Month: October 2012

On
Fr. Rick Heilman, For the Catholic Herald

New book offers a way all can be ‘God strong’

PINE BLUFF — “As Christians we must love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us,” Bishop Daniel Jenky of Peoria, Ill., boldly stated, “but as Christians we must also stand up for what we believe and always be ready to fight for the Faith. The days in which we live now require heroic Catholicism, not casual Catholicism. We can no longer be Catholics by accident, but instead be Catholics by conviction.”

The Church Militant Field Manual was written to help all of us in the trenches of the Church Militant to understand, train for, and respond to this call for heroic faith in these critical times. Pope Benedict XVI stated that, “Members of the Church on earth are aptly described as ‘Ecclesia Militans’, the Church Militant, since it is necessary to enter into battle with evil.”

Receiving power from the holy Spirit

As Jesus ascended to his Father in heaven, he assured his disciples, “You will receive POWER when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8). God wants us — the Ecclesia Militans — engaged in this mission, but He wants us strong in His supernatural power.

What is this power? That is precisely what we explore in the Church Militant Field Manual. St. Paul wrote: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Eph 6:10-12).

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On
Bishop Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of Madison

Caring for the body — and the soul

Dear Friends,

I don’t know if it’s been your experience, but, of late, I’ve noticed a marked increase in the number of people who are very obvious for their display of unhappiness. I’ve been taken aback on a number of occasions by total strangers who, by way of their rude behavior, and shortness with others, indicate a real lack of joy in their lives.

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On
Obispo Robert C. Morlino

Cuidando el cuerpo – y el alma

Esta columna es la comunicación del Obispo con los fieles de la diócesis de Madison. Cualquier divulgación más amplia va más allá de la intención del Obispo.

Queridos amigos:

No sé si han tenido la experiencia, pero últimamente, me he dado cuenta de un marcado incremento en el número de personas que son muy obvias al mostrar su infelicidad. En varias ocasiones lo he podido constatar con completos desconocidos que, con su conducta ruda y su poca empatía con otros, muestran una verdadera falta de alegría en sus vidas.

Hay varios factores que pueden crear esta infelicidad general a nuestro alrededor, y ciertamente hay varias formas en las que podemos reaccionar a esta tendencia. Una de las cosas más importantes que podemos hacer, inmediatamente, es rezar. Necesitamos rezar por nuestro prójimo, especialmente por aquellos que permiten que su infelicidad quede manifiesta y nos agreda. Necesitamos rezar por el crecimiento en aquellas tres virtudes cristianas de la fe, la esperanza y el amor: en nuestras propias vidas y en las vidas de quienes nos rodean.

Pero también necesitamos actuar. Necesitamos ser testigos visibles de fe, de esperanza y de la caridad en nuestras propias vidas. Viviendo como hermosos testigos de la fe, de la esperanza que tenemos y de la caridad cristiana, no nos queda sino vivir vidas llena de alegría y, al hacerlo, darle a la gente una alternativa a la tristeza que experimentan ahora, un camino hacia la felicidad auténtica y duradera, una vida en Jesucristo.

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On
Obispo Robert C. Morlino

Cuidando el cuerpo – y el alma

Esta columna es la comunicación del Obispo con los fieles de la diócesis de Madison. Cualquier divulgación más amplia va más allá de la intención del Obispo.

Queridos amigos:

No sé si han tenido la experiencia, pero últimamente, me he dado cuenta de un marcado incremento en el número de personas que son muy obvias al mostrar su infelicidad. En varias ocasiones lo he podido constatar con completos desconocidos que, con su conducta ruda y su poca empatía con otros, muestran una verdadera falta de alegría en sus vidas.

Hay varios factores que pueden crear esta infelicidad general a nuestro alrededor, y ciertamente hay varias formas en las que podemos reaccionar a esta tendencia. Una de las cosas más importantes que podemos hacer, inmediatamente, es rezar. Necesitamos rezar por nuestro prójimo, especialmente por aquellos que permiten que su infelicidad quede manifiesta y nos agreda. Necesitamos rezar por el crecimiento en aquellas tres virtudes cristianas de la fe, la esperanza y el amor: en nuestras propias vidas y en las vidas de quienes nos rodean.

Pero también necesitamos actuar. Necesitamos ser testigos visibles de fe, de esperanza y de la caridad en nuestras propias vidas. Viviendo como hermosos testigos de la fe, de la esperanza que tenemos y de la caridad cristiana, no nos queda sino vivir vidas llena de alegría y, al hacerlo, darle a la gente una alternativa a la tristeza que experimentan ahora, un camino hacia la felicidad auténtica y duradera, una vida en Jesucristo.

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On
Peggy Rakow

God has gifted us with many, varied types of music

To the editor:

While I do enjoy music created by creative dead white Europeans, I also find that God has gifted us with many new and varied types of music for our time.

Nico Fassino writes that the Mass is not for “us” and I must agree with him.

BUT! I also know that the Mass is our most intimate experience with the living and active Christ. In the Mass not only do we worship God, but we find Him with us          . . . speaking to us in the Gospel and homily, praying with and for us, teaching us, comforting us, forgiving us, feeding us, and blessing us.

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On
Dan Berns

Misguided values should not control our lives

To the editor:

We are parents of 10 children (nine living), unplanned parenthood if you choose to call it that. We have never owned a new automobile nor have we relied on food stamps or unemployment compensation for which we may have qualified at times.

Our children were taught personal responsibility in the context of strong Catholic education. These children, with our 29 grandchildren, are welcome members in the communities where they reside. The eighth child is a Catholic priest. Collectively, our children hold five master’s degrees and speak 11 languages.

Family size should not be judged numerically, but rather on the ability to care for and guide the children. Two children can be too many, and five too few.

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On
Jeff Davis

Church gives guidance on how to choose a candidate

To the editor:

For whom to vote????

As the level of negativity, untruths, and confusion escalates, it becomes harder and harder to choose the proper candidate for whom to vote. Some people lack a moral compass and others a moral authority to help them with their decision. We who are Catholic have the compelling moral authority of our Church to give us direction.

The guide on Faithful Citizenship was first drafted from the Catechism of the Catholic Church by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2000. Even though it is published every four years before our November elections, it is primarily meant to give us direction in forming our conscience on important issues.

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