By Abbot Marcel Rooney, OSB
This is the first in a series of articles examining the theology and spirituality of the Sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation.
The Gospels bring out clearly that Jesus wanted to give authority regarding sin to His Church.
One example will suffice — John 20:21-23: “He breathed on them, and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven. If you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
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Thirty-five-years ago when Annunciation House — a sanctuary and home of hospitality that has served over 100,000 refugees, homeless poor, and undocumented workers — was started in El Paso, Texas, founding director Ruben Garcia and a few friends wanted to place themselves among the poor, to see where the poor would lead them.
He said, “They took us to the undocumented — the most vulnerable.”
To the editor:
We love receiving your paper for many reasons; one of them is because we can leave it in the reading area and read throughout the week.
It is edifying and enlightening; we are happy that our son — who can now read — enjoys paging through it. I was surprised that Fr. Tad Pacholczyk’s article on perversions went into such detail. While I completely agree with his views on the subject, I do not feel the editorial should have been included or if it was, it should have had some kind of editorial note on content that could be found in the online edition.
To the editor:
I am thrilled that Pope John Paul II, a man of deep faith, will soon be proclaimed a saint by the Catholic Church! The Holy Father was an inspiration and a model witness to the life of Christ; a shepherd of truth immersed in profound humility and immense love for both God and man.
His many writings and tireless, worldwide pilgrimages of faith have been a source of strength, encouragement, confidence, optimism, and enlightenment not only to Catholics but to all men of good will.
To the editor:
Recently, I ran across an article written by Dr. Alveda King, niece of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., and daughter of civil rights activist Rev. A. D. King.
Dr. King began by taking note that in January, the U.S. celebrated 150 years since signing the Emancipation Proclamation — the end of slavery of black people in America. She then stated: “Still the babies are not free.” She noted that our country also marked 40 years of the March for Life held annually in Washington, D.C., “because babies still are not free.”
Last Sunday’s Gospel reading featured the familiar story of the Good Samaritan, the kind man who stopped to help a fellow traveler beaten by robbers alongside a road.
JANESVILLE — This summer, 15-year-olds Tony Seibert and Sam Barrette of Nativity of Mary Parish in Janesville became the fourth and fifth Scouts to represent the Diocese of Madison on the St. George Trek (SGT).
This year the Diocese of Madison, for the first time, has a priest participating in SGT. Fr. Brian Dulli, Eagle Scout and pastor of St. Peter Parish in Ashton, eagerly looked forward to being a part of SGT.
The St. George Trek is a backpacking adventure at Philmont Scout Ranch. Philmont is the premiere Boy Scout Ranch located near Cimarron, N.M. in the heart of the Rocky Mountains.
MILWAUKEE — School Sister of St. Francis Nila Bauer, who lived her religious vocation in education, died July 16 at Sacred Heart Convent in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Sister was 86.
The daughter of Edward and Agnes Bauer, she was born October 16, 1926, in Wilmette, Illinois. She was received into the School Sisters of St. Francis June 13, 1944; made her first profession of vows June 21, 1946; and final (perpetual) vows June 21, 1952.
SINSINAWA — Sister Carmelita McDowell, OP, died July 13, 2013, at St. Dominic Villa. The funeral Mass was held in Queen of the Rosary Chapel at Sinsinawa, July 16, 2013, followed by burial in the Motherhouse Cemetery.
Sister Carmelita made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican Aug. 5, 1947, and her final profession Aug. 5, 1950. She taught for 30 years and served as principal for four years and tutor for two years. Sister Carmelita served the Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation in various leadership positions and as support staff for 18 years. She served in Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Alabama and Wyoming.
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| Esta columna es la comunicación del Obispo con los fieles de la Diócesis de Madison. Cualquier circulación más amplia va más allá de la intención del Obispo. |
Queridos amigos:
Mientras escribo esta columna, estamos llegando rápidamente al Cuatro de julio, cuando celebramos como nación nuestra independencia y libertad- Es esta libertad la que nos ha dado un gran espacio para florecer como raza humana y como nación, pero es una libertad delicada, construida en la presuposición de que nosotros como nación elegiremos ejercer nuestra libertad de un modo en el que avancemos hacia lo mejor.
En días recientes y en los últimos años, creo, hemos visto como aumenta la evidencia de que nuestra capacidad de elegir lo bueno ya no se puede dar por descontada.
Tal vez el ejemplo más claro de esta evidencia sean las amenazas a nuestra libertad religiosa. Desde la fundación de nuestra nación (y una gran porción de la razón para los cimientos de nuestra nación) se nos ha garantizado la oportunidad de buscar el bien de la vida eterna y vivir nuestras vidas de acuerdo a los que creemos Dios Todopoderosos nos ha pedido.
Como cristianos creemos que el Señor Jesús, deseando atraer a todos a Él y al Cielo, nos dijo “vayan y anuncien a todas las naciones”. Él no dijo “quédense en el cuarto de arriba”, sino vayan a todos. Él nos enseñó a encontrarnos con todas las gentes con la Buena Noticia que hemos recibido.
En consecuencia con esta misión que Jesús nos ha dado, tratamos de predicar la Verdad siempre y en todo lugar: no solo en las iglesias el domingo y no solo en nuestros hogares, sino en nuestros lugares de trabajo y recreo, en los mercados, en los negocios de los cristianos y en la esfera pública.
