Author: Chris Lee

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Chris Lee

John XXIII and John Paul II: Canonizing the bookends

Pope Francis’ bold decisions to canonize Blessed John XXIII without the normal post-beatification miracle and to link good Pope John’s canonization ceremony to that of Blessed John Paul II just may help re-orient Catholic thinking about modern Catholic history.

For what Francis is suggesting, I think, is that John XXIII and John Paul II are the twin bookends of the Second Vatican Council — and thus should be canonized together.

Summoning an ecumenical council

On January 25, 1959, less than three months after his election, John XXIII surprised the Catholic world by announcing that he would summon the 21st ecumenical council in history.

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Chris Lee

Sister Patricia Brockmeyer, OP, dies

SINSINAWA — Sister Patricia Brockmeyer, OP, died April 24, 2014, at Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis. Her religious name was Sister Mary Campion. The funeral Mass was held in Queen of the Rosary Chapel at Sinsinawa April 30, 2014, followed by burial of the cremains in the Motherhouse Cemetery.

Sister Patricia made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican Aug. 5, 1951, and her final profession Aug. 5, 1954. She taught music and piano for 20 years, served as a medical secretary for 13 years and secretary for five years, and ministered in pastoral care for two years. Sister Patricia served in Wisconsin, New York, Illinois, and Minnesota.

 

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Chris Lee

What Easter means

In first century Judaism, there were many views concerning what happened to people after they died.

Following a very venerable tradition, some said that death was the end, that the dead simply returned to the dust of the earth from which they came.

Others maintained that the righteous dead would rise at the close of the age. Still others thought that the souls of the just went to live with God after the demise of their bodies. There were even some who believed in a kind of reincarnation.

Accounts of Jesus’ resurrection

What is particularly fascinating about the accounts of Jesus’ resurrection is that none of these familiar frameworks of understanding is invoked.

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Chris Lee

Pray that rights to life, liberty, and happiness will survive

To the editor:

We, the people of the United States of America, who profess to be Christians, are facing one of the greatest threats to our religious liberty since our forefathers included these God-given rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in the Declaration of Independence more than 200 years ago.

In a case now being heard before our U. S. Supreme Court, the constitutionality of the Health and Human Services (HHS) mandate will be decided. This mandate demands that all hospitals and clinics providing health care must also do abortions on demand to all requests and that all drug-dispensing facilities must distribute contraceptive supplies.

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Chris Lee

Visiting agency services

Q I am the only family member involved in my mother’s care.

She lives in an apartment and has a service agency visiting daily to help her get up, prepare meals, and to be there for companionship.

Since my mother is not receiving much of a monthly income, I pay for this service. I have repeatedly asked this agency to keep me informed of their activities. It seems all they are interested in is sending me the monthly bill.

I hear about things second hand or well after the event has occurred. I am talking about missed visits as well as observations the staff has about my mother and her overall health and well being. Since I pay for her care, shouldn’t I be able to get all the details? (A concerned son in Columbus).

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Chris Lee

The Pascal Mystery: Death evolving into life

Sr. Ruth Battaglia, CSA

After successful treatment for breast cancer 16 years ago, it returned with a vengeance — 15 small brain tumors and a lung tumor. This time it was stage four cancer.

The diagnosis stunned everyone. The news of Patty Kelbel’s condition spread quickly, especially among the Christian Experience Weekend (CEW) community. CEW is an intense retreat experience, directed mostly by laity, that has been a joint venture between the parishes of St. Ann in Stoughton and Holy Mother of Consolation (HMC) in Oregon for a number of years.

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Chris Lee

Todo el tiempo le pertenece a Él

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:

Siempre es extraño preparar una columna sobre este tema para el Catholic Herald.

Mientras escribo, es lunes y acabamos de comenzar la Semana Santa. Cuando este número llegue a sus hogares, será probablemente Jueves Santo pero será la “edición de Pascua”. Acabamos de vivir el Domingo de Ramos, cuando hemos cantado con alegría “¡Hosanna!” y Jesús ha entrado triunfante en Jerusalén.

Entonces, ¿debería reflexionar sobre esos momentos de gloria mundana? ¿Debería alegrarme con todo el gusto de la Pascua, sabiendo que leerán esto con el brillo de esos días? ¿O debería considerar la oscuridad de la Pasión y la Muerte de Cristo, considerando que podrían leer esta columna el Jueves o el Viernes Santo?

Claro que no será el fin del mundo si escojo alguno de estos temas, y el tema tampoco es la tensión de tener que escribir esta columna.

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