Bulletin 185

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806

EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)

CELEBRANT: Father Jeffery Fasching

January 5th, 2014
Most Holy Name of Jesus
Acts 4: 8-12
Gospel: Lk. 2: 21

Mass Schedule January 6-10

Mon 6 No Latin Mass
Tue 7 No Latin Mass
Wed 8 Feria after Epiphany
Thu 9 Feria after Epiphany
Fri 10 Feria after Epiphany

When we genuinely fulfill the law of Jesus Christ and accept the Word of God completely, we will always be successful! In addition, we will discover that God will give us a spirit that comes from knowing “the glorious freedom of the children of God.” This is a spirit of confidence and joy much like the Apostles possessed after receiving the Holy Ghost. It is a confidence that enables one to boldly proclaim one’s faith in every circumstance. This is our Christian duty. If we have any shame or hesitation in doing so we are denying Jesus Christ. A failure to profess one’s faith for fear of ridicule or criticism is sinful.

Fr. Jeff Fasching

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

Seek the Good of Others

From a letter to the Corinthians by Saint Clement, pope:

The command has been written: Cling to the saints, for those who cling to them will be sanctified. There is a passage in Scripture as well which states: "With the innocent man you will be innocent, and with the chosen you will be chosen also; likewise with the perverse you will deal perversely..."

Why are there strife and passion, schisms and even war among you? Do we not possess the same Spirit of grace which was given to us and the same calling in Christ? Why do we tear apart and divide the body of Christ? Why do we revolt against our own body...?

We should put an end to this division immediately...


Father Angelo Vanderputten, FSSP, has volunteered to offer Mass in the Extraordinary Form at Saint Agnes Cathedral on July 15th at 2:30pm. There will be Mass on July 15th at 2:30pm at Saint Agnes Cathedral.

In Christ,

Father Jeff Fasching

Bulletin 110

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806

EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)

CELEBRANT Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

July 8th, 2012; 6th Sunday after Pentecost

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

Mass Schedule July 9th through July 13th

Monday --Feria--NO LATIN MASS

Tuesday-Seven Holy Brothers, Martyrs and SS Rufina & Secunda, Virgins & Martyrs

Wednesday-Saint Pius I, Pope & Martyr

Thursday-Saint John Gualbert, Abbot

Friday-Feria


FR FASCHING WILL BE ON RETREAT BEGINNING SATURDAY, JULY 14th. THERE WILL BE NO LATIN MASS ON SUNDAY, JULY 15TH AT 2:30PM. THERE WILL BE NO LATIN MASS JULY 16TH THROUGH JULY 20TH. THE LATIN MASS WILL RESUME ON SUNDAY, JULY 22nd AT 2:30PM.


The wonderful effects of baptism should remind us of the profound meaning of this rite which Jesus Christ Himself instituted. Baptism should remind us of the Passion of Christ as well as the future glory won for us as a result of His Passion. Baptism gives us a “new birth” and at the same time presupposes a symbolic death.

When we were baptized we were born into a new life. We were freed from the darkness of sin and entered into a new light. God removes every trace of sin in baptism and also remits the penalties that these sins incur. We are given all the graces necessary to live a good Christian life. The soul receives the mark of a Christian forever!

Christ suffered physical death. In baptism we die spiritually to the life of sin. Because of Christ’s death sin and satan no longer have power over us. However, we must exercise our own personal effort in order to remain dead to sin. God’s grace is always with us provided that we cooperate with it.

Sincerely in Christ,

Fr. Jeff Fasching

The Mother of God Outshines all the Martyrs

From a homily by Basil of Seleucia, bishop:

Born of the Virgin Mother of God, the Creator and Lord of all shared our human nature, for He had a real body and soul even though He had no part in our misdeeds. He committed no sin, says Scripture, and no falsehood ever came from His mouth. O holy womb in which God was received, in which the record of our sins was effaced, in which God became man while remaining God! He was carried in the womb, condescending to be born in the same way as we are. Yet when He was received into the arms of His mother He did not leave the bosom of His Father. God is not divided as He carries out His will, but saves the world without suffering any division in Himself. When Gabriel came into the presence of the Virgin Mother of God he left heaven behind, but when the Word of God who fills all creation took flesh within her, He was not separated from the adoring hosts of heaven.

Is there any need to enumerate all the prophecies foretelling Christ's birth of the Mother of God? What tongue could worthily hymn her through whom we have received such magnificent blessings? With what flower of praise could we weave a fitting crown for her from whom sprang the flower of Jesse, who has crowned our race with glory and honor. What gifts could we bring that would be worthy of her of whom the whole world is unworthy? If Paul could say of the other saints that the world was not worthy of them, what can we say of the Mother of God, who outshines all the martyrs even as the sun outshines the stars?

O Virgin, well may the angels rejoice in you! Because of you they who long ages ago had banished our race are now sent to our service, and to his joy Gabriel is entrusted with the news of a divine child's conception. Rejoice, most favored one, let your face glow with gladness. You are to give birth to the joy of all the world, who will put an end to the age-old curse, destroying the power of death and giving to all the hope of resurrection.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

The Christmas Season

After all of our Advent preparations we once again find ourselves well into the Christmas season. Now is the time of year when we focus particularly on the Incarnation, the greatest event in the whole history of mankind. Our omnipotent God chose at a particular moment in time to reveal Himself in the flesh. This is how God chose from all eternity to redeem us and save us from our slavery to sin and satan.

Although God could have saved us in any way He wished, He nevertheless chose to do so by becoming a man. God did not consider it beneath His dignity to take on our human nature. What a great joy for us! What a great message of hope! What a great lesson in humility! The Christmas message should help us to realize our great dignity as Christians. God created us in His own image! When we look at Christ we acknowledge that He is the image of the invisible God, as Saint Paul says. When we see Christ we see the nature of our God.

If we are in fact made in God's image than we must strive to imitate our God. We must embrace humility in all aspects of our lives. We must strive to learn to submit to one another out of love for Christ. When we meditate upon the Incarnation we must beg God for the humility that allowed the Blessed Virgin Mary to say yes to God at this unprecedented event and every moment of her life.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

The Word Made Flesh

Christ began to be flesh in the Virgin Mary's womb, but we know that He did not begin to exist at that moment. Saint John says: "What existed from the beginning." Remember the words of Saint John's Gospel that we proclaim at the end of every Mass: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God."

This "Word" that Saint John refers to is Christ's physical body. At a predetermined point in time, God chose to reveal this Word that existed from the beginning. Saint John therefore writes: "...life itself was revealed." Life itself (Christ) was revealed in the flesh. The Word was made flesh so that mankind could see and touch it.

Saint John goes on to say: "And we are witnesses and we proclaim to you that eternal life which was with the Father and has been revealed among us...We proclaim to you what we have heard and seen." The disciples had the privilege of seeing the Lord face to face and hearing the words He spoke. We have also heard, although we have not seen. However, we are no less privileged than the disciples because we share the exact same faith!

"And our fellowship is with God the Father and Jesus Christ His Son. And we write this to you to make your joy complete."

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Praying

How have you prayed today? Is your day sincerely centered around your relationship with Jesus Christ? If not, it absolutely should be. We have been created for God and God alone. Since Christ took on our human nature He knows all too well the need we have of other human beings. However, those needs can never be truly fulfilled or genuinely met until we are first and foremost centered in Jesus Christ!

In fact, no human being can every completely fulfill our deepest needs and longings. Only Christ can fully satisfy us, yet we foolishly create countless obstacles in the path of our journey toward Him.

Today let us resolve to reform our lives and habits. Let us truly put Christ first in our thoughts, words and actions. When we abandon ourselves completely to Christ and the Divine Will, we experience a peace and joy unlike any other!

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

The People Offer

The people offer in their own names, “not only through the hands of the priest but also together with him. But because only the priest acts in the very person of Christ in confecting the sacrament and in offering the sacred Gift to the Father, the offering of the people depends upon that of the priest or, rather, on that of Christ acting through the priest.

Pius XII, in his encyclical: Mediator Dei writes: “It is important for all the faithful to understand that it is their duty and highest privilege to take part in the Eucharistic sacrifice…in the closest union with the High Priest…and to offer it together with Him, and with Him to surrender themselves. But the fact that the faithful take part in the Eucharistic sacrifice does not mean that they also possess the power of the ministerial priesthood…The people…because they in no way represent the person of the divine Redeemer and are not mediator between themselves and God, can in no way possess the ministerial priestly right. All this is certain with the certainty of faith…The oblation is shared by the faithful in their own way, on a twofold ground: for they do not only offer the sacrifice through the hands of the priest, but also, in a certain sense, together with him…This does not mean that all the members, like the priest himself, perform the visible liturgical rite; this is done only by the minister divinely appointed for that purpose. Rather they are said to offer with him inasmuch as they unite their offerings of praise, entreaty, expiation, and thanksgiving with the offering or mental intentions of the priest, indeed with those of the High Priest Himself.”

Some argue that since the Eucharist is so important to the Church, if no ordained priest will be available, the laity can select one of their members to preside at the Eucharist. Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict gives the best theological response. He points out that the church is not a mere sociological community whose members may choose a functionary to do whatever they will. It is rather a sacramental, hierarchical community whose pastoral leaders have been chosen and empowered by Christ to shepherd His flock and dispense the heavenly gifts He has entrusted to His Church. Only those called by Christ and rightly ordained by the Church can validly celebrate the Eucharist and other sacraments.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass IV

Any attempt to explain the Mass must make it clear that it is not a new or different sacrifice from that of Calvary, but is the same sacrifice. The Council of Trent, in its Decree on the Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, explains that the sacrifice of the Mass is essentially the same as that of Calvary because it contains the same priest and the same victim. The mode of offering alone is different:

“In this divine sacrifice which is celebrated in the Mass, the same Christ who offered Himself once in a bloody manner on the altar of the cross is contained and is offered in an unbloody manner…For the victim is one and the same: the same now offers through the ministry of priests who then offered Himself on the cross; only the manner of offering is different.”

The sacrifice of the cross and its sacramental renewal in the Mass are one and the same, differing only in the manner of offering. The reason why the sacrifice of the Cross is renewed in the Mass is so that Christ’s faithful may be able to unite themselves to it. We join with Christ in offering Him and ourselves together with Him to the Father. In this way we personally and communally say yes to what Christ has done for us. We express our complete dependence on Christ’s offering and offer ourselves to God in union with Him. When we do this, we receive a participation in the graces which Christ won for us through His once-for-all perfect sacrifice.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

The Proper Order of Prayer

When God sends us trials and temptations we must have recourse to prayer. God has solemnly promised to always answer our prayers, even though most of us are constantly complaining that He does not do so. The answer is not because of the kind of things we ask for, since God included everything in His promise—all things whatsoever you shall ask. Nor can we attribute it to the unworthiness of those who ask, for His promise extended to everybody without exception—whoever asks shall receive. Why is it then that so many prayers remain unanswered? The answer is because we ask for way too little and we are not insistent enough.

Christ promised on behalf of His Father that He would give us everything, even the very smallest things. But He also laid down an order to be observed in all that we ask, and if we do not obey this rule we are not likely to obtain anything. Seek first the kingdom of God and His justice and all these things shall be given to you besides. This is the order God observes in the distribution of His benefits. We must not be surprised then if our prayers have so far been unsuccessful. People give alms, make vows to God, fast, or have Masses offered for the success of their temporal affairs. They are of little use because their offerings should be for the intention of amending their lives, for greater patience, contempt of the things of the world and detachment from creatures. Then afterwards they could pray for return of health or success of business. God would answer these prayers.

Prayer and Contemplation

Do not pour yourself out over many things. Do not permit your soul to be immersed in doubts, scruples and preoccupations concerning the past, the present or the future; do not bind yourself by an inordinate attachment to any occupation or to any person. Your intelligence has been given you to know your God, to propose to your will its Sovereign Good, and to adopt in action the best means to attain it. All that you give to creatures outside of this order you take away from God.

Keep a rein on the liberty of your heart, and you will be happy and you will find Christ at the center of your soul. Do not let your desires be multiplied. Restrain the dreams of pleasure, of prosperity and of honor that keep teasing your imagination. Christ has a divine jealousy. He has reduced Himself to naught to come and seek you in your nothingness and sin. Keep for Him then, untouched, all the affection of your heart.

Your heart should always rest with Christ. Do not permit your heart to open freely and attach itself to everything that attracts it. Without that safeguard, your life will be absorbed in other things. Do not think yourself stronger than others who have allowed themselves to be seduced by trivial things. Avoid the occasion of sin. Be resolute and persevering in stamping out any affections that are dangerous to your virtue or injurious to your reputation.

Give your heart into the keeping of the Virgin of virgins. She will watch over its comings in and its goings out and she will see to it that it loves Christ with a perfect love. Your are in the world but not of the world. When all the duties of your state of life have been fulfilled, bury yourself with Christ in the silence of quiet contemplation. Your place of repose after the burden and the heat of the day should be Christ’s Sacred Heart. There you will find your rest and renew your strength.

In Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

The Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ and Humility

God put us all on this earth to become saints. The choice is ours. Not one single saint in heaven lacked the virtue of humility. The Angels in Heaven fell from grace because of their lack of humility. We must always strive to keep ourselves in a state of humility. We simply cannot be saved without the virtue of humility.

Jesus Christ Himself says to learn from Him not because He worked miracles, but because He is gentle and humble of heart. "Learn from Me, because I am meek and humble of heart." (Matt. 11:29). Jesus gives us all the power to learn humility from Him.

On this feast day of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, there are an infinite number of qualities worthy of imitating when it comes to our Savior Jesus Christ, but He only asks that we imitate His humility.

Christ's infinite and burning desire to always remain with us is manifested in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. Christ waits for our visit. He humbles Himself because His delight is to be with the sons of men.

Today let us take advantage of our Lord's presence in the tablernacle. Let us not be indifferent. Let us pray for those who are.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

The Way of the Cross

"Depart from me, you accursed ones, into the everlasting fire" (Matt. 25:41). We must take up our Cross in this life and follow Christ if we wish to gain eternal life. For many, however, this saying seems hard. If we follow Christ willingly now we will not fear His second coming as our judge. If we willingly embrace our Cross now we will be able to draw near to Christ the judge with great trust.

Embracing the Cross means salvation. Embracing the Cross means life. Embracing the Cross means protection from our enemies. Strength of mind, joy and peace of spirit, virtue and holiness of life all come from embracing the Cross.

Take up your Cross and follow Christ in order to win eternal life. There is no other way.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

The Cross is our Glory

Christ is glorified in everything He has accomplished, but His supreme glory is of course His Cross. In the words of Saint Paul: "God forbid that I glory in anything but the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ!"

Christ performed countless miracles throughout His public ministry, but the Cross is by far His greatest work. Through the Cross we are freed from the bondage of sin and Satan's power. Through the Cross we have found redemption.

As Catholic Christians we can never be ashamed of the Cross of Christ. Christ freely laid down His life for our sake. He was a willing sacrifice. Nobody took His life from Him. "I have the power to lay down my life and to take it up again." Christ took great joy in His suffering and willingly submitted to His passion. The Cross is how He saved the world.

We must maintain the joy of the Cross in good times and in bad. Christ was crucified for us, yet He never sinned. We must allow oursleves to be crucified for Him by taking up our crosses. This is how we show our love for Him

In Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Epiphany

God chooses to manifest Himself as He sees fit. We recognize during Christmas that the eternal plan of salvation has been made manifest in the person of Christ. There is no other name in heaven or on earth or under the earth by which we are saved except through Jesus Christ. He comes in the flesh and one day He will come as our judge. However, we also recognize that He comes to us whenever we allow Him to through grace. When we open up our hearts to the grace of Jesus Christ we truly experience a peace and joy that only He can give.

Christ desires ardently to communicate His grace to us at all times. We see this in His establishment of His Catholic Church and the Sacraments available to us therin. We must re-dedicate ourselves to a disciplined, well ordered life of prayer as we begin a new year. This will help to more effectively dispose ourselves for the reception of the grace of Jesus Christ.

God has made Himself know to us. How much we allow ourselves to know Him is up to us.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

The Incarnation

From a sermon by Saint Augustine, bishop

Awake, mankind! For your sake God has become man. Awake, you who sleep rise up from the dead and Christ will enlighten you. I tell you again: for your sake, God became man.

You would have suffered eternal death, had He not been born in time. Never would you have been freed from sinful flesh, had He not taken on Himself the likeness of sinful flesh. You would have suffered everlasting unhappiness, had it not been for this mercy. You would never have returned to life, had He not shared your death. You would have been lost if He had not hastened to your aid. You would have perished, had He not come.

Let us then joyfully celebrate the coming of our salvation and redemption. Let us celebrate the festive day on which He who is the great and eternal day came from the great and endless day of eternity into our own short day of time.

He who glories, let him glory, not in himself, but in the Lord. For this reason, when our Lord was born of the Virgin, the message of the angelic voices was: Glory to God in the highest, and peace to His people on earth.

Let us then rejoice in this grace, so that our glorying may bear witness to our good conscience by which we glory, not in ourselves, but in the Lord. That is why Scripture says: “He is my glory, the one who lifts up my head.” For what greater grace could God have made to dawn on us than to make His only Son become the son of man, so that a son of man might in His turn become Son of God?

Ask if this were merited; ask for its reason, for its justification, and see whether you will find any other answer but sheer grace.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Advent II

We are now in a time of both anticipation and preparation. The Advent seasons offers us an opportunity to look forward with joy to the greatest event in the whole history of humanity, namely the incarnation. At the same time, we are reminded of our responsibility to make ourselves ready for Christ's second coming when He will act as our Judge.

It should be a great joy for us when we meditate on the fact that our lives on this earth are so very short. We will soon depart this good world that God created; a world in which we are so often tempted to offend God who suffered so much for us. It is good for us to meditate often on eternity. When we do so how can we possibly cling to this life and all that is in it?

Judgment on the part of Christ should bring us consolation rather than despair. Our Lord is not a severe Judge, but a Father and Redeemer. God opens His heart to us in sympathy. Those who have been sincere in their tears for their sins, their penances and good works will no doubt be embraced by the loving arms of the Father.

Are you ready for that day?

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Christ the King

Christ is the conquerer of sin and death. The powers of darkness rail against Christ's Church and against His children. However, we must not fear because Christ is the King of kings and the God of armies.

All Christ's enemies are in His presence infinitely less than the smallest grain of sand. In this life we suffer and struggle in the bosom of the Church, but if we have trust and confidence in Christ our victory is assured.

We must realize that no power of evil can reach the Almighty or snatch from His hand a single soul that is sincerely bound to Him. No lack of success, no weakness, no frailty is able to interfere with Christ's action or hinder His will to do good through a person for the glory of God the Father.

If we are patient and faithful in little things, Our Lord will soon place us over great things. Christ will say: "Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

In Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Contemplation

We must always consider God's will and what He wants when we wish to enter into contemplation. Since we offend God in so many ways, we must constantly humble ourselves before God. We must acknowledge our unworthiness and pray that God heal our souls. We must ask for God's mercy.

After we do this, we should focus on the Spirit of God with great joy. We can then cease focusing on our unworthiness and the sadness it brings. We can begin to see that God's will rather than our own is in every way beneficial to us. We eventually learn to despise deviating from the will of God in any way.

We make progress in the spiritual life when we realize how thinking of ourselves brings frustration and sadness. However, when we think about God we are consoled in the joy and peace of the Holy Spirit. Our fear and humility gives way to hope and love.

In Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching