SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)
CELEBRANT: Father Jeff Fasching
September 13th, 2015
16th Sunday after Pentecost
Epistle: Eph. 3:13-21
Gospel: Lk. 14: 1-11
Mon 14 No Latin Mass
Tues 15 Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Wed 16 SS. Cornelius * Pope & Cyprian * Martyrs
Thu 17 Stigmata of St. Francis
Fri 18 St. Joseph of Cupertino, Confessor
Did you know that Catholic Prayer in Latin is more powerful than in any other language?
This appears to be the opinion reached by certain members of the clergy, in particular exorcists. In the book " Hostage to the Devil " by Fr. Malachi Martin, an interesting comment is made by the author which sheds light on this particular point. On page 460 of the book, while explaining the Ritual of Exorcism, Fr. Martin goes on to say...." Nowadays part of the text - especially well known prayers- are sometimes prayed in the vernacular (German, English, French, etc.), but among exorcists as a class of Church Ministers, there seems to be a persuasion born from experience that the Latin Text has some special unction and disruptive value for Evil Spirit.” What this observation tells us is that the Rite of Exorcism when prayed in Latin has a more powerful effect in expelling demons. Why would this be so?
First, let's look at why the Catholic Church chose Latin as its Official Language. In the early days of the Church, communication between Rome and the rest of the Church was slow. Documents had to be translated into the different dialects for the various regions where Catholicism had spread to. Once translated they had to be written by hand because the printing press had yet to be invented. It was a time consuming process. In order to expedite communication something had to be done. Latin was the international language at the time and so it was the logical choice.
The Church then decreed that Latin would be its Official Language and anyone who was part of the Church would have to speak it. The Church chose Latin for practical reasons. Perhaps what the Church did not realize at the time was the effect that this decision would have on Catholic prayer. But why?
The answer can be found in the Gospel of Matthew (16:18-19) where we read ....." you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church...and whatsoever you shall bind on earth, shall be bound also in Heaven.” Therefore when His Church decreed that Latin would be the Mother Tongue of Catholicism it bound Latin in Heaven.
If this were not true then exorcists would not have noticed such a dramatic difference whenever they prayed the Ritual of Exorcism in Latin. Does this mean that as Catholics we must become fluent in Latin? No. But you will find that learning the basic Catholic prayers in Latin (as well as attending the Latin Mass) will have a profound effect & be spiritually profitable.
Start off by learning the shortest prayers (Sign of the Cross, Glory Be, Hail Mary, etc) , then move on to the rest (Our Father, Apostle's Creed, Latin Rosary, etc). We must emphasize that all Catholics should always pray with fervor & faith no matter which language they speak. But if you decide to take your prayer to another level then do so in Latin.
--- Regina Magazine
In Christo Jesu et
Maria Immaculata,
Father Jeff Fasching
Showing posts with label Evil. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Evil. Show all posts
Saturday, September 12, 2015
Sunday, August 16, 2015
Bulletin 269
SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)
CELEBRANT: Father Jeff Fasching
August 16th, 2015
12th Sunday after Pentecost
Epistle: II Cor. 3:4-9
Gospel: Lk. 10:23-27
NO LATIN MASS THIS WEEK. Fr. Fasching will be on retreat. The Latin Mass will resume on Sunday, August 23rd.
Join the Latin Mass community for a pot-luck dinner immediately following Sunday Mass on August 16th in the school cafeteria.
“Charity is patient, is kind...is not provoked to anger.” 1Cor. 13:4.5. Charity is never wearied and is never impatient with the ungrateful. It is not irritated when repulsed, but perseveres in loving and doing good. Charity should not look for gratitude. Even when coldness and hostility are encountered it should continue to give itself...all for love of God!
The characteristic of charity, according to Saint Paul, is that it does not permit itself to be “overcome by evil” but it “overcomes evil by good.” Rom. 12:21.
Charity is completely forgetful of self. The soul who truly loves God spends itself for its neighbor because love of God and love of neighbor are one and the same! Love of neighbor has its source in God!
“Teach me, O Lord, to love my neighbor even when not loved by him, to love him with no concern for my own benefit, but solely because You love me, solely to repay Your gratuitous love.” St. Catherine of Sienna.
Remember that our neighbor is every man, known or unknown, friend or enemy!
In Christo Jesu et
Maria Immaculata,
Father Jeff Fasching
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)
CELEBRANT: Father Jeff Fasching
August 16th, 2015
12th Sunday after Pentecost
Epistle: II Cor. 3:4-9
Gospel: Lk. 10:23-27
NO LATIN MASS THIS WEEK. Fr. Fasching will be on retreat. The Latin Mass will resume on Sunday, August 23rd.
Join the Latin Mass community for a pot-luck dinner immediately following Sunday Mass on August 16th in the school cafeteria.
“Charity is patient, is kind...is not provoked to anger.” 1Cor. 13:4.5. Charity is never wearied and is never impatient with the ungrateful. It is not irritated when repulsed, but perseveres in loving and doing good. Charity should not look for gratitude. Even when coldness and hostility are encountered it should continue to give itself...all for love of God!
The characteristic of charity, according to Saint Paul, is that it does not permit itself to be “overcome by evil” but it “overcomes evil by good.” Rom. 12:21.
Charity is completely forgetful of self. The soul who truly loves God spends itself for its neighbor because love of God and love of neighbor are one and the same! Love of neighbor has its source in God!
“Teach me, O Lord, to love my neighbor even when not loved by him, to love him with no concern for my own benefit, but solely because You love me, solely to repay Your gratuitous love.” St. Catherine of Sienna.
Remember that our neighbor is every man, known or unknown, friend or enemy!
In Christo Jesu et
Maria Immaculata,
Father Jeff Fasching
Saturday, August 8, 2015
Bulletin 268
SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)
CELEBRANT: Father Jeff Fasching
August 9th, 2015
11th Sunday after Pentecost
Epistle: 1 Cor. 15:1-10
Gospel: Mk. 7:31-37
Mon 10 No Latin Mass
Tue 11 SS. Tiburtius & Susanna, Virgin, Martyrs
Wed 12 St. Clare, Virgin
Thu 13 SS. Hippolytus & Cassian, Martyrs
Fri 14 Vigil of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Join the Latin Mass community for a pot-luck dinner immediately following Sunday Mass on August 16th in the school cafeteria.
“Charity is patient, is kind...is not provoked to anger.” 1Cor. 13:4.5. Charity is never wearied and is never impatient with the ungrateful. It is not irritated when repulsed, but perseveres in loving and doing good. Charity should not look for gratitude. Even when coldness and hostility are encountered it should continue to give itself...all for love of God!
The characteristic of charity, according to Saint Paul, is that it does not permit itself to be “overcome by evil” but it “overcomes evil by good.” Rom. 12:21.
Charity is completely forgetful of self. The soul who truly loves God spends itself for its neighbor because love of God and love of neighbor are one and the same! Love of neighbor has its source in God!
“Teach me, O Lord, to love my neighbor even when not loved by him, to love him with no concern for my own benefit, but solely because You love me, solely to repay Your gratuitous love.” St. Catherine of Sienna.
In Christo Jesu et
Maria Immaculata,
Father Jeff Fasching
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)
CELEBRANT: Father Jeff Fasching
August 9th, 2015
11th Sunday after Pentecost
Epistle: 1 Cor. 15:1-10
Gospel: Mk. 7:31-37
Mon 10 No Latin Mass
Tue 11 SS. Tiburtius & Susanna, Virgin, Martyrs
Wed 12 St. Clare, Virgin
Thu 13 SS. Hippolytus & Cassian, Martyrs
Fri 14 Vigil of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Join the Latin Mass community for a pot-luck dinner immediately following Sunday Mass on August 16th in the school cafeteria.
“Charity is patient, is kind...is not provoked to anger.” 1Cor. 13:4.5. Charity is never wearied and is never impatient with the ungrateful. It is not irritated when repulsed, but perseveres in loving and doing good. Charity should not look for gratitude. Even when coldness and hostility are encountered it should continue to give itself...all for love of God!
The characteristic of charity, according to Saint Paul, is that it does not permit itself to be “overcome by evil” but it “overcomes evil by good.” Rom. 12:21.
Charity is completely forgetful of self. The soul who truly loves God spends itself for its neighbor because love of God and love of neighbor are one and the same! Love of neighbor has its source in God!
“Teach me, O Lord, to love my neighbor even when not loved by him, to love him with no concern for my own benefit, but solely because You love me, solely to repay Your gratuitous love.” St. Catherine of Sienna.
In Christo Jesu et
Maria Immaculata,
Father Jeff Fasching
Saturday, July 11, 2015
Bulletin 264
SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)
CELEBRANT: Father Jeff Fasching
July 12th, 2015
Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
Epistle: Rom. 6: 19-23
Gospel: Mt. 7: 15-21
Mon 13--No Latin Mass
Tue 14—Saint Bonaventure-Bishop, Confessor, & Doctor
Wed 15—Saint Henry the Emperor, Confessor
Thu 16—Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Fri 17—Saint Alexis, Confessor
Effective Tuesday, June 30th 2015 the daily Mass in the Extraordinary Form will be at 6:30am. There will no longer be Mass in the Extraordinary Form at 12:15pm beginning on June 30th, 2015.
Father Fasching's schedule for the Sacrament of Penance effective Tuesday, June 30 2015 will be as follows:
Tuesday-11:30am-12:15pm
Thursday-11:30am-12:15pm
or by appointment
God is all powerful because He can do all that He wills; and He can do as He wills, when He wills, without any limitations! Nothing can impede His action, nor oppose His will; nothing is difficult for Him! God's works, even the greatest, are performed in one instant by as simple act of His will. God is so omnipotent that with a single word He has brought all things into existence out of nothing. God's word is omnipotent, creative, operative, and effective, so that it infallibly produces whatever it expresses. God is so omnipotent that He can change men, the children of sin, into His adopted sons, called to share in His own divine life! He can even draw good from evil! God is infinite goodness! Let us worship Him!
In Christo Jesu et
Maria Immaculata,
Father Jeff Fasching
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)
CELEBRANT: Father Jeff Fasching
July 12th, 2015
Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
Epistle: Rom. 6: 19-23
Gospel: Mt. 7: 15-21
Mon 13--No Latin Mass
Tue 14—Saint Bonaventure-Bishop, Confessor, & Doctor
Wed 15—Saint Henry the Emperor, Confessor
Thu 16—Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Fri 17—Saint Alexis, Confessor
Effective Tuesday, June 30th 2015 the daily Mass in the Extraordinary Form will be at 6:30am. There will no longer be Mass in the Extraordinary Form at 12:15pm beginning on June 30th, 2015.
Father Fasching's schedule for the Sacrament of Penance effective Tuesday, June 30 2015 will be as follows:
Tuesday-11:30am-12:15pm
Thursday-11:30am-12:15pm
or by appointment
God is all powerful because He can do all that He wills; and He can do as He wills, when He wills, without any limitations! Nothing can impede His action, nor oppose His will; nothing is difficult for Him! God's works, even the greatest, are performed in one instant by as simple act of His will. God is so omnipotent that with a single word He has brought all things into existence out of nothing. God's word is omnipotent, creative, operative, and effective, so that it infallibly produces whatever it expresses. God is so omnipotent that He can change men, the children of sin, into His adopted sons, called to share in His own divine life! He can even draw good from evil! God is infinite goodness! Let us worship Him!
In Christo Jesu et
Maria Immaculata,
Father Jeff Fasching
Saturday, April 25, 2015
Bulletin 253
SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)
CELEBRANT: Father Jeff Fasching
April 26, 2015
Third Sunday After Easter
Epistle: 1 Pet. 2: 11-19
Gospel: Jn. 16: 16-22
Mon 27 -- No Latin Mass
Tue 28 – Saint Paul of the Cross, Confessor
Wed 29 – Saint Peter of Verona, Martyr
Thu 30 – Saint Catherine of Sienna, Virgin
Fri 1 – Saint Joseph the Workman—No Latin Mass
Saint Agnes Cathedral celebrates First Holy Communion Mass on Sunday, May 3rd at 2:00pm.
The Latin Mass on Sunday, May 3rd will be at 7:00pm.
We must stay true to the faith even when pagans criticize us! Enemies of the Church want to insult us and cause us to suffer! We must lead exemplary lives so as to be a good example to all. “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Mt 5:16). When we give good example we draw souls closer to God. “There would be no need for preaching if our lives were beacons of virtue-no call for words if we had deeds to show.” (St. John Chrysostom).
The saint says that there would be no pagans if we were truly Christians—if we kept Christ's commandments, if we put up with unjust treatment and deception, if we blessed those who cursed us, if we returned good for evil. “No one would be such a monster not to embrace the true religion immediately if we really lived like that” (Hom. On 1Tim, 10).
Our evil inclinations wage war against our souls says St. Peter. It takes constant effort and prayer to conquer our passions and overcome temptation! We cannot be humble without being despised. We cannot be chaste without mortifying our bodies. We cannot be patient unless we are willing to allow people to offend us. We cannot acquire virtues without the effort it involves to live them! Holiness is a battle!
In Christo Jesu et
Maria Immaculata,
Father Jeff Fasching
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)
CELEBRANT: Father Jeff Fasching
April 26, 2015
Third Sunday After Easter
Epistle: 1 Pet. 2: 11-19
Gospel: Jn. 16: 16-22
Mon 27 -- No Latin Mass
Tue 28 – Saint Paul of the Cross, Confessor
Wed 29 – Saint Peter of Verona, Martyr
Thu 30 – Saint Catherine of Sienna, Virgin
Fri 1 – Saint Joseph the Workman—No Latin Mass
Saint Agnes Cathedral celebrates First Holy Communion Mass on Sunday, May 3rd at 2:00pm.
The Latin Mass on Sunday, May 3rd will be at 7:00pm.
We must stay true to the faith even when pagans criticize us! Enemies of the Church want to insult us and cause us to suffer! We must lead exemplary lives so as to be a good example to all. “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Mt 5:16). When we give good example we draw souls closer to God. “There would be no need for preaching if our lives were beacons of virtue-no call for words if we had deeds to show.” (St. John Chrysostom).
The saint says that there would be no pagans if we were truly Christians—if we kept Christ's commandments, if we put up with unjust treatment and deception, if we blessed those who cursed us, if we returned good for evil. “No one would be such a monster not to embrace the true religion immediately if we really lived like that” (Hom. On 1Tim, 10).
Our evil inclinations wage war against our souls says St. Peter. It takes constant effort and prayer to conquer our passions and overcome temptation! We cannot be humble without being despised. We cannot be chaste without mortifying our bodies. We cannot be patient unless we are willing to allow people to offend us. We cannot acquire virtues without the effort it involves to live them! Holiness is a battle!
In Christo Jesu et
Maria Immaculata,
Father Jeff Fasching
Saturday, January 17, 2015
Bulletin 239
SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)
CELEBRANT: Father Jeffery Fasching
January 18, 2015
2nd Sunday after Epiphany
Epistle: Rom. 12: 6-16
Gospel: Jn. 2: 1-11
Mon 19 No Latin Mass
Tue 20 Saint Fabian, Pope & Sebastian, Martyrs
Wed 21 Saint Agnes * Virgin & Martyr
Thu 22 Ss. Vincent & Anastasius, Martyrs
Fri 23 Requiem Mass + Paul Shideler
The potluck dinner for January will be held on Sunday the 18th immediately following the 2:30pm Latin Mass.
Why Latin?
The Traditional Latin Mass is celebrated in the ancient and venerable language of the Catholic Church. Yes, Latin is the official language of the Church! The Latin Language gives a sense of mystery and a sense of the sacred. If we hear the language of Latin referred to as a “dead” language it is because it is no longer spoken as the vernacular language in any country today. But the Mass is offered in Latin precisely because Latin words do not change in meaning. Pope Pius XII explains: “The use of the Latin language is a manifest and beautiful sign of unity, as well as an effective anecdote for any corruption of doctrinal truth.”
The Blessed Virgin Mary possesses great power to obtain from God the graces we stand in need of. She is always ready to assist us in all our wants. The Blessed Virgin Mary's merit is so great that her prayers cannot fail to be heard. Since Mary is the Mother of God, her petitions take on the nature of a command. It is impossible that they cannot be heard. The intercession of Mary is all-powerful.
Mary's place in Heaven is such that she enjoys the vision of God. She knows our wants very clearly and always desires to assist us. Let us turn to her in a time when she in needed more than ever. Let us turn to Mary to combat the evil that runs rampant in our world! Let us turn to Mary to save a culture than has grown indifferent to the immense favors of her Son Jesus Christ!
Father Fasching's Mass Travel Schedule – Christmas & Easter
Jan. 24 – 25 - 3rd Sunday of the Year
Cabool, Mansfield, Mt. Grove – Fr. Fasching
Feb. 7- 8 - 5th - Sunday of the Year
Gainesville, Ava - Fr. Fasching
Feb. 18 - Ash Wednesday -
Gainesville and Ava – Fr. Fasching
Feb. 21 – 22 - 1st Sunday of Lent
Cabool, Mansfield, Mt. Grove – Fr. Fasching
Mar. 7 – 8 - 3rd Sunday of Lent
Gainesville and Ava - Fr. Fasching
Mar. 21 – 22 - 5th Sunday of Lent
Cabool, Mansfield, Mt. Grove – Fr. Fasching
Apr. 18 - 19 - 3rd Sunday of Easter
Cabool, Mansfield, Mt. Grove – Fr. Fasching
May 2 – 3 - 5th Sunday of Easter
Gainesville, Ava - Fr. Fasching
May 16 – 17 - 7th Sunday of Easter - Confirmation - Ava
Cabool - Sat.4:00 PM - Fr. Fasching
Mt. Grove, Sun. 10:30 AM – Fr. Fasching
May30 – 31 - Trinity Sunday
Gainesville, Ava - Fr. Fasching
In Christo Jesu et
Maria Immaculata,
Father Jeff Fasching
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)
CELEBRANT: Father Jeffery Fasching
January 18, 2015
2nd Sunday after Epiphany
Epistle: Rom. 12: 6-16
Gospel: Jn. 2: 1-11
Mon 19 No Latin Mass
Tue 20 Saint Fabian, Pope & Sebastian, Martyrs
Wed 21 Saint Agnes * Virgin & Martyr
Thu 22 Ss. Vincent & Anastasius, Martyrs
Fri 23 Requiem Mass + Paul Shideler
The potluck dinner for January will be held on Sunday the 18th immediately following the 2:30pm Latin Mass.
Why Latin?
The Traditional Latin Mass is celebrated in the ancient and venerable language of the Catholic Church. Yes, Latin is the official language of the Church! The Latin Language gives a sense of mystery and a sense of the sacred. If we hear the language of Latin referred to as a “dead” language it is because it is no longer spoken as the vernacular language in any country today. But the Mass is offered in Latin precisely because Latin words do not change in meaning. Pope Pius XII explains: “The use of the Latin language is a manifest and beautiful sign of unity, as well as an effective anecdote for any corruption of doctrinal truth.”
The Blessed Virgin Mary possesses great power to obtain from God the graces we stand in need of. She is always ready to assist us in all our wants. The Blessed Virgin Mary's merit is so great that her prayers cannot fail to be heard. Since Mary is the Mother of God, her petitions take on the nature of a command. It is impossible that they cannot be heard. The intercession of Mary is all-powerful.
Mary's place in Heaven is such that she enjoys the vision of God. She knows our wants very clearly and always desires to assist us. Let us turn to her in a time when she in needed more than ever. Let us turn to Mary to combat the evil that runs rampant in our world! Let us turn to Mary to save a culture than has grown indifferent to the immense favors of her Son Jesus Christ!
Father Fasching's Mass Travel Schedule – Christmas & Easter
Jan. 24 – 25 - 3rd Sunday of the Year
Cabool, Mansfield, Mt. Grove – Fr. Fasching
Feb. 7- 8 - 5th - Sunday of the Year
Gainesville, Ava - Fr. Fasching
Feb. 18 - Ash Wednesday -
Gainesville and Ava – Fr. Fasching
Feb. 21 – 22 - 1st Sunday of Lent
Cabool, Mansfield, Mt. Grove – Fr. Fasching
Mar. 7 – 8 - 3rd Sunday of Lent
Gainesville and Ava - Fr. Fasching
Mar. 21 – 22 - 5th Sunday of Lent
Cabool, Mansfield, Mt. Grove – Fr. Fasching
Apr. 18 - 19 - 3rd Sunday of Easter
Cabool, Mansfield, Mt. Grove – Fr. Fasching
May 2 – 3 - 5th Sunday of Easter
Gainesville, Ava - Fr. Fasching
May 16 – 17 - 7th Sunday of Easter - Confirmation - Ava
Cabool - Sat.4:00 PM - Fr. Fasching
Mt. Grove, Sun. 10:30 AM – Fr. Fasching
May30 – 31 - Trinity Sunday
Gainesville, Ava - Fr. Fasching
In Christo Jesu et
Maria Immaculata,
Father Jeff Fasching
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
The Immaculate Conception
Mary -- Conceived without Sin
As the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8th) approaches, I thought it appropriate to explain the significance of this feast. This is probably the most misunderstood doctrine among non-Catholics. Even some Catholics don't understand it. To be clear, let's define it. The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception is a dogma, meaning that is is a required belief of all Catholics. In other words, if you don't believe in the Immaculate Conception, then technically speaking, you're not really Catholic. It is defined as the belief that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was herself conceived without the stain of original sin.
Some Protestants contend that the doctrine is "unbiblical," that it "deifies Mary as a goddess," and "diminishes the role of Christ in the redemption of humanity." Such contention is unwarranted, and a little paranoid, as I'll demonstrate below.
The stain of original sin was defined by St. Augustine as the mark of sin inherited by all people from the time of their conception. This means that when the first humans (Adam and Eve) sinned against God, they did so before any of their children were born. Because of this, all children conceived after their sin (i.e. the whole human race), would inherent the stain of the sin they committed. The sin they committed was one of selfishness and rebellion against God. The stain of this sin penetrated all the way through their souls to the flesh itself -- staining it and corrupting it. Thus, all children born of their flesh would inherit this stain of original sin. Think of it as a hereditary trait. It is manifested in the form of pride, selfishness and rebellion. It creates in people the desire to commit various sins: lying, cheating, stealing, lust, rage, etc. It can be seen from the earliest ages of childhood. Every time a small child acts in a selfish way, or becomes rebellious toward his parents, he demonstrates the stain of original sin in his own mind and body. God designed human beings to be totally selfless, giving, and obedient creatures. But this does not describe the human race today. That's because the stain of original sin, inherited from our first parents (Adam and Eve), has twisted and corrupting what God has created. Instead of being selfless, we are selfish. Instead of being giving, we are greedy. Instead of being obedient, we are rebellious. Such is the nature of our fallen human race. Now many Protestants think of original sin as a type of depravity -- moral corruption or innate wickedness -- as if people are "evil" at their core. Catholics tend to see original sin more as deprivation than depravity -- meaning that original sin deprives human beings of what they need to be holy. The desire to be loving and selfless is there, but the deprivation of original sin makes that impossible to achieve on our own.
God cannot tolerate sin, and it must be dealt with. Before mankind can be restored to God, we must first be freed of the original sin that stains and deprives us. This is the reason why God sent Jesus Christ (God made flesh) into the world. His sacrificial death on the cross frees us from all sin, including original sin. But in order for this sacrifice to be atoning for the human race, it must come from a member of the human race. Only a perfect and spotless human being can undo the damage done by our first parents. A perfect duplicate (or copy) of a human being wouldn't be enough. This spotless sacrifice must be a direct descendant of the sinful human race, and he must be divine himself, so that he may atone for all human sins, not just the first one. Protestant Christians understand this concept very well, and teach it in their churches. They know that Jesus must atone for all the sins of the world, and they know he is fully human as well as fully divine. In this sense, Protestants are very "Catholic" in their thinking. What they often fail to consider is that the flesh of Jesus Christ must be truly descended from the sinful human race in order for Jesus to be truly "one of us." If God created a whole new body in Mary's womb from "the dust of the earth" so to speak, essentially a copy of humanity, totally separate from any sinful human genetics, he really wouldn't be human at all. He would be a whole new race, entirely separate from the human race, and completely disconnected from the rest of humanity. He might look like us, but he wouldn't really be "one of us." In order for Jesus Christ to truly be "one of us," he would have to be genetically linked to the human race, and since Jesus only has one biological parent, there is only one person through whom that link can be made. That person is the Blessed Virgin Mary.
When Jesus was miraculously conceived inside Mary's womb, at the time of the annunciation by the Angel Gabriel, his human genetic make-up came directly from her. True, his divine nature came directly from the Godhead, but his human nature came from Mary. So Mary is the human genetic link between Jesus Christ (God made flesh) and mankind. There is only one problem. If Mary's flesh was stained with original sin (like the rest of us), than Jesus would have inherited that same original sin nature. Yet the Scriptures clearly tell us that Jesus was without sin. So we have a theological problem. How could Jesus' flesh and blood be "without sin" if he inherited his human flesh and blood from Mary? Granted, he is God, so he can do whatever he wants, but he chose to do it a certain way that was fitting to his desire. Enter the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception.
From the earliest times, Christians have always believed that Mary was immaculate -- meaning perfect and without sin....
"He (Jesus) was the ark formed of incorruptible wood (Mary). For by this is signified that His tabernacle (body) was exempt from putridity and corruption (sin)." -- (Hippolytus, AD 235)
"This Virgin Mother of the Only-begotten of God, is called Mary, worthy of God, immaculate of the immaculate, one of the one." -- (Origen, AD 244)
The idea here is that God miraculously preserved Mary from original sin from the time of her first existence (i.e. conception). The idea comes from the Holy Scripture in which the Angel Gabriel says to Mary: "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you." -- (Luke 1:28) The phrase "full of grace" is a translation of the Greek word kecharitomene. It expresses a characteristic quality of Mary that is unique. The traditional translation, "full of grace," is better than the one found in many recent English versions of the New Testament, which give something along the lines of "highly favoured one." Mary was indeed a highly favoured daughter of God, but the Greek implies more than that. The grace given to Mary is both permanent and unique. Kecharitomene is a perfect, passive, participle of the Greek word charitoo, meaning "to fill or endow with grace." Since this term is in the perfect tense, it indicates that Mary was given this grace in the past, but it has a continuing effect in the present. So, the grace Mary enjoyed did not begin at the angel’s visit. In fact, according to meaning the Greek word kecharitomene, it extended over her whole life, from conception onward. She was in a state of grace from the first moment of her existence (i.e. conception).
Now there is nothing particularly new about this concept. Biblically speaking, Mary wasn't the first person God fashioned in a perfect state of grace -- immaculate -- or without sin. The very first examples we have are Adam and Eve themselves. Both Adam and Eve were in a perfect state of grace at their "conception." Though the Scriptures tell us God fashioned them using a different method than normal procreation, it doesn't change the fact that they were made "without sin" (i.e. immaculate). So we could say the first immaculate conception happened in Eden when God formed the first man (Adam) and the first woman (Eve). In many ways, we could even consider the immaculate conception of Mary a "less dramatic miracle" (if we dare) because God still used the normal procreative processes when he fashioned her.
The question that arises is how? How would God fashion Mary "without sin" when both her parents were obviously stained by original sin, and they conceived her naturally? That is the mystery of the miracle. We can only conclude that God had already chosen Mary as Christ's mother, even from the first moment of her conception in the womb of her own mother. That being the case, the only reason why Mary was conceived without sin is because of Jesus Christ. Her body (flesh and blood) was redeemed retroactively, by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, that wouldn't happen until three decades later, because she was chosen to be the vessel through whom Jesus Christ (The Eternal Word) would enter this world as a human being.
Theologically this is very important, because Jesus received all of his human flesh and blood from Mary. That flesh and blood ought to be unspoiled and unstained by sin. Furthermore, modern science tells us that cells from the mother and child do exchange between them during pregnancy. Jesus and Mary literally shared flesh and blood, as all mothers and their babies do during normal human pregnancy. They were in a state of physical communion during that nine months of pregnancy. That means for Jesus to inherit and maintain a perfect body from his mother, without sin, his physical mother should be without sin as well. Likewise, if Mary was to be in a state of physical communion with her son Jesus, receiving his flesh and blood while he was in her womb, it would be necessary for her to be in a perfect state of grace -- immaculate. While God can do anything he wants, it is only fitting and proper for things to be done this way, and the Scriptures seem to support this with the angelic salutation "full of grace.”
So the doctrine of the immaculate conception does not "deify" Mary as many Protestants falsely believe. Nor does it diminish the role of Christ in the redemption of the human race. You can't even say it's "unbiblical" since the Greek word kecharitomene in Luke 1:28 practically defines the doctrine. Rather, it simply states that Mary was no different than the sinless Eve before the fall. Does this mean that Mary was better than Eve? No. Does this mean that Mary was greater or less than Eve? No. It means she was exactly the same as Eve physically, mentally and spiritually speaking. Does this mean that Mary could have sinned? YES! She most certainly could have followed the example of Eve and disobeyed the command of God. If she had, she would have suffered the same fate as Eve, and carried the stain of original sin herself. But the difference is that when the test was given, Mary chose to obey God whereas Eve did not. Eve's test was in the fruit of the tree. Mary's test was in the fruit of the womb. Eve failed her test, while Mary joyously passed hers. From the moment she responded to the angel, "Behold I am the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word" -- (Luke 1:38), she accepted the Lord's will for her, even though she knew it would bring her hardship. Because of that, Mary's purpose was fulfilled. God preserved her without sin, to be like Eve, so she could become the "New Eve," and bring forth the "New Adam" (Romans 5:12-21) who is Christ the Lord.
So now, the question of "why?" arises. Why did Mary choose to obey God, while Eve chose to disobey? Any answer we give is pure speculation, of course, but I think a fair speculation would be the Old Covenant itself. Mary was a Jew. She was raised her whole life to follow the Jewish laws. Tradition tells us she was educated as a child in the Jerusalem Temple, where she served as a consecrated virgin for the Lord. (Protoevangelium of James) Thus Mary had a grace that Eve was not given -- the Mosaic Law. Because of this, she had an understanding of God that was somewhat of a mystery to Eve. Beyond that, unlike Eve, Mary was able to personally witness the effects of original sin all around her. Eve learnt that lesson the hard way, having no prior experience with sin, she introduced original sin to the world with Adam her husband. Mary, in contrast, spent a lifetime toiling in the effects of that original sin, working for survival in a broken world filled with pain and suffering, even though she herself was sinless. This experience, combined with the Mosaic Law, certainly helped to give Mary the courage to say "yes" to a plan that would ultimately bring much more pain and suffering into her own life.
The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of Mary is rich in ancient Jewish symbolism. It is foreshadowed in the Old Testament with the Ark of the Covenant. Hebrews 9:4 tells us that the contents contained inside the Ark of the Covenant were; the stone tablets of the Law (the word of God), along with a jar of manna (bread from heaven) and Aaron's rod (a symbol of the holy priesthood). All of these are images foreshadowing Jesus Christ, who is the incarnate Word of God (John 1:1-4,14), the Bread from Heaven (John 6:31-65) and our eternal High Priest (Hebrews 4:14).
Now the Ark of the Covenant was consecrated to God and considered holy. It was not to be touched by sinful man under penalty of death, and God himself had no problem exacting this penalty, even when a man touched it in an attempt to prevent it from falling (2nd Samuel 6:6-7; 1st Chronicles 13:9-10). This Old Testament example is designed to illustrate that the ark, which carried the symbols of the Old Covenant, was just as holy as the Old Covenant itself.
Now as I said, the stone tablets, manna and rod were signs foreshadowing Jesus Christ. He is the New Covenant. Thus the "ark" that carried him in her womb is holy too, just as the ark that carried the symbols that foreshadowed him was holy. Mary is the Ark of the New Covenant because she carried Jesus Christ in her womb. Jesus, who is the Word of God, the Bread of Life and our eternal High Priest, was carried for nine months inside the "ark" of Mary. She carried him in her arms and on her hip for another two years at least. If the ark of the Old Covenant was holy, than surely this ark of the New Covenant is even holier.
The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception points more to Christ than Mary. Though Mary is the object of the doctrine, she is not the subject of it. The subject is Christ, and it is his perfectly sinless body that is being addressed. Through Mary, Jesus inherited the "flesh and blood" of mankind. He bore the genetic code of the fallen human race, yet he did so with one modification, the stain of original sin was removed. The flesh he inherited was immaculate. That immaculate flesh was the gift of his mother -- Mary -- who herself received it as a gift from God. So Jesus really and truly was descended from Adam and Eve through Mary. He really and truly was "one of us," having the same ancestors and genetic code that originated from them. God rehabilitated the original, immaculate nature of humanity in Mary, but her sinlessness didn't help anybody but herself. She was the only beneficiary of this filling of grace (kecharitomene). Mary's sinlessness doesn't save anybody else. It doesn't save me, and it doesn't save you. All God did with the immaculate conception was reset the clock, so to speak, to give one person another chance. For the sake of humanity, and revealing himself in the Law of Moses, God gave one more human being, schooled in that law, a chance to say "yes" for humanity. Her "yes" brought forth the Messiah who would fulfil the Law of Moses, and effectively save the rest of us. The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, is a doctrine that points entirely to Jesus Christ. Without him, the Immaculate Conception of Mary makes no logical sense.
In following Jesus Christ, we all become "immaculate" upon our baptism. This is the promise that is given to us. Granted, our bodies (and minds) remain damaged by sin, but this is a temporary condition. Those who are faithful, and endure to the end, not only get to look forward to an afterlife in heaven, but also a future resurrection, in which our recreated bodied will be like those of Jesus and Mary -- perfect and immaculate. In this life, the Christian is privileged to experience an immaculate soul upon the sacraments of baptism and reconciliation. In the next life, however, Christians will be privileged to experience an immaculate body as well.
Written by Shane Schaetzel, reposted by permission. Source: http://catholicozarks.blogspot.com/2014/11/mary-conceived-without-sin.html
As the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8th) approaches, I thought it appropriate to explain the significance of this feast. This is probably the most misunderstood doctrine among non-Catholics. Even some Catholics don't understand it. To be clear, let's define it. The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception is a dogma, meaning that is is a required belief of all Catholics. In other words, if you don't believe in the Immaculate Conception, then technically speaking, you're not really Catholic. It is defined as the belief that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was herself conceived without the stain of original sin.
Some Protestants contend that the doctrine is "unbiblical," that it "deifies Mary as a goddess," and "diminishes the role of Christ in the redemption of humanity." Such contention is unwarranted, and a little paranoid, as I'll demonstrate below.
The stain of original sin was defined by St. Augustine as the mark of sin inherited by all people from the time of their conception. This means that when the first humans (Adam and Eve) sinned against God, they did so before any of their children were born. Because of this, all children conceived after their sin (i.e. the whole human race), would inherent the stain of the sin they committed. The sin they committed was one of selfishness and rebellion against God. The stain of this sin penetrated all the way through their souls to the flesh itself -- staining it and corrupting it. Thus, all children born of their flesh would inherit this stain of original sin. Think of it as a hereditary trait. It is manifested in the form of pride, selfishness and rebellion. It creates in people the desire to commit various sins: lying, cheating, stealing, lust, rage, etc. It can be seen from the earliest ages of childhood. Every time a small child acts in a selfish way, or becomes rebellious toward his parents, he demonstrates the stain of original sin in his own mind and body. God designed human beings to be totally selfless, giving, and obedient creatures. But this does not describe the human race today. That's because the stain of original sin, inherited from our first parents (Adam and Eve), has twisted and corrupting what God has created. Instead of being selfless, we are selfish. Instead of being giving, we are greedy. Instead of being obedient, we are rebellious. Such is the nature of our fallen human race. Now many Protestants think of original sin as a type of depravity -- moral corruption or innate wickedness -- as if people are "evil" at their core. Catholics tend to see original sin more as deprivation than depravity -- meaning that original sin deprives human beings of what they need to be holy. The desire to be loving and selfless is there, but the deprivation of original sin makes that impossible to achieve on our own.
God cannot tolerate sin, and it must be dealt with. Before mankind can be restored to God, we must first be freed of the original sin that stains and deprives us. This is the reason why God sent Jesus Christ (God made flesh) into the world. His sacrificial death on the cross frees us from all sin, including original sin. But in order for this sacrifice to be atoning for the human race, it must come from a member of the human race. Only a perfect and spotless human being can undo the damage done by our first parents. A perfect duplicate (or copy) of a human being wouldn't be enough. This spotless sacrifice must be a direct descendant of the sinful human race, and he must be divine himself, so that he may atone for all human sins, not just the first one. Protestant Christians understand this concept very well, and teach it in their churches. They know that Jesus must atone for all the sins of the world, and they know he is fully human as well as fully divine. In this sense, Protestants are very "Catholic" in their thinking. What they often fail to consider is that the flesh of Jesus Christ must be truly descended from the sinful human race in order for Jesus to be truly "one of us." If God created a whole new body in Mary's womb from "the dust of the earth" so to speak, essentially a copy of humanity, totally separate from any sinful human genetics, he really wouldn't be human at all. He would be a whole new race, entirely separate from the human race, and completely disconnected from the rest of humanity. He might look like us, but he wouldn't really be "one of us." In order for Jesus Christ to truly be "one of us," he would have to be genetically linked to the human race, and since Jesus only has one biological parent, there is only one person through whom that link can be made. That person is the Blessed Virgin Mary.
When Jesus was miraculously conceived inside Mary's womb, at the time of the annunciation by the Angel Gabriel, his human genetic make-up came directly from her. True, his divine nature came directly from the Godhead, but his human nature came from Mary. So Mary is the human genetic link between Jesus Christ (God made flesh) and mankind. There is only one problem. If Mary's flesh was stained with original sin (like the rest of us), than Jesus would have inherited that same original sin nature. Yet the Scriptures clearly tell us that Jesus was without sin. So we have a theological problem. How could Jesus' flesh and blood be "without sin" if he inherited his human flesh and blood from Mary? Granted, he is God, so he can do whatever he wants, but he chose to do it a certain way that was fitting to his desire. Enter the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception.
From the earliest times, Christians have always believed that Mary was immaculate -- meaning perfect and without sin....
"He (Jesus) was the ark formed of incorruptible wood (Mary). For by this is signified that His tabernacle (body) was exempt from putridity and corruption (sin)." -- (Hippolytus, AD 235)
"This Virgin Mother of the Only-begotten of God, is called Mary, worthy of God, immaculate of the immaculate, one of the one." -- (Origen, AD 244)
The idea here is that God miraculously preserved Mary from original sin from the time of her first existence (i.e. conception). The idea comes from the Holy Scripture in which the Angel Gabriel says to Mary: "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you." -- (Luke 1:28) The phrase "full of grace" is a translation of the Greek word kecharitomene. It expresses a characteristic quality of Mary that is unique. The traditional translation, "full of grace," is better than the one found in many recent English versions of the New Testament, which give something along the lines of "highly favoured one." Mary was indeed a highly favoured daughter of God, but the Greek implies more than that. The grace given to Mary is both permanent and unique. Kecharitomene is a perfect, passive, participle of the Greek word charitoo, meaning "to fill or endow with grace." Since this term is in the perfect tense, it indicates that Mary was given this grace in the past, but it has a continuing effect in the present. So, the grace Mary enjoyed did not begin at the angel’s visit. In fact, according to meaning the Greek word kecharitomene, it extended over her whole life, from conception onward. She was in a state of grace from the first moment of her existence (i.e. conception).
Now there is nothing particularly new about this concept. Biblically speaking, Mary wasn't the first person God fashioned in a perfect state of grace -- immaculate -- or without sin. The very first examples we have are Adam and Eve themselves. Both Adam and Eve were in a perfect state of grace at their "conception." Though the Scriptures tell us God fashioned them using a different method than normal procreation, it doesn't change the fact that they were made "without sin" (i.e. immaculate). So we could say the first immaculate conception happened in Eden when God formed the first man (Adam) and the first woman (Eve). In many ways, we could even consider the immaculate conception of Mary a "less dramatic miracle" (if we dare) because God still used the normal procreative processes when he fashioned her.
The question that arises is how? How would God fashion Mary "without sin" when both her parents were obviously stained by original sin, and they conceived her naturally? That is the mystery of the miracle. We can only conclude that God had already chosen Mary as Christ's mother, even from the first moment of her conception in the womb of her own mother. That being the case, the only reason why Mary was conceived without sin is because of Jesus Christ. Her body (flesh and blood) was redeemed retroactively, by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, that wouldn't happen until three decades later, because she was chosen to be the vessel through whom Jesus Christ (The Eternal Word) would enter this world as a human being.
Theologically this is very important, because Jesus received all of his human flesh and blood from Mary. That flesh and blood ought to be unspoiled and unstained by sin. Furthermore, modern science tells us that cells from the mother and child do exchange between them during pregnancy. Jesus and Mary literally shared flesh and blood, as all mothers and their babies do during normal human pregnancy. They were in a state of physical communion during that nine months of pregnancy. That means for Jesus to inherit and maintain a perfect body from his mother, without sin, his physical mother should be without sin as well. Likewise, if Mary was to be in a state of physical communion with her son Jesus, receiving his flesh and blood while he was in her womb, it would be necessary for her to be in a perfect state of grace -- immaculate. While God can do anything he wants, it is only fitting and proper for things to be done this way, and the Scriptures seem to support this with the angelic salutation "full of grace.”
So the doctrine of the immaculate conception does not "deify" Mary as many Protestants falsely believe. Nor does it diminish the role of Christ in the redemption of the human race. You can't even say it's "unbiblical" since the Greek word kecharitomene in Luke 1:28 practically defines the doctrine. Rather, it simply states that Mary was no different than the sinless Eve before the fall. Does this mean that Mary was better than Eve? No. Does this mean that Mary was greater or less than Eve? No. It means she was exactly the same as Eve physically, mentally and spiritually speaking. Does this mean that Mary could have sinned? YES! She most certainly could have followed the example of Eve and disobeyed the command of God. If she had, she would have suffered the same fate as Eve, and carried the stain of original sin herself. But the difference is that when the test was given, Mary chose to obey God whereas Eve did not. Eve's test was in the fruit of the tree. Mary's test was in the fruit of the womb. Eve failed her test, while Mary joyously passed hers. From the moment she responded to the angel, "Behold I am the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word" -- (Luke 1:38), she accepted the Lord's will for her, even though she knew it would bring her hardship. Because of that, Mary's purpose was fulfilled. God preserved her without sin, to be like Eve, so she could become the "New Eve," and bring forth the "New Adam" (Romans 5:12-21) who is Christ the Lord.
So now, the question of "why?" arises. Why did Mary choose to obey God, while Eve chose to disobey? Any answer we give is pure speculation, of course, but I think a fair speculation would be the Old Covenant itself. Mary was a Jew. She was raised her whole life to follow the Jewish laws. Tradition tells us she was educated as a child in the Jerusalem Temple, where she served as a consecrated virgin for the Lord. (Protoevangelium of James) Thus Mary had a grace that Eve was not given -- the Mosaic Law. Because of this, she had an understanding of God that was somewhat of a mystery to Eve. Beyond that, unlike Eve, Mary was able to personally witness the effects of original sin all around her. Eve learnt that lesson the hard way, having no prior experience with sin, she introduced original sin to the world with Adam her husband. Mary, in contrast, spent a lifetime toiling in the effects of that original sin, working for survival in a broken world filled with pain and suffering, even though she herself was sinless. This experience, combined with the Mosaic Law, certainly helped to give Mary the courage to say "yes" to a plan that would ultimately bring much more pain and suffering into her own life.
The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of Mary is rich in ancient Jewish symbolism. It is foreshadowed in the Old Testament with the Ark of the Covenant. Hebrews 9:4 tells us that the contents contained inside the Ark of the Covenant were; the stone tablets of the Law (the word of God), along with a jar of manna (bread from heaven) and Aaron's rod (a symbol of the holy priesthood). All of these are images foreshadowing Jesus Christ, who is the incarnate Word of God (John 1:1-4,14), the Bread from Heaven (John 6:31-65) and our eternal High Priest (Hebrews 4:14).
Now the Ark of the Covenant was consecrated to God and considered holy. It was not to be touched by sinful man under penalty of death, and God himself had no problem exacting this penalty, even when a man touched it in an attempt to prevent it from falling (2nd Samuel 6:6-7; 1st Chronicles 13:9-10). This Old Testament example is designed to illustrate that the ark, which carried the symbols of the Old Covenant, was just as holy as the Old Covenant itself.
Now as I said, the stone tablets, manna and rod were signs foreshadowing Jesus Christ. He is the New Covenant. Thus the "ark" that carried him in her womb is holy too, just as the ark that carried the symbols that foreshadowed him was holy. Mary is the Ark of the New Covenant because she carried Jesus Christ in her womb. Jesus, who is the Word of God, the Bread of Life and our eternal High Priest, was carried for nine months inside the "ark" of Mary. She carried him in her arms and on her hip for another two years at least. If the ark of the Old Covenant was holy, than surely this ark of the New Covenant is even holier.
The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception points more to Christ than Mary. Though Mary is the object of the doctrine, she is not the subject of it. The subject is Christ, and it is his perfectly sinless body that is being addressed. Through Mary, Jesus inherited the "flesh and blood" of mankind. He bore the genetic code of the fallen human race, yet he did so with one modification, the stain of original sin was removed. The flesh he inherited was immaculate. That immaculate flesh was the gift of his mother -- Mary -- who herself received it as a gift from God. So Jesus really and truly was descended from Adam and Eve through Mary. He really and truly was "one of us," having the same ancestors and genetic code that originated from them. God rehabilitated the original, immaculate nature of humanity in Mary, but her sinlessness didn't help anybody but herself. She was the only beneficiary of this filling of grace (kecharitomene). Mary's sinlessness doesn't save anybody else. It doesn't save me, and it doesn't save you. All God did with the immaculate conception was reset the clock, so to speak, to give one person another chance. For the sake of humanity, and revealing himself in the Law of Moses, God gave one more human being, schooled in that law, a chance to say "yes" for humanity. Her "yes" brought forth the Messiah who would fulfil the Law of Moses, and effectively save the rest of us. The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, is a doctrine that points entirely to Jesus Christ. Without him, the Immaculate Conception of Mary makes no logical sense.
In following Jesus Christ, we all become "immaculate" upon our baptism. This is the promise that is given to us. Granted, our bodies (and minds) remain damaged by sin, but this is a temporary condition. Those who are faithful, and endure to the end, not only get to look forward to an afterlife in heaven, but also a future resurrection, in which our recreated bodied will be like those of Jesus and Mary -- perfect and immaculate. In this life, the Christian is privileged to experience an immaculate soul upon the sacraments of baptism and reconciliation. In the next life, however, Christians will be privileged to experience an immaculate body as well.
Written by Shane Schaetzel, reposted by permission. Source: http://catholicozarks.blogspot.com/2014/11/mary-conceived-without-sin.html
Friday, October 31, 2014
Bulletin 228
SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)
CELEBRANT: Father Jeffery Fasching
November 2, 2014
21st Sunday after Pentecost
Epistle: Eph. 6: 10-17
Gospel: Mt. 18: 23-35
Sat 1 All Saints No Latin Mass
Mon 3 Commemoration of All Souls No Latin Mass
Tue 4 Daily Mass for the Dead
Wed 5 Daily Mass for the Dead
Tue 6 Daily Mass for the Dead
Fri 7 Daily Mass for the Dead
Mass on Friday, November 7th will be followed by adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and benediction.
There will be a pot-luck dinner on Sunday, November 9th in the school cafeteria immediately following the 2:30pm Mass. This will include an All Saints day party.
All Saints Day is a holy day of obligation in the Universal Church; since it falls on Saturday in the U.S., the precept to attend Mass is abrogated by the USCCB.
The month of November is dedicated to the Holy Souls. On all the 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 in 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”).
All indulgences whatsoever may be applied to the Poor Souls at any time by way of suffrage. The simple intention to offer them for the Poor Souls is sufficient.
Saint Paul always exhorts us to give thanks to God! God has made us worthy to partake of the lot of the saints in light! What more could we ask for?! Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ we have been delivered from satan's grasp and the power of darkness. We have so much to be grateful for because our destiny is to be with God in heaven forever. Since we have been redeemed through the Blood of Jesus Christ and received remission of all our sins we rejoice!
Life on earth is warfare. Saint Paul reminds us we are battling the power of Satan. We must be strong in the Lord who has given us the victory over the powers of hell. Our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers. With God we truly are able to resist evil in all forms!
We must turn to God who gives us victory over sin through the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ!
Father Fasching's Mass Travel Schedule – Oct., Nov., Dec.
Oct. 4 – 5 27th Sunday of the Year
Cabool, Mansfield, Mt. Grove – Fr. Paul
Gainesville, Ava – Fr.Fasching
Oct. 11 - 12 28th Sunday of the Year
Cabool, Mansfield, Mt. Grove - Fr. Paul
Gainesville, Ava – SCAP – Deacon Joe
Oct. 18 – 19 29th Sunday of the Year
Cabool, Mansfield, Mt. Grove – Fr. Fasching
Gainesville, Ava - Fr. Paul
Oct. 25 – 26 30th Sunday of the Year
Cabool, Mansfield, Mt. Grove – Fr .John Ettensohn
Gainesville, Ava - Fr. Paul
Nov. 1 – 2 All Saint – All Souls
Cabool, Mansfield, Mt. Grove - Fr. Paul
Gainesville, Ava - Fr. Fasching
Nov. 8 – 9 Dedication of Lateran Basilica
Cabool, Mansfield, Mt. Grove – SCAP – Deacon Joe
Gainesville, Ava - Fr. Paul
Nov. 15 – 16 33rd Sunday of Year
Cabool, Mansfield, Mt. Grove – Fr. Fasching
Gainesville, Ava - Fr. Paul
Nov. 22 – 23 Feast of Christ the King
Cabool, Mansfield, Mt. Grove – Fr. Paul
Gainesville, Ava - SCAP – Deacon Joe
Nov. 29 – 30 1st Sunday of Advent
Cabool, Mansfield, Mt. Grove – Fr. Paul
Gainesville, Ava – Fr. Fasching
Dec. 6 – 7 2nd Sunday of Advent
Cabool, Mansfield, Mt. Grove - SCAP – Deacon Joe
Gainesville, Ava - Fr. Paul
Dec. 13 – 14 3rd Sunday of Advent
Cabool, Mansfield, Mt. Grove - Fr. Fasching
Gainesville, Ava - Fr. Paul
Dec. 20 – 21 34th Sunday of Advent
Cabool, Mansfield, Mt. Grove – Fr. Paul
Gainesville, Ava - SCAP – Deacon Joe
In Christo Jesu et
Maria Immaculata,
Father Jeff Fasching
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)
CELEBRANT: Father Jeffery Fasching
November 2, 2014
21st Sunday after Pentecost
Epistle: Eph. 6: 10-17
Gospel: Mt. 18: 23-35
Sat 1 All Saints No Latin Mass
Mon 3 Commemoration of All Souls No Latin Mass
Tue 4 Daily Mass for the Dead
Wed 5 Daily Mass for the Dead
Tue 6 Daily Mass for the Dead
Fri 7 Daily Mass for the Dead
Mass on Friday, November 7th will be followed by adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and benediction.
There will be a pot-luck dinner on Sunday, November 9th in the school cafeteria immediately following the 2:30pm Mass. This will include an All Saints day party.
All Saints Day is a holy day of obligation in the Universal Church; since it falls on Saturday in the U.S., the precept to attend Mass is abrogated by the USCCB.
The month of November is dedicated to the Holy Souls. On all the 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 in 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”).
All indulgences whatsoever may be applied to the Poor Souls at any time by way of suffrage. The simple intention to offer them for the Poor Souls is sufficient.
Saint Paul always exhorts us to give thanks to God! God has made us worthy to partake of the lot of the saints in light! What more could we ask for?! Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ we have been delivered from satan's grasp and the power of darkness. We have so much to be grateful for because our destiny is to be with God in heaven forever. Since we have been redeemed through the Blood of Jesus Christ and received remission of all our sins we rejoice!
Life on earth is warfare. Saint Paul reminds us we are battling the power of Satan. We must be strong in the Lord who has given us the victory over the powers of hell. Our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers. With God we truly are able to resist evil in all forms!
We must turn to God who gives us victory over sin through the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ!
Father Fasching's Mass Travel Schedule – Oct., Nov., Dec.
Oct. 4 – 5 27th Sunday of the Year
Cabool, Mansfield, Mt. Grove – Fr. Paul
Gainesville, Ava – Fr.Fasching
Oct. 11 - 12 28th Sunday of the Year
Cabool, Mansfield, Mt. Grove - Fr. Paul
Gainesville, Ava – SCAP – Deacon Joe
Oct. 18 – 19 29th Sunday of the Year
Cabool, Mansfield, Mt. Grove – Fr. Fasching
Gainesville, Ava - Fr. Paul
Oct. 25 – 26 30th Sunday of the Year
Cabool, Mansfield, Mt. Grove – Fr .John Ettensohn
Gainesville, Ava - Fr. Paul
Nov. 1 – 2 All Saint – All Souls
Cabool, Mansfield, Mt. Grove - Fr. Paul
Gainesville, Ava - Fr. Fasching
Nov. 8 – 9 Dedication of Lateran Basilica
Cabool, Mansfield, Mt. Grove – SCAP – Deacon Joe
Gainesville, Ava - Fr. Paul
Nov. 15 – 16 33rd Sunday of Year
Cabool, Mansfield, Mt. Grove – Fr. Fasching
Gainesville, Ava - Fr. Paul
Nov. 22 – 23 Feast of Christ the King
Cabool, Mansfield, Mt. Grove – Fr. Paul
Gainesville, Ava - SCAP – Deacon Joe
Nov. 29 – 30 1st Sunday of Advent
Cabool, Mansfield, Mt. Grove – Fr. Paul
Gainesville, Ava – Fr. Fasching
Dec. 6 – 7 2nd Sunday of Advent
Cabool, Mansfield, Mt. Grove - SCAP – Deacon Joe
Gainesville, Ava - Fr. Paul
Dec. 13 – 14 3rd Sunday of Advent
Cabool, Mansfield, Mt. Grove - Fr. Fasching
Gainesville, Ava - Fr. Paul
Dec. 20 – 21 34th Sunday of Advent
Cabool, Mansfield, Mt. Grove – Fr. Paul
Gainesville, Ava - SCAP – Deacon Joe
In Christo Jesu et
Maria Immaculata,
Father Jeff Fasching
Saturday, September 6, 2014
Bulletin 220
SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)
CELEBRANT: Father Jeffery Fasching
September 7th 2014
13th Sunday after Pentecost
Epistle: Gal. 3: 16-22
Gospel: Lk. 17: 11-19
Mon 8 No Latin Mass
Tue 9 No Latin Mass
Wed 10 Saint Nicholas of Tolentino, Confessor
Thu 11 Feria
Fri 12 Most Holy Name of Mary
Our next pot-luck dinner will take place in the school cafeteria on Sunday, September 14th immediately following the 2:30pm Mass. All are invited. In conjunction with the potluck dinner, J.B. Kelly's family business will have their “traveling gift shop” set up in the Saint Agnes cafeteria to offer Catholic books, bibles, 1962 missals, DVD's, devotional items, Mystic Monk coffee and tea, and many other gifts.
If you have a special request for a book or other item, please contact J.B. Kelly prior to September 14th. This is provided as a service to the Latin Mass community with thanks to J.B. Kelly.
There will be no Latin Mass on Tuesday, September 9th.
In addition to serving as celebrant for Mass in the Extraordinary Form (Latin) here at Saint Agnes Cathedral in Springfield, Fr. Fasching continues to serve as chaplain to the non-Catholic hospitals in the Springfield area. These include Cox South, Cox North, Cox Walnut Lawn, Ozarks Community Hospital, and Select Specialty Hospital.
Fr. Fasching also assists Father Paul Wightman, O.M.I., with his parishes including Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mansfield; Sacred Heart, Mountain Grove; Saint Leo the Great, Ava; Saint William, Gainesville; and Saint Michael, Cabool.
As you know, there is no scheduled Latin Mass during the week on Mondays. This is Father Fasching's day off. You are asked not to attempt to contact him on this day.
God said to Moses: “Tell my people that if they faithfully observe my commandments, I will fill them with all kinds of blessings, but if they dare to transgress them, I shall punish them with all kinds of sufferings.” God said to Abraham: “Because thou hast faithfully kept my commandments, I will bless thee in everything. I will bless all those who bless thee. I will curse all those who curse thee. Out of thy race the Redeemer of the world shall be born.” God made known to Abraham's people when the time had arrived for them to enter into the promised land. “The people who dwelt in this land committed great sins. For this reason I shall drive them out and put you in their place. But take care not to transgress my commandments. If you keep them faithfully, I shall bless you in and above everything. When you are in the fields or in your houses I shall bless your children, who will then love you, respect you and obey you, and give you all kinds of consolation. I will command the heavens to give you rain at the proper times, as much as will be necessary to water your fields and your meadows. Everything will prosper for you.”
In another place in the Scriptures God says: “If you keep my commandments faithfully I shall watch unceasingly over your preservation. You can be without fear in your houses. I will prevent the wild beasts from harming you. You will be able to sleep in peace. Nothing will disturb you. I will always be with you. I shall walk with you. I am your God, and you will be my people.” Again He says to Moses: “Say unto my people, that if they keep my commandments I will deliver them from all evils that oppress them.” And the Holy Ghost says that “he who keeps the commandments of God is happier than if he possessed all the wealth on the earth.”
In Christo Jesu et
Maria Immaculata,
Father Jeff Fasching
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)
CELEBRANT: Father Jeffery Fasching
September 7th 2014
13th Sunday after Pentecost
Epistle: Gal. 3: 16-22
Gospel: Lk. 17: 11-19
Mon 8 No Latin Mass
Tue 9 No Latin Mass
Wed 10 Saint Nicholas of Tolentino, Confessor
Thu 11 Feria
Fri 12 Most Holy Name of Mary
Our next pot-luck dinner will take place in the school cafeteria on Sunday, September 14th immediately following the 2:30pm Mass. All are invited. In conjunction with the potluck dinner, J.B. Kelly's family business will have their “traveling gift shop” set up in the Saint Agnes cafeteria to offer Catholic books, bibles, 1962 missals, DVD's, devotional items, Mystic Monk coffee and tea, and many other gifts.
If you have a special request for a book or other item, please contact J.B. Kelly prior to September 14th. This is provided as a service to the Latin Mass community with thanks to J.B. Kelly.
There will be no Latin Mass on Tuesday, September 9th.
In addition to serving as celebrant for Mass in the Extraordinary Form (Latin) here at Saint Agnes Cathedral in Springfield, Fr. Fasching continues to serve as chaplain to the non-Catholic hospitals in the Springfield area. These include Cox South, Cox North, Cox Walnut Lawn, Ozarks Community Hospital, and Select Specialty Hospital.
Fr. Fasching also assists Father Paul Wightman, O.M.I., with his parishes including Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mansfield; Sacred Heart, Mountain Grove; Saint Leo the Great, Ava; Saint William, Gainesville; and Saint Michael, Cabool.
As you know, there is no scheduled Latin Mass during the week on Mondays. This is Father Fasching's day off. You are asked not to attempt to contact him on this day.
God said to Moses: “Tell my people that if they faithfully observe my commandments, I will fill them with all kinds of blessings, but if they dare to transgress them, I shall punish them with all kinds of sufferings.” God said to Abraham: “Because thou hast faithfully kept my commandments, I will bless thee in everything. I will bless all those who bless thee. I will curse all those who curse thee. Out of thy race the Redeemer of the world shall be born.” God made known to Abraham's people when the time had arrived for them to enter into the promised land. “The people who dwelt in this land committed great sins. For this reason I shall drive them out and put you in their place. But take care not to transgress my commandments. If you keep them faithfully, I shall bless you in and above everything. When you are in the fields or in your houses I shall bless your children, who will then love you, respect you and obey you, and give you all kinds of consolation. I will command the heavens to give you rain at the proper times, as much as will be necessary to water your fields and your meadows. Everything will prosper for you.”
In another place in the Scriptures God says: “If you keep my commandments faithfully I shall watch unceasingly over your preservation. You can be without fear in your houses. I will prevent the wild beasts from harming you. You will be able to sleep in peace. Nothing will disturb you. I will always be with you. I shall walk with you. I am your God, and you will be my people.” Again He says to Moses: “Say unto my people, that if they keep my commandments I will deliver them from all evils that oppress them.” And the Holy Ghost says that “he who keeps the commandments of God is happier than if he possessed all the wealth on the earth.”
In Christo Jesu et
Maria Immaculata,
Father Jeff Fasching
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Bulletin 213
SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)
CELEBRANT: Father Jeffery Fasching
July 20, 2014
6th Sunday after Pentecost
Epistle: Rom. 6: 3-11
Gospel: Mk. 8: 1-9
Mon 21 Saint Laurence Brindisi, Confessor & Doctor-No Latin Mass
Tue 22 Saint Mary Magdalene, Penitent
Wed 23 Saint Apollinaris, Bishop & Martyr
Thu 24 Requiem Mass, + Mr. John
Fri 25 Saint James the Greater * Apostle
Christ died in order to free us from the slavery of sin and the power of satan. He won victory over satan by shedding His blood on the cross. We share in this victory by virtue of our baptism! We too have power over all sin in and through Jesus Christ! In fact, our baptism is symbolic of our dying to sin and rising to a new life in Jesus Christ. We must constantly fight against the temptation to sin. But we must also realize that God gives us the grace and power always to overcome it. The choice is ours.
In Christo Jesu et
Maria Immaculata,
Father Jeff Fasching
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)
CELEBRANT: Father Jeffery Fasching
July 20, 2014
6th Sunday after Pentecost
Epistle: Rom. 6: 3-11
Gospel: Mk. 8: 1-9
Mon 21 Saint Laurence Brindisi, Confessor & Doctor-No Latin Mass
Tue 22 Saint Mary Magdalene, Penitent
Wed 23 Saint Apollinaris, Bishop & Martyr
Thu 24 Requiem Mass, + Mr. John
Fri 25 Saint James the Greater * Apostle
Christ died in order to free us from the slavery of sin and the power of satan. He won victory over satan by shedding His blood on the cross. We share in this victory by virtue of our baptism! We too have power over all sin in and through Jesus Christ! In fact, our baptism is symbolic of our dying to sin and rising to a new life in Jesus Christ. We must constantly fight against the temptation to sin. But we must also realize that God gives us the grace and power always to overcome it. The choice is ours.
In Christo Jesu et
Maria Immaculata,
Father Jeff Fasching
Sunday, May 11, 2014
Bulletin 203
SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)
CELEBRANT: Father Jeffery Fasching
May 11, 2014
Third Sunday after Easter
Epistle: 1 Pet. 2: 11-19
Gospel: Jn. 16: 16-22
Mon 12 No Latin Mass
Tue 13 No Latin Mass
Wed 14 Feria of Paschaltide
Thu 15 Saint John Baptist de la Salle, Confessor
Fri 16 Saint Ubaldus; Bishop, Confessor & Doctor
Happy Mother’s Day!
Mass on June 22nd (the External Solemnity of Corpus Christi) will begin at 1:30pm.
Most people who suffer ask the question: “What have I done to God that He should send me so much misery?” The answer is that God sends you the affliction because of your sins. Consider all the commandments. Which one have we not broken? Are all the bad habits we have acquired for so long a time ignored? What about our pride? What about our vanity, self-love, quick tempers, jealousy? How about the ways we have neglected the Blessed Sacrament? What penance have we done to atone for our sins? What good works have we done? After having committed so many sins why have we shed so few tears? God chastises only to heal the wounds which we as sinners have inflicted upon our own souls! God sends us suffering only to crown us with eternal glory. Consider the story of Job…”If we have received good things from God, should we not also accept evil?”
In Christ,
Fr. Jeff Fasching
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)
CELEBRANT: Father Jeffery Fasching
May 11, 2014
Third Sunday after Easter
Epistle: 1 Pet. 2: 11-19
Gospel: Jn. 16: 16-22
Mon 12 No Latin Mass
Tue 13 No Latin Mass
Wed 14 Feria of Paschaltide
Thu 15 Saint John Baptist de la Salle, Confessor
Fri 16 Saint Ubaldus; Bishop, Confessor & Doctor
Happy Mother’s Day!
Mass on June 22nd (the External Solemnity of Corpus Christi) will begin at 1:30pm.
Most people who suffer ask the question: “What have I done to God that He should send me so much misery?” The answer is that God sends you the affliction because of your sins. Consider all the commandments. Which one have we not broken? Are all the bad habits we have acquired for so long a time ignored? What about our pride? What about our vanity, self-love, quick tempers, jealousy? How about the ways we have neglected the Blessed Sacrament? What penance have we done to atone for our sins? What good works have we done? After having committed so many sins why have we shed so few tears? God chastises only to heal the wounds which we as sinners have inflicted upon our own souls! God sends us suffering only to crown us with eternal glory. Consider the story of Job…”If we have received good things from God, should we not also accept evil?”
In Christ,
Fr. Jeff Fasching
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Bulletin 194
SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)
CELEBRANT: Father Jeff Fasching
March 9, 2014
First Sunday of Lent
Epistle: II Cor. 6: 1-10
Gospel: Mt. 4: 1-11
Mon 10 No Latin Mass
Tue 11 Feria of Lent
Wed 12 Ember Wednesday
Thu 13 Feria of Lent
Fri 14 Ember Friday of Lent
If we consent to temptation it is always sinful. All the most important people throughout salvation history were tempted-from Adam to Jesus Christ Himself. But Christ rejected the temptations of Satan. Christ is an example to show how we can always overcome evil through Him who holds all power over evil. However, we must adopt Christ’s attitude during times of trial. Christ never sought the glory that was rightfully His; rather He took the form of a servant. We must remember that glory belongs to God alone. We can always overcome temptation through humility and trust in God!
Laws of Days of Abstinence: The Discipline of 1962
• Applies on one’s 7th birthday.
• Complete Abstinence: all Fridays of the year, Ash Wednesday, Holy Saturday, and the Vigil of Christmas.
• Partial Abstinence (meat and soup or gravy made from meat permitted once a day at the principle meal): all the days of Lent, the Ember Days of Wednesday and Saturday, and the Vigils of Pentecost and the Assumption.
• Abstinence from meat is dispensed on Holy Days of Obligation
Laws of Fast: The Discipline of 1962
• Applies for those aged 21 to 59, inclusive.
• Days of Lent from Ash Wednesday inclusive, Ember Days, and Vigils of Christmas, Pentecost, and the Assumption.
• One full meal permitted and two other meals may be taken which, when combined, are less than a full meal.
The Law of the Eucharistic Fast: The Discipline of 1962
• The complete fast from all food and drink (except for water or medicine) for three hours before the reception of Holy Communion. In the document reducing the fast to three hours, the Pope still encouraged those who were able to maintain the midnight fast which was the previous discipline.
Mass on Ash Wednesday will be at 10:00am
Mass on March 7 will be followed by exposition and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament
The next scheduled pot-luck dinner is March 23
In Christ,
Fr. Jeffery Fasching
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)
CELEBRANT: Father Jeff Fasching
March 9, 2014
First Sunday of Lent
Epistle: II Cor. 6: 1-10
Gospel: Mt. 4: 1-11
Mon 10 No Latin Mass
Tue 11 Feria of Lent
Wed 12 Ember Wednesday
Thu 13 Feria of Lent
Fri 14 Ember Friday of Lent
If we consent to temptation it is always sinful. All the most important people throughout salvation history were tempted-from Adam to Jesus Christ Himself. But Christ rejected the temptations of Satan. Christ is an example to show how we can always overcome evil through Him who holds all power over evil. However, we must adopt Christ’s attitude during times of trial. Christ never sought the glory that was rightfully His; rather He took the form of a servant. We must remember that glory belongs to God alone. We can always overcome temptation through humility and trust in God!
Laws of Days of Abstinence: The Discipline of 1962
• Applies on one’s 7th birthday.
• Complete Abstinence: all Fridays of the year, Ash Wednesday, Holy Saturday, and the Vigil of Christmas.
• Partial Abstinence (meat and soup or gravy made from meat permitted once a day at the principle meal): all the days of Lent, the Ember Days of Wednesday and Saturday, and the Vigils of Pentecost and the Assumption.
• Abstinence from meat is dispensed on Holy Days of Obligation
Laws of Fast: The Discipline of 1962
• Applies for those aged 21 to 59, inclusive.
• Days of Lent from Ash Wednesday inclusive, Ember Days, and Vigils of Christmas, Pentecost, and the Assumption.
• One full meal permitted and two other meals may be taken which, when combined, are less than a full meal.
The Law of the Eucharistic Fast: The Discipline of 1962
• The complete fast from all food and drink (except for water or medicine) for three hours before the reception of Holy Communion. In the document reducing the fast to three hours, the Pope still encouraged those who were able to maintain the midnight fast which was the previous discipline.
Mass on Ash Wednesday will be at 10:00am
Mass on March 7 will be followed by exposition and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament
The next scheduled pot-luck dinner is March 23
In Christ,
Fr. Jeffery Fasching
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Bulletin 180
SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)
CELEBRANT: Father Jeffery Fasching
December 1st, 2013
First Sunday of Advent
Epistle: Rom. 13: 11-14
Gospel: Lk. 21: 25-33
Mass Schedule December 2nd – December 6th
Mon 2 No Latin Mass
Tue 3 Saint Francis Xavier, Confessor
Wed 4 Saint Peter Chrysologus; Bishop, Confessor & Doctor
Thu 5 Feria of Advent
Fri 6 Sacred Heart of Jesus—Mass will be followed by Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction.
Our next pot-luck dinner will be on Sunday, December 22nd following the 2:30pm Latin Mass in the school cafeteria. His Excellency, Bishop James Johnston will be the homilist at Mass and will be joining us for dinner.
Sunday, December 8th is the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Your prayers are requested for those who will be making their Total Consecration to Jesus Christ through the Blessed Virgin Mary during Mass on this day.
Christ’s second coming will be a most solemn event. There will be a public and general judgment for each individual and God’s mercy and justice will be made manifest for the whole world to see! This will be a day of terror for those who have lived evil lives and joy for those who have remained faithful to Jesus Christ. A reward will soon come so never give up the fight against evil! Christ’s victory on the cross is a victory over sin and Satan. On the Day of Judgment this victory will be seen clearly. We must therefore be vigilant! “He ascended into heaven whence He will come again to judge the living and the dead, each according to his merits. Those who have responded to the love and compassion of God will go into eternal life. Those who have refused them to the end will be consigned to the fire that is never extinguished.”
Fr. Jeff Fasching
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)
CELEBRANT: Father Jeffery Fasching
December 1st, 2013
First Sunday of Advent
Epistle: Rom. 13: 11-14
Gospel: Lk. 21: 25-33
Mass Schedule December 2nd – December 6th
Mon 2 No Latin Mass
Tue 3 Saint Francis Xavier, Confessor
Wed 4 Saint Peter Chrysologus; Bishop, Confessor & Doctor
Thu 5 Feria of Advent
Fri 6 Sacred Heart of Jesus—Mass will be followed by Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction.
Our next pot-luck dinner will be on Sunday, December 22nd following the 2:30pm Latin Mass in the school cafeteria. His Excellency, Bishop James Johnston will be the homilist at Mass and will be joining us for dinner.
Sunday, December 8th is the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Your prayers are requested for those who will be making their Total Consecration to Jesus Christ through the Blessed Virgin Mary during Mass on this day.
Christ’s second coming will be a most solemn event. There will be a public and general judgment for each individual and God’s mercy and justice will be made manifest for the whole world to see! This will be a day of terror for those who have lived evil lives and joy for those who have remained faithful to Jesus Christ. A reward will soon come so never give up the fight against evil! Christ’s victory on the cross is a victory over sin and Satan. On the Day of Judgment this victory will be seen clearly. We must therefore be vigilant! “He ascended into heaven whence He will come again to judge the living and the dead, each according to his merits. Those who have responded to the love and compassion of God will go into eternal life. Those who have refused them to the end will be consigned to the fire that is never extinguished.”
Fr. Jeff Fasching
Friday, August 17, 2012
Bulletin 115
SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)
CELEBRANT Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
August 19th, 2012; 12th Sunday after Pentecost
Epistle: II Cor. 3:4-9; Gospel: Lk. 10:23-27
Mass Schedule August 20th through August 24th
Monday –Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Abbot and Doctor--NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, Widow
Wednesday-Immaculate Heart of Mary
Thursday-Saint Philip Benizi, Confessor
Friday-Saint Bartholomew, Apostle
The best reasons for praying the Holy Rosary are the following:
1) For world peace… “Say the Rosary every day to obtain peace for the world.” (Our Lady of Fatima, 1917). The Popes have highly recommended the Rosary to promote peace throughout the world.
2) A means for preserving the home…”There is no surer means of calling down God’s blessings upon the family…than the daily recitation of the Rosary”… Pope Pius XII
3) For courage in the hardships of life …”a powerful means of renewing our courage will undoubtedly be found in the Holy Rosary”…Pope Leo XIII
4) As a ready and easy means of preserving the faith…”We have elsewhere brought it to the attention of the devout Christian that not least among the advantages of the Rosary is the ready means it puts in his hands to nurture his faith, and to keep him from ignorance of his religion and the danger of error”…Pope Leo XIII
Many saints have had mystical experiences of hell. One well know account is contained in the report on the Fatima apparitions which Lucia Santos, one of the seers of Fatima, submitted to Dom Jose, bishop of Leiria, on 31 August 1941. Lucia writes that during the apparition of 13 July 1917, Our Lady gave the three children a momentary glimpse of hell to encourage them to pray for sinners.
After the vision ended, Our Lady urged the children to pray and offer many sacrifices to save sinners from hell. The Holy Rosary is a most powerful means to do so! It is a weapon to combat evil. It is a powerful means of obtaining Christian perfection and graces from God.
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Jeffery Fasching
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)
CELEBRANT Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
August 19th, 2012; 12th Sunday after Pentecost
Epistle: II Cor. 3:4-9; Gospel: Lk. 10:23-27
Mass Schedule August 20th through August 24th
Monday –Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Abbot and Doctor--NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday-Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, Widow
Wednesday-Immaculate Heart of Mary
Thursday-Saint Philip Benizi, Confessor
Friday-Saint Bartholomew, Apostle
The best reasons for praying the Holy Rosary are the following:
1) For world peace… “Say the Rosary every day to obtain peace for the world.” (Our Lady of Fatima, 1917). The Popes have highly recommended the Rosary to promote peace throughout the world.
2) A means for preserving the home…”There is no surer means of calling down God’s blessings upon the family…than the daily recitation of the Rosary”… Pope Pius XII
3) For courage in the hardships of life …”a powerful means of renewing our courage will undoubtedly be found in the Holy Rosary”…Pope Leo XIII
4) As a ready and easy means of preserving the faith…”We have elsewhere brought it to the attention of the devout Christian that not least among the advantages of the Rosary is the ready means it puts in his hands to nurture his faith, and to keep him from ignorance of his religion and the danger of error”…Pope Leo XIII
Many saints have had mystical experiences of hell. One well know account is contained in the report on the Fatima apparitions which Lucia Santos, one of the seers of Fatima, submitted to Dom Jose, bishop of Leiria, on 31 August 1941. Lucia writes that during the apparition of 13 July 1917, Our Lady gave the three children a momentary glimpse of hell to encourage them to pray for sinners.
After the vision ended, Our Lady urged the children to pray and offer many sacrifices to save sinners from hell. The Holy Rosary is a most powerful means to do so! It is a weapon to combat evil. It is a powerful means of obtaining Christian perfection and graces from God.
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Jeffery Fasching
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Bulletin 98
SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)
CELEBRANT Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
April 15th, 2012 Low Sunday (Divine Mercy Sunday)
NO LATIN MASS AT 2:30PM
Epistle: 1Jn. 5: 4-10—Gospel: Jn. 20:19-31
Mass Schedule April 16th through April 20th
Monday-Feria of Paschaltide-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday through Friday-Feria of Paschaltide
“He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me” (Lk 10:16). The Apostles are ambassadors of Christ just as Christ is the ambassador of the Father. The bishops are successors of the Apostles. Christ commands that the teaching of the Apostles should be religiously accepted and kept as if it were His very own. Vatican II, in its document Presbyterorum ordinis, states that “The function of the bishop’s ministry was handed over in a subordinate degree to priests so that they might be appointed in the order of the priesthood and be co-workers of the episcopal order for the proper fulfillment of the apostolic mission that had been entrusted to it by Christ.”
One key part of this mission is to continue to encourage Penance for the forgiveness of sins. The Church has always understood that Jesus Christ Himself conferred upon the Apostles authority to forgive sins. This power is exercised is the sacrament of Penance.
The sacrament of Penance is the most sublime expression of God’s love and mercy towards men. Christ waits for us and invites us to repentance. The Popes have always encouraged regular use of the sacrament of Penance. It is a means to grow in knowledge of ourselves and in Christian humility. Through confession we root out our vices and maintain spiritual fervor. Let us implore the mercy of God on ourselves and upon all mankind.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)
CELEBRANT Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
April 15th, 2012 Low Sunday (Divine Mercy Sunday)
NO LATIN MASS AT 2:30PM
Epistle: 1Jn. 5: 4-10—Gospel: Jn. 20:19-31
Mass Schedule April 16th through April 20th
Monday-Feria of Paschaltide-NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday through Friday-Feria of Paschaltide
“He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me” (Lk 10:16). The Apostles are ambassadors of Christ just as Christ is the ambassador of the Father. The bishops are successors of the Apostles. Christ commands that the teaching of the Apostles should be religiously accepted and kept as if it were His very own. Vatican II, in its document Presbyterorum ordinis, states that “The function of the bishop’s ministry was handed over in a subordinate degree to priests so that they might be appointed in the order of the priesthood and be co-workers of the episcopal order for the proper fulfillment of the apostolic mission that had been entrusted to it by Christ.”
One key part of this mission is to continue to encourage Penance for the forgiveness of sins. The Church has always understood that Jesus Christ Himself conferred upon the Apostles authority to forgive sins. This power is exercised is the sacrament of Penance.
The sacrament of Penance is the most sublime expression of God’s love and mercy towards men. Christ waits for us and invites us to repentance. The Popes have always encouraged regular use of the sacrament of Penance. It is a means to grow in knowledge of ourselves and in Christian humility. Through confession we root out our vices and maintain spiritual fervor. Let us implore the mercy of God on ourselves and upon all mankind.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
Friday, August 5, 2011
Bulletin 62
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,
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,
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Bulletin 34
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
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
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Bulletin 33
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
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
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