Bulletin 135

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806

EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)

CELEBRANT Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

January 13th, 2013 Holy Family

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

Mass schedule January 14th through January 18th

Monday-Saint Hilary-Bishop, Confessor & Doctor-NO LATIN MASS

Tuesday-Saint Paul, the First Hermit

Wednesday-Saint Marcellus I-Pope & Martyr

Thursday-Saint Anthony, Abbot

Friday-Votive Mass of the Chair of Saint Peter


The Feast of the Holy Family offers us a chance to reflect upon God’s eternal truths and the true meaning of life. We are a pilgrim people and the true home we were born for is in heaven. In this world filled with temptation and the pride of life we must learn the great value of silence. We should ask God for the gift of meditation and reflect upon that which is spiritual. We should pray each day for a well-ordered and disciplined life of prayer. We must first be rooted deeply in Christ if we hope to fulfill our duty as Christians to bring Him into a world where so many are in desperate need of His grace.

The Feast of the Holy Family should also help us to understand the importance of family life. The family is the basic unit of society. However, it is rapidly deteriorating and in many places almost completely vanquished from our culture. The family is the context in which children were meant to be raised.

We should also reflect upon the value of work. Jesus Christ chose to become the Son of a carpenter. He was never too proud to embrace an honest day’s work. Saint Paul writes in his Epistle: “All whatsoever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God and the Father by Jesus Christ our Lord.” We should put all our hearts into everything we do and do all for love of God alone. If we can truly say that love of God is our motivation then we are on the path to holiness.

Sincerely in Christ,

Fr. Jeff Fasching

The Holy Family

The Gospel passage for Mass today depicts one of the more significant events in the life of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Christ if found by His parents, the Blessed Virgin Mary and His foster father Saint Joseph after three days in the temple. Jesus is found to be asking and answering questions in a manner well beyond His young years. The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple, along with all of the other mysteries in the life of Christ provide us with the opportunity not only to meditate on the significant events that help to unfold the life of Christ, but also to ask for particular graces as we do so.

We see in the Gospel today the holiness of Christ Jesus. As we meditate upon this particular mystery we ask God for the grace of conversion. Conversion is something we are all in need of. It is a life-long process. As we celebrate this Feast day in honor of the Holy Family we ask for an increase in holiness and for conversion. We want to strive to be closer to Christ. We want to be converted from our old ways of sin and thus grow in holiness.

Today let us ask through the intercession of the Holy Family Jesus, Mary and Joseph to grow in holiness and be converted from our sinful ways.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching