Tag: abstinence

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Office of Worship, Diocese of Madison

Bishop Morlino calls for prayer and fasting

MADISON — In a letter written by Bishop Robert C. Morlino to the people of the Diocese of Madison regarding the ongoing sexual abuse scandal in the Church, he called all within the diocese to intensify their prayer and fasting for purification from this heinous sin.

Masses of reparation are being held throughout the diocese on September 14, the Feast of the Holy Cross.

Bishop Morlino will preside at the 12 noon Mass on Friday, Sept. 14, in the chapel at Holy Name Heights.

The bishop also invited people to observe the Au- tumn Ember Days (September 19, 21, and 22) “as days of fasting and abstinence in reparation for the sins and outrages committed by members of the clergy and episcopacy.”

What is reparation?

Reparation occurs when one makes amends for a wrong done, especially through sin. One can see that the word “repair” is closely linked to “reparation.”

When Jesus died on the Cross, he “offered his life out of love for the Father to make reparation for our sinful disobedience” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, p. 897).

His saving life, death, and resurrection repaired humanity’s relationship with God, lost by the sin of Adam and Eve.

When we offend God, we make amends by going to Confession and doing penance. We also can ask God fervently for mercy on others who may offend God.

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Kevin Wondrash

Bishop grants dispensation from abstinence on St. Patrick’s Day

MADISON — The bishops of Wisconsin determined together that since St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Friday this year (March 17), it would be appropriate to dispense the faithful from the obligation of abstinence from eating meat that day.

Since this must be done by each bishop in his own diocese, Bishop Robert C. Morlino has issued a “Rescript Granting Dispensation” for the “faithful who reside in the Diocese of Madison, as well as anyone actually present in the Diocese of Madison” on March 17, 2017.

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Fr. Donald Lange

Lent has surprisingly modern appeal

Christians around the world mark Lent’s beginning by celebrating Ash Wednesday, Feb. 10 this year.

Lent has a surprising modern appeal. Some pastors say that next to Christmas, more people come to church on Ash Wednesday than on any other day, including Easter.

Facing a basic truth

The ashes help us face a basic truth that we may try to avoid, namely death. When we receive ashes, the priest or deacon says, “Remember, you are dust and unto dust, you shall return.” They may also say, “Repent and believe the Good News!”

Combined, the words remind us that we will die and return to dust; therefore, while we’re still alive, we are to repent and believe the Good News!

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Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Taking the pledge

MADISON — Eddie Cotter, executive director of the Dead Theologians Society (DTS) headquartered in the Diocese of Madison, took the pledge 26 years ago.

Cotter met members of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association of the Sacred Heart (PTAA, also known as the Pioneers) while visiting Dublin, Ireland.

Taking the Pioneer pledge

“I didn’t have a history of drinking,” said Cotter, “but I thought it would be a good thing to take the Pioneer pledge.”

This meant that Cotter promised to abstain from all alcoholic drink, wear the Pioneer emblem featuring the Sacred Heart, and recite the Pioneer prayer twice daily.

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Mary C. Uhler

Abstinence education: Why it’s more important than ever

Editor's View by Mary C. Uhler

In Wisconsin, we’ve been hearing a lot in the media these days about sex education. Our state Legislature is debating a bill which would overturn a law passed two years ago called the Healthy Youth Act.

That law required public schools that offer sex education to teach about proper use of contraceptives, among other things. The proposed new law, called the “Strong Communities . . . Healthy Kids Act,” would emphasize abstinence as the only reliable way to prevent pregnancy and disease.

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David Kuhle, Hazel Green

Law encourages children to become sexually active

To the editor:

What in the darkness of Hades has possessed the Democrats in the Wisconsin Legislature to pass the falsely-named Healthy Youth Act (AB 458/SB 324)? This bill requires teachers of human growth and development to make our children proficient in contraception.

I do not want our 12-year-old children handed a cucumber and a condom to prove they know how to engage in sexual activity. Condoms do not eliminate venereal disease and pregnancy, but do invite sexual activity.

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