Prayers at the Foot of the Altar

Prayers at the Foot of the Altar
Showing posts with label victory. Show all posts
Showing posts with label victory. Show all posts

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Bulletin 146

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806

EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)

CELEBRANT: Father Jeffery Fasching

March 31st, 2013 Easter Sunday

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

Mass schedule April 1st through April 5th

Easter Monday No Latin Mass
Easter Tuesday
Easter Wednesday
Easter Thursday
Easter Friday

On Easter Sunday the Mass highlights the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead! The Mass also alludes to the spiritual resurrection experienced by all those who have been baptized. We recall Christ’s death on the Cross through which He triumphed over sin and Satan, but today we joyfully emphasize how Christ rises from the grave to the dismay of His enemies!

In the office of the Church we proclaim: “This is the day which the Lord had made; let us celebrate it with transports of joy.”

The Body of Christ which previously had been scourged, beaten and nailed to the Cross comes forth from the tomb in resplendent fashion! The Victim once slain by the cruelty of man now shows in a glorious way His triumph over death. The Resurrection is the most concrete proof of Christ’s Divinity. Our belief in the Resurrection is the foundation of our faith. Saint Augustine once wrote that the Resurrection of Christ is God’s supreme and wholly marvelous work! Saint Paul writes: “If Christ be not risen again your faith is in vain.” (I Cor. 15) Furthermore, “God hath given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. He hath raised us up together with Christ and hath made us sit together in the heavenly places.”


In Christ,

Father Jeff Fasching



Saturday, January 26, 2013

Bulletin 137

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806

EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)

CELEBRANT Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

January 27th, 2013 Septuagesima Sunday

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

Mass schedule January 28th through February 1st

Monday-Saint Peter Nolasco, Confessor-NO LATIN MASS

Tuesday-Saint Frances de Sales-Bishop, Confessor & Doctor-NO LATIN MASS

Wednesday-Saint Martina-Virgin & Martyr

Thursday-Saint John Bosco, Confessor

Friday-Sacred Heart of Jesus

There will be no Latin Mass on Tuesday, January 29th at 12:15pm.

Christianity is a tough religion. To be better than average, a Christian must train himself. Saint Paul compares this training to preparing for an athletic event. For an athlete to be successful, he must practice. The more practice, the better the athlete. The same holds true for followers of Christ. We cannot simply pay Our Lord lip service. We must run to win the prize. In order to make progress in the spiritual life we must live in moderation. We must mortify our selfish desires in order to receive a crown that does not fade away.

As we prepare for the Lenten season we chastise our bodies in order to bring them into subjection. We strive to become masters of ourselves in order follow Christ more closely. Christ gives us His Body and Blood as our spiritual food to help us on our way to victory.

Sincerely in Christ,

Fr. Jeff Fasching


Saturday, October 6, 2012

Bulletin 121

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806

EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)

CELEBRANT Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

October 7th, 2012; External Solemnity of Our Lady of the Rosary

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

Mass Schedule October 8th through October 12th

Monday –Saint Bridget of Sweden, Widow-- NO LATIN MASS

Tuesday-Requiem Mass + Joyce Spencer

Wednesday-Saint Francis Borgia, Confessor

Thursday-Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Friday-Feria

There will be a potluck dinner on Sunday, October 7 immediately following the 2:30pm Mass in the school cafeteria. All are invited.

Jesus Christ loves pure souls. His Mother Mary was immaculate. His foster-father was the just and chaste Joseph. His well-beloved disciple was the virgin apostle. Over the course of centuries Christ has surrounded Himself with a legion of chaste priests. Nothing soiled can approach his altar. Pure souls are the crown of Christ’s glory, the strength and beauty of the Church, the confusion and terror of demons!

Priestly chastity is a precious pearl, but we are all called to live chaste lives! God has left our human nature with a tendency toward evil, its passions, and its secret connivance at sin. But at the same time He has poured out prodigally upon us His divine strength through the indwelling of the Holy Ghost. We have been given mortal bodies with frailties, inconstancies and revolts, but Christ has prepared us for heavenly food, the bread of angels, His Body and Blood, to extinguish within us the fire of sin, to renew our strength and to sustain our courage!

God permits the angel of Satan to lay snares for us, to subject us to incessant combats, but Christ has confided us at the same time to His Mother. She has crushed the head of the serpent! She will always fight for you if you are faithful in appealing to her for aid. With her help you are sure to triumph. But know well that it is necessary to watch and to pray even to old age, even until death. Be courageous! No one is tried beyond his strength! No one will receive a crown unless he fights manfully!

Be chaste. How miserable your heart will be if you simulate virtue when your conscience accuses you of wickedness! In today’s culture we are in almost constant contact with the slime of sin. Vice speaks to us, looks at us, surrounds us and pursues us wherever we go! How can we avoid filth unless we are vigilant? We must keep a firm and constant hold on the divine hand of God!

Chastise your body and bring it into subjection. Flee from the occasion of sin. If to avoid sin it is necessary to sacrifice your eye or your right hand or your very life, do not hesitate. Otherwise you will fall, you will perish. Confess your faults humbly. Have recourse to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Virgin Most Pure, that you may fight your battle with strength and confidence!

Sincerely in Christ,

Fr. Jeff Fasching

Thursday, January 12, 2012

The Baptism of Jesus

The Book of Revelation tells us that Jesus Christ has won the victory over sin and satan. He is glorious in heaven as the Lamb who was slain surrounded by all His saints, martyrs and virgins who constantly give Him praise and glory.

We share in the sacrifice of Christ when we participate in Holy Communion. We must always give thanks to Christ for redeeming us by His blood and giving us Himself in Holy Communion. It is so very important that we always properly prepare to receive the Body and Blood of Christ. We must also give a proper thanksgiving if we expect to draw fruit from receiving our Lord.

In fact, the Church teaches us that the Eucharist is the source and summit of our lives as Catholic Christians. Everything else emanates from the reception of our Redeemer in Holy Communion. Priests must therefore offer each Mass as if it were their only Mass. The lay faithful should attend every Mass as if it were their only Mass. We must guard against the danger of becoming complacent.

Tomorrow we celebrate the Commemoration of the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ. Like John the Baptist we must decrease and acknowledge our unworthiness...Domine, non sum dignus, ut intres sub tectum meum, sed tantum dic verbo, et sanabitur anima mea.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Sunday, April 24, 2011

The Resurrection

Christ is truly risen from the dead. On the Cross, Christ's body was truly separated from His spirit when He gave up the ghost to His Heavenly Father. Christ laid in the tomb for three days, but He truly did rise on the third day. He was then seen by many people thereafter. Our entire Catholic faith is based upon the fact that Christ rose from the dead.

There is true cause for rejoicing here! We died with Christ and were buried with Him in baptism, but now in Him we live forever! Today let us thank our Lord and rejoice in the victory He has won for us.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching