Year: 2016

On
Bishop Robert Barron

Risen and the reality of the Resurrection

When I saw the coming attractions for the new film Risen — which deals with a Roman tribune searching for the body of Jesus after reports of the Resurrection — I thought that it would leave the audience in suspense, intrigued but unsure whether these reports were justified or not.

I was surprised and delighted to discover that the movie is, in fact, robustly Christian and substantially faithful to the Biblical account of what transpired after the death of Jesus.

Scene in the Upper Room

My favorite scene shows tribune Clavius (played by the always convincing Joseph Fiennes) bursting into the Upper Room, intent upon arresting Jesus’ most intimate followers. As he takes in the people in the room, he spies Jesus, at whose crucifixion he had presided and whose face in death he had closely examined.

But was he seeing straight? Was this even possible? He slinks down to the ground, fascinated, incredulous, wondering, anguished.

As I watched the scene unfold, the camera sweeping across the various faces, I was as puzzled as Clavius: was that really Jesus? It must indeed have been like that for the first witnesses of the Risen One, their confusion and disorientation hinted at in the Scriptures themselves: “They worshipped, but some doubted.”

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On
Kevin Wondrash

Lenten Women’s Day of Reflection

MADISON — A Lenten Women’s Day of Reflection will be held on Saturday, March 12, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Schoenstatt Marian Shrine, 5901 Cottage Grove Rd.

With the theme, “Queen of Mercy, Refuge of Sinners,” the day will include talks and discussions, Mass, opportunity for Confession, private prayer, Divine Mercy Chaplet, and indulgence prayers for the Year of Mercy.

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On
Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Join prayer campaign to support Sisters

An order of Sisters has been quietly caring for the elderly for many years. Founded by Sr. Jeanne Jugan in 1839 in France, the Little Sisters of the Poor now serve in over 30 countries of the world.

The Sisters’ website describes their mission “to offer the neediest elderly of every race and religion a home where they will be welcomed as Christ, cared for as family, and accompanied with dignity until God calls them to himself.”

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On
Kristen Beckett, For the Catholic Herald

2016 Annual Catholic Appeal: ‘Contemplating the Face of God’s Mercy’

annual catholic appeal

MADISON — While in the midst of this Year of Mercy, we are truly given a wonderful opportunity to “Contemplate the Face of God’s Mercy” and reflect upon the ways that God’s mercy will lead us to greater works of mercy in our families, parishes, communities, and throughout the diocese.

We can tangibly contemplate and live out God’s mercy through both the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. One way to support many of those works is through giving to the Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA).

Each year, for the ACA, each parishioner in the Diocese of Madison is asked to prayerfully consider what they are able to give back to the Church. Your pledge to the ACA goes to support many missions and works of mercy throughout the diocese. Some of these include:

• Support Services and Teacher Training in Catholic Schools — Do you know any children that attend a Catholic school in the diocese? The

ACA funds trainings for principals to assure schools are compliant with state and federal laws and accreditations and best practices. It also supports mentorship training, renewing of teachers licenses and trainings for diocesan catholic school teachers.

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On
Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Why are objects kissed during Mass?

What's That All About column by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

The fifth in a series by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf about the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.

In this short series we are looking into what Bishop Robert C. Morlino is up to when you see reports that he has celebrated a “Pontifical Mass at the Throne in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite” (PMATTITEFOTRR).

So far, we’ve made distinctions about what the Roman Rite and the Extraordinary Form are, we’ve seen the different levels of solemnity with which Holy Mass can be offered in the older, traditional form, and we’ve touched one of the most obvious differences between how a bishop says Mass in the traditional Form and the Ordinary Form, that is, the additional vestments he uses and the different ministers he has to help him.

Objects kissed

Here is another thing which might make you scratch your head when you attend your first PMATTITEFOTRR.

In the older, traditional Form, when objects are handed to and taken from the priest celebrant or the bishop, they are kissed, along with Father’s hand. What’s up with that?

It’s a good question, given the fact that it is so out of keeping with the style of 99 precent of Masses you have seen in the last 50 years.

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On
Fr. Rick Heilman, For the Catholic Herald

Wisconsin’s Into the Breach Tour empowers men

This past September 29, on the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel, Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted of the Diocese of Phoenix, Ariz., promulgated an Apostolic Exhortation calling men to step “Into the Breach.” Bishop Olmsted began his exhortation:

“I begin this letter with a clarion call and clear charge to you, my sons and brothers in Christ: Men, do not hesitate to engage in the battle that is raging around you, the battle that is wounding our children and families, the battle that is distorting the dignity of both women and men.

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On
Bishop Robert Barron

Confirmation and evangelization

Just a few days ago, I had the enormous privilege of performing my first Confirmation as a bishop.

It took place at Holy Cross Parish in Moor Park, Calif., a large, bustling, and bi-lingual parish in my pastoral region. I told the confirmandi — and I meant it — that I would keep them in my heart for the rest of my life, for we were connected by an unbreakable bond.

In preparation for this moment, I was, of course, obliged to craft a homily, and that exercise compelled me to do some serious studying and praying around the meaning of this great sacrament.

What is Confirmation?

It is sometimes said that Confirmation is a sacrament in search of a theology. It is indeed true that most Catholics could probably give at least a decent account of the significance of Baptism, Eucharist, Confession, Matrimony, Holy Orders, and the Anointing of the Sick, but they might balk when asked to explain the meaning of Confirmation.

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