gospel: Luc. 19, 41-47
Mass Schedule July 26th through July30th

Monday: Saint Anne, Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary; No Latin Mass
Tuesday: Feria
Wednesday: SS. Nazarius & Celsus, Martyrs; St. Victor I, Pope & Martyr, & St. Innocent I, Pope & Confessor
Thursday: Saint Martha, Virgin
Friday: SS. Abdon & Sennen, Martyrs

Important
Visit MoLatinMass.com for the weekly bulletin.
Bulletins are also available on Sundays at the entrance to the Cathedral.

From Father Fasching:

Saint Paul emphasizes that no matter how many benefits God bestows upon us, we must never take our salvation for granted. “The greater you are, the more you must humble yourself; so you will find favor in the sight of the Lord” (Sir 3:20). We must continually ask for God’s help, rather than rely upon our own strength. God never allows us to be tempted beyond our strength, and He always provides the grace for us to overcome temptation.

In the Gospel Christ looks out over the Holy City and He weeps because He knows that the city which He loves so much will soon be destroyed and all it citizens massacred. These events will be a punishment for Jerusalem’s failing to recognize the time of its visitation; the Jewish people failed to recognize the coming of their redeemer. Christ loved the Jews with a very special affection. They were the first to whom the Gospel was preached; to them He directed His ministry; and He lavished His Word and His miracles upon the Jews to prove to them He was the Son of God and the Messiah foretold in the Scriptures. Despite all this, the Jews failed to appreciate the grace the Lord was offering them, and the Jewish leaders called for His crucifixion.

The lesson for us is to remember that Christ visits each one of us. He teaches us through the preaching of the Church. He offers forgiveness and grace through the sacraments. We should never reject our Lord or remain indifferent to His visit.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A.Fasching

Bulletin 7

2010-07-16T08:03:00.002-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

July 18th, 2010; 8th Sunday after Pentecost

Epistle: Rom. 8, 12-17 Gospel: Luc. 16, 1-9

Mass Schedule July 19th through July 23rd

Monday: Saint Vincent de Paul Confessor; No Latin Mass

Tuesday: Saint Jerome Emiliani; Confessor

Wednesday: Saint Laurence of Brindisi; Confessor & Doctor

Thursday: Saint Mary Magdalene; Penitent

Friday: Saint Apollinaris; Bishop & Martyr

Important

Visit MoLatinMass.com for the weekly bulletin.
Bulletins are also available on Sundays at the entrance to the Cathedral.

From Father Fasching:

As Christians we share in the life of Christ. Through baptism we have become children of God, therefore we have the right to share in Christ’s inheritance. We possess the first fruits of the Holy Ghost. In this pilgrim journey there is a tension between what we already possess and what we yearn for. We are not free from suffering and weakness as we anticipate eternal happiness in heaven.

In saving our soul and spreading the Kingdom of God, Christ expects us to be at least as zealous as we are when it comes to dealing with worldly affairs. God offers His grace, but we must use all our available human resources in cooperation with that grace in order to achieve sanctity. This will inevitably involve strenuous effort and even heroic sacrifice.

So many people dream of earthly honors and strive for riches. When we place the same zeal into the salvation of our souls, there can be nothing that stands in our way.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Bulletin 6

2010-07-09T06:32:00.003-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
July 11th, 2010 7th Sunday after Pentecost

EPISTLE
Rom. 6, 19-23
GOSPEL
Matth. 7, 15-21

Mass schedule July 12th through July 16th

Monday: Saint John Gualbert Abbot No Latin Mass
Tuesday: Feria
Wednesday: Saint Bonaventure Bishop, Confessor & Doctor
Thursday: Saint Henry Emperor & Confessor
Friday: Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Important:
Congratulations to Robert and Elizabeth Lowrance and their new baby Jeremiah!
Jeremiah’s Baptism will take place at Saint Agnes Cathedral on Sunday, July 11th 2010prior to the Traditional Latin Mass.
Your prayers are asked for the repose of the soul of Rose Xavier. Rose is the mother of James Xavier of our parish. Rose entered eternity on Wednesday, July 7th 2010. Pray for Mr. Xavier and his family.
Visit MoLatinMass.com to view the weekly bulletin.

From Father Fasching

The Old Testament contains many references to false prophets. The early Church Fathers saw these false prophets as heretics who produce no fruit. In contrast, a person who truly speaks the things of God shows faith, hope, charity, peace and understanding. A false prophet speaks of division, hatred, resentment, pride and sensuality (Galatians 5:16-25). A false prophet separates the people of God from the Magisterium of the Church, through which we receive Christ’s teaching. Christ clearly states that these heretics and deceivers are destined for eternal perdition. Do you know any people who teach contrary to the Magisterium and oppose the Vicar of Christ on earth? We must continue to pray for such as these.

If our prayer is to be genuine, we must also strive to do God’s will. Our actions must be consistent with what we say. “The Kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power” (1Cor 4:20); “Be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (Jas 1:22).

In Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

bulletin 5

2010-07-01T07:42:00.002-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
July 4th, 2010 External Solemnity of Saint Peter and Saint Paul
Epistle: Act. 12, 1-11--Gospel: Matth. 16, 13-19

Mass Schedule July 5th through July 9th

Monday: Saint Anthony Mary Zaccaria Confessor, No Latin Mass
Tuesday: Feria
Wednesday: Saints Cyril & Methodius Bishops & Confessors
Thursday: Saint Elizabeth of Portugal Queen and Widow
Friday: Feria

Important
Jeremiah Lowrance will be baptized on July 11, 2010 at 1:00pm at Saint Agnes Cathedral. Confessions will be heard immediately following the baptism as time permits. However, due to our Pot-Luck dinner immediately following Mass, I will not be available to hear confessions after Mass. I will be blessing water and religious articles after the dinner.

From Father Fasching: The Apostles Peter and Paul are the two Princes of the Apostles. Our focus is more on Saint Peter, the Bishop of Rome. Christ firmly established the Catholic Church upon Saint Peter as on a rock. After Pentecost Saint Peter preached the Gospel in Judea and was subsequently imprisoned by Herod Agrippa. An Angel of the Lord freed Peter and he established his see first at Antioch, then in Rome. Peter exercised the first Papacy for twenty-five years by the Supreme Authority vested in him by Christ Himself. Peter was eventually arrested and suffered martyrdom along with Saint Paul in the year 65.

The solemn Magisterium of the Church, in the First Vatican Council, defined the doctrine of the primacy of Peter and his successors in these terms: “We teach and declare, therefore, according to the testimony of the Gospel that the primacy of jurisdiction over the whole Church was immediately and directly promised to and conferred upon the blessed Apostle Peter by Christ the Lord. For to Simon, Christ had said, ’You shall be called Cephas’ (Jn 1:42). Then, after Simon had acknowledged Christ with the confession, ’You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’ (Mt 16:16), it was to Simon alone that the solemn words were spoken by the Lord: ’Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the powers of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and what you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven’ (Mt 16:17-19).

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

bulletin 4

2010-06-24T17:48:00.003-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

June 27th, 2010 5th Sunday after Pentecost

EPISTLE
1 Peter 3, 8-15
GOSPEL
Matth. 5, 20-24

Mass schedule June 28th through July 2nd.

Monday: Vigil of Saint Peter and Saint Paul; Apostles. No Latin Mass
Tuesday: Saint Peter and Saint Paul; Apostles
Wednesday: Commemoration of Saint Paul; Apostle
Thursday: Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Friday: Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Important:

Congratulations to Robert and Elizabeth Lowrance and their new baby Jeremiah!
Jeremiah’s Baptism will take place at Saint Agnes Cathedral on Sunday, July 11th 2010 prior to the Traditional Latin Mass.
Visit MoLatinMass.com to view the weekly bulletin.

From Father Fasching

In the New Covenant founded by Christ Himself, being reconciled means making use of the Sacrament of Penance. In this Sacrament we “obtain pardon from God’s mercy for the offence committed against Him, and are, at the same time, reconciled with the Church which they have wounded by their sins” Lumen gentium, 11).

Our greatest gift is the Eucharist. Along with our duty to go to Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation, we have a responsibility to always receive Holy Communion in a state of grace. We must remember that love of God takes precedence over all things. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength. This is the greatest and first commandment” (Mt 22:27-38). We must remember that there is an order of charity and God always comes first in our lives.

In Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

bulletin 3

2010-06-18T16:54:00.002-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
June 20th, 2010 4th Sunday after Pentecost

EPISTLE
Rom. 8, 18-23
GOSPEL
Luc. 5, 1-11

“Sacred Scripture teaches that man was created ‘in the image of God’, as able to know and love his Creator, and as set by him over all earthly creatures that he might rule them, and make use of them, while glorifying God” (Vatican II, Gaudium et spes, 12). Saint Paul says that creation is subject to futility due to the disorder resulting from sin. Material goods should be used as resources enabling us to attain our ultimate goal. If we use them in a disordered way we disconnect them from God and therefore turn them into instruments of sin.

Mass schedule June 21st through June 25th

Monday: Saint Aloysius Gonzaga; Confessor No Latin Mass
Tuesday: Saint Paulinus of Nola; Bishop & Confessor
Wednesday: Vigil of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
Thursday: Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
Friday: Saint William; Abbot

Important:

Congratulations to Robert and Elizabeth Lowrance and their new baby Jeremiah!
Visit MoLatinMass.com to view the weekly bulletin.

From Father Fasching

Peter does not want our Lord to leave him. Peter is aware of his sinfulness and he declares his unworthiness to be near Christ. Peter’s attitude is similar to that of the centurion who stated his unworthiness to have Christ come into his house. This is the same attitude we must have before receiving the Blessed Eucharist. We must also show due external reverence to the Blessed Sacrament when going to Communion. This is why Peter falls to his knees. Peter shows that internal adoration of God should be expressed externally as well.

In Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

bulletin 2

2010-06-09T06:41:00.003-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
June 13th, 2010 External Solemnity of the Sacred Heart

EPISTLE
Ephes. 3, 8-12 et 14-19
GOSPEL
John 19, 31-37

The Second Vatican Council teaches “The Church-that is, the kingdom of Christ-already present in mystery, grows visibly through the power of God in the world. The origin and growth of the Church are symbolized by the blood and water which flowed from the open side of the crucified Jesus” (Vatican II, Lumen gentium, 3).

Mass schedule June 14h through June 18th

Monday: Saint Basil the Great; Bishop, Confessor & Doctor. No Latin Mass.
Tuesday: SS. Vitus, Modestus & Crescentia; Martyrs
Wednesday: Feria
Thursday: Saint Gregory Barbarigo; Bishop & Confessor
Friday: Saint Ephrem of Syria; Deacon, Confessor, & Doctor

Important:

Congratulations to Elizabeth Jackson and her family. Elizabeth received her first Holy Communion on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi.
Visit my new Blog by logging on to MoLatinMass.com and clicking on “Pastor’s Blog.”

From Father Fasching

The focus of the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is the incomprehensible love which Jesus Christ shows us in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. We must grieve over the ingratitude of men and make reparation by acts of love and adoration for the Blessed Sacrament. Christ instituted the Eucharist for three reasons: 1) the desire He has to be continually with us. 2) The desire He has to share all His possessions with us. 3) The desire He has to unite Himself intimately with us. A good meditation for the day would be to consider the sentiments of Christ when He saw Himself abandoned by all the people for whom he had done favors, even His closest disciples. Consider Christ’s true presence in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar when almost everybody abandons Him for most of the day, or rarely visit Him. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Have mercy on us.

In Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

bulletin

2010-06-04T06:39:00.004-05:00

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

June 6th, 2010 External Solemnity of Corpus Christi

EPISTLE

I Cor. 11, 23-29

GOSPEL

John 6, 56-59

On the feast of Corpus Christi we have an opportunity to reverently expose our Lord not just to the faithful, but to any persons who may witness our procession of the Blessed Sacrament through the streets. We have a chance to demonstrate our love for Christ’s Real Presence by honoring Him in public. Our procession is therefore a great opportunity for charity since we will be bringing our Lord closer to those who may not otherwise have the opportunity.

Mass schedule June 7th through June 11th

Monday: Feria-No Latin Mass
Tuesday: Feria
Wednesday: Feria or SS Primus & Felicianus Martyrs
Thursday: St. Margaret of Scotland Queen and Widow
Friday: Sacred Heart of Jesus

Important:

Visit my new Blog by logging on to MoLatinMass.com and clicking on “Pastor’s Blog.”

From Father Fasching

The feast of Corpus Christi allows us the opportunity to focus solely on the Eucharist. Praying to Christ before the Blessed Sacrament has always drawn me closer to Him. It is why I became a priest and what sustains me in my priestly ministry. When a priest offers the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, he does so as one who is uniquely configured to the person of Christ. The Eucharist calls the priest to holiness. It is the most efficacious grace to that end for all of us. As I strive toward holiness of life, I offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass each day. Therefore, I am transformed into the One whom I love. Each day I ascend the altar I pronounce the words:

“HOC EST ENIM CORPUS MEUM.”

In Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Corpus Christi

2010-06-03T18:55:00.009-05:00

The Feast of CORPUS CHRISTI

The feast of Corpus Christi allows us the opportunity to focus solely on the Eucharist. Praying to Christ before the Blessed Sacrament has always drawn me closer to Him. It is why I became a priest and what sustains me in my priestly ministry. When a priest offers the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, he does so as one who is uniquely configured to the person of Christ. The Eucharist calls the priest to holiness. It is the most efficacious grace to that end for all of us. As I strive toward holiness of life, I offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass each day. Therefore, I am transformed into the One whom I love. Each day I ascend the altar I pronounce the words:

"HOC EST ENIM CORPUS MEUM"

I invite you to join me and the Latin Mass Community of Springfield, MO this Sunday, June 6th 2010 at 2:30pm at the Cathedral of Saint Agnes as we celebrate the External Solemnity of Corpus Christi with Mass followed by a procession of the Blessed Sacrament.

Fr. Jeffery Fasching Interviewed

2010-05-22T10:59:00.002-05:00

I've just been notified that Father Fasching has been interviewed by a popular Internet blog here.

Announcement: Father Jeffery Fasching Appointed To Latin Mass

2010-05-10T14:07:00.004-05:00

OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: As of Sunday May 9th 2010, Father Jeffrey Fasching was appointed by Bishop James V. Johnston to be the celebrant of the Traditional Latin Mass (Extraordinary Form) at St. Agnes Cathedral in Springfield Missouri. The mass schedule will continue as before with confessions prior to mass. Father Fasching's appointment is perpetual.

Mass this Sunday

2010-04-22T19:15:00.003-05:00

The Holy Mass in the Extraordinary Form will resume at St. Agnes Cathedral at 2:30 PM this Sunday April 25th. The celebrant is unannounced and we are still await word as to whether or not it will be a High Mass or a Low Mass. Please make plans to attend!

One Priest, One Bishop at a Time

2010-03-06T23:44:00.003-06:00

Father Jeffery Fasching will offer his first Traditional Latin Mass tomorrow. While the Mass will be private in nature, future Masses will most certainly be publicly scheduled. Please pray for Father Fasching. This is truly a joyous moment for him as a Catholic and a priest.

March 7th Bulletin (Third Sunday of Lent)

2010-03-06T20:48:00.001-06:00

St. Agnes Cathedral, Springfield, MO

NEWS FROM THE EXTRAORDINARY FORM MASS
March 7th- Third Sunday in Lent
--Epistle: Ephesians 5:1-9 --Gospel: Luke 11:14-28

Weekday Latin Mass Schedule & Martyrology:
Tuesday-Friday: 12:15 PM - Confession available from 11:30-12:00 noon

Mar 8: Monday of the Third Week in Lent

Mar 9: Tuesday of the Third Week in Lent

Mar. 10: Wednesday of the Third Week in Lent

Mar. 11: Thursday of the Third Week in Lent

Mar. 12: Friday of the Third Week in Lent

Mar.13: Saturday of the Third Week in Lent

REVISED SCHEDULE OF SUNDAY LITURGY

1:00-2:00- Confessions/2:30- Holy Mass

VOICE FOR LIFE- "You Can Stop Abortion" conference to be held March 11.　 Two identical sessions:　 10-12 at Pallotti Center, 601 S Jefferson (enter off parking lot) and 7:30 - 9:00 pm at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1415 S Holland, Springfield MO.　 Keynote speaker: Pam Fitcher, from St. Louis, Pres. of Missouri Right to Life (MRL), will speak on "The Challenges We Face."

　Rosie San Paolo, VFL founder, "Battle for Life," and Dave Plemmons, SWMO Reg. Chair of MRL speaks on "Crucial Nature of Activism." For further information, please contact Rosie at 417-883-0617 or

voiceforlife1@gmail.com

-To find out more information on the Latin mass in Springfield, please visit

www.molatinmass.comHoly Water- A Means of Spiritual Wealth

Holy water is a sacramental that remits venial sin. Because of the blessing attached to it, Holy Church strongly urges its use upon Her children, especially when dangers threaten, such as fire, storms, sickness and other calamities. Every Catholic home should have always in it a supply of holy water.

Did we realize now, as we shall realize after death, the many benefits which may be derived from holy water, we would use it far more frequently, and with greater faith and reverence.

Holy water has its great power and efficacy from the prayers of the Church which its Divine Founder always accepts with complacency.

Some more facts on holy water:

--The devil hates holy water because of its power over him. He cannot long abide in a place or near a person that is often sprinkled with this blessed water.

--Holy water, sprinkled with faith and piety, can move the Sacred Heart to bless your loved ones and protect them from all harm of soul and body. When worry and fear take possession of your heart, hasten to your holy water font, and give your dear ones the benefit of the church’s prayers.

--Only in purgatory can one understand how ardently a poor soul longs for holy water. If we desire to make a host of intercessors for ourselves, let us try to realize now some of their yearning, and never forget them at the holy water font. The holy souls nearest to Heaven may need the sprinkling of only one drop to release their pining souls.

--Because holy water is one of the Church’s sacraments, it remits venial sin. Keep your soul beautifully pure in God’s sight be making the sign of the cross carefully while saying:

“By this holy water and by the Precious Blood wash away all my sins, O Lord.”
*Father Orthel will be blessing water, oil, salt, medals, or any religious items needing to be blessed after mass on the first Sunday of every month, at our monthly potlucks.

Dedication of FSSP Seminary Chapel

2010-03-02T12:31:00.005-06:00

There is going to be a major event covered by EWTN tomorrow in its entirety. Beginning at 10 AM central time, the Dedication of the Seminary Chapel of the FSSP in Denton, Nebraska will be broadcasted live. Total coverage will be 5 hours, including the dedication and Solemn High Mass offered "in the presence of a greater prelate". This kind of ceremony is only foreseen by the rubrics of the Extraordinary Form when the Ordinary (bishop) of a Diocese attends the Mass from the throne or when a Cardinal is present. It is rare today, as one can imagine, but we will witness it on these shores with a Cardinal for what I believe is the first time since the liturgical reform. I believe the Holy Mass itself will begin around 1 PM central time.

Bulletin for 2/28

2010-02-27T20:00:00.000-06:00

St. Agnes Cathedral, Springfield, MO

NEWS FROM THE EXTRAORDINARY FORM MASS
Feb.28th- Second Sunday in Lent
--Epistle: 1 Thess. 4:1-7 --Gospel: Matt. 17: 1-9

Weekday Latin Mass Schedule & Martyrology:
Tuesday-Friday: 12:15 PM - Confession available from 11:30-12:00 noon

Mar 1: Monday of the Second Week in Lent

Mar 2: Tuesday of the Second Week in Lent

Mar. 3: Wednesday of the Second Week in Lent

Mar. 4: Thursday of the Second Week in Lent

Mar. 5: Friday of the Second Week in Lent

Mar.6: Saturday of the Second Week in Lent

REVISED SCHEDULE OF SUNDAY LITURGY

1:00-2:00- Confessions/2:30- Holy Mass

*Important Notices:
-Anyone wishing to update the Contact List for our members can contact Fr. Orthel.　 The current list is becoming dated and might be expanded to include physical address locations.　Anyone knowing of a good Name/Address program please let Fr. Orthel know.

-To find out more information on the Latin mass in Springfield, please visit

www.molatinmass.comOn Slander

By Saint Francis de Sales

From rash judgments proceed mistrust, contempt for others, pride, and self-sufficiency, and numberless other pernicious results, among which stands forth prominently the sin of slander, which is a veritable pest of society. Oh, wherefore can I not take a live coal from God’s Altar, and touch the lips of men, so that their iniquity may be taken away and their sin purged, even as the Seraphim purged the lips of Isaiah. 　 He who could purge the world of slander would cleanse it from a great part of its sinfulness!

He who unjustly takes away his neighbour’s good name is guilty of sin, and is bound to make reparation, according to the nature of his evil speaking; since no man can enter into Heaven cumbered with stolen goods, and of all worldly possessions the most precious is a good name. Slander is a kind of murder; for we all have three lives—a spiritual life, which depends upon the Grace of God; a bodily life, depending on the soul; and a civil life, consisting in a good reputation. Sin deprives us of the first, death of the second, and slander of the third. But the slanderer commits three several murders with his idle tongue: he destroys his own soul and that of him who hearkens, as well as causing civil death to the object of his slander; for, as S. Bernard says, the Devil has possession both of the slanderer and of those who listen to him, of the tongue of the one, the ear of the other. And David says of slanderers, “They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips.”

Practice of Christian Perfection

By Saint Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort

Nothing is so necessary

Friends of the Cross, do you not flatter yourselves that you are, or desire to become, the friends of God? Well then, resolve to drink the cup that you must drink in order to become his friends: "They drank the cup of the Lord and became the friends of God." Benjamin, the beloved son of Jacob, was given the cup, while his other brothers received nothing but wheat. The beloved disciple of Christ, so dear to his Master's heart, went up to Calvary and drank of his cup. "Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?" To desire God's glory is excellent, but to desire and pray for it without resolving to suffer all things is both foolish and extravagant: "You do not know what you are asking..." "We must experience many hardships before we enter the kingdom of heaven." To enter this kingdom you must suffer many crosses and tribulations.

The Traditional Latin Mass on February 14th and 21st

2010-02-12T12:33:00.002-06:00

The Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) will be offered at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton at 2:30 on Feb. 14th and 21st. There will be no TLM on these days at St. Agnes Cathedral. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is located at 2200 W Republic Rd. Springfield, MO.

Servers and choir members and those that set up are asked to please come on time, even a little earlier than usual as these will be new surroundings to us.