Bulletin 113

SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806

EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS (LATIN)

CELEBRANT Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

August 5th, 10th Sunday after Pentecost

Epistle: 1 Cor. 12:2-11; Gospel: Lk. 18:9-14

Mass Schedule August 6th through August 10th

Monday –Transfiguration of the Lord--NO LATIN MASS

Tuesday-Saint Cajetan, Confessor

Wednesday-Saint John Mary Vianney, Confessor

Thursday-Vigil of Saint Lawrence

Friday-Saint Lawrence, Deacon & Martyr-NO LATIN MASS


Pot Luck Dinner Sunday, August 12th immediately following the 2:30pm Latin Mass


Jesus Christ abased Himself before the Majesty of God the Father. He took the form of a servant. He willed to be thought of as the lowest of men, a man of sorrow. Jesus is the Holy of Holies, separated from sinners, but He took on Himself the sins of all men.

Jesus has drawn upon Himself all the blows of God’s anger. We are God’s creatures. We are infinitely dependent on our Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier. Without God’s grace we cannot possibly make any progress and we cannot persevere without being supported by God’s grace.

We must therefore humble ourselves before God the Father as the publican does in the Gospel. If we acknowledge our lowliness, God will draw near to us. We must learn to keep our hearts contrite and humble in God’s presence. We cannot attribute to ourselves any talent, success or good work. We must realize what is ours and what is God’s.

Let us pray that we will be humble and recognize our sins.

Sincerely in Christ,

Fr. Jeffery Fasching

Contrition

The Council of Trent defined contrition as: "a sorrow of soul and a hatred of sin committed, with a firm purpose of not sinning in the future." Contrition means a true detestation of sin. Saint Luke says: "Except you do penance you shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:5). The Council of Trent reminds us that contrition is absolutely necessary in order to obtain forgiveness of one's sins. The first words that Jesus Himself preached were to do penance, repent and obtain the forgiveness of one's sins.

What God is looking for a true, interior conversion. He wants a sincere, contrite heart. It is not enough to simply perform outward acts of penance without true contrition. The Council of Trent defined that real contrition includes "a firm purpose of not sinning in the future;" consequently he who repents must resolve to avoid all sin. Christ commands us to love God with our whole heart, mind and soul.

When we petition God in prayer, contrition is one of the most important graces that we must beg God to grant us. Amendment of our lives and true contrition for our sins are in fact among the highest in the order of things that we must petition God for. When we meditate upon the Sorrowful Agony in the Garden we ask God for a truly contrite heart.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Courage

The Scriptures demand that we be bold and courageous. Saint Thomas Aquinas defines courage as follows: "To remove any obstacle that withdraws the will from following the reason." Courage allows us to take risks and make sacrifices. God takes courage and its lack thereof very seriously. Are you a courageous person? Many people actually walk away from their God-given faith because they lack courage. The parable of the sower from last Sunday's Gospel gives us a great example. Some people experience initial joy with their faith, but they lack staying power. When trials or persecution come their way they fall away. Christ tells us in the Scriptures that many people fall away from their faith because they are cowards.

We are all born with the capacity to exercise courage. In fact, we are capable of exercising every virtue, but we must pray. When we meditate on Christ's Sorrowful Crowning with Thorns courage is the virtue we beg God for. Christ showed courage often in the Scriptures, particulary when He had to withstand the criticism of the Scribes and Pharisees who hated Him. Let us ask Christ for courage. Let us never stop asking.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching