MADISON — Vigil […]
Tag: Lent
Pride meets humility in the quiet of the desert
On the First Sunday of Lent, in all three liturgical years of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, we’re confronted with the account of Our Lord’s temptation in the desert by the devil.
This is a beautiful text, because in a way the history of the world was played out in a quiet desert, away from the busy cities, between God-made-man and the fallen angel.
Make sure the devil has one hell of a Lent
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| This column is the bishop’s communication with the faithful of the Diocese of Madison. Any wider circulation reaches beyond the intention of the bishop. |
Dear Friends,
And so, we begin Lent. It strikes me as though yesterday was Labor Day and yet, here we are. There was the possibility that Ash Wednesday might be overshadowed for some by the blissful celebration of St. Valentine’s Day.
However, a far more sinister overshadowing overtook them both. Once again, wonderful young people, with their whole lives ahead of them, were meaninglessly and horrendously slaughtered and injured. So many family lives were changed forever, and not for the better.
Sadness really hung around this St. Valentine’s Day. Deep sadness. And, if any good was to come from this sadness, I hope that it awakened our consciousness to Lent and to our own mortality and need for both repentance and salvation.
Confrontation with the devil
This past Sunday we heard that the Holy Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, to be tempted by the devil (Mk 1:12-15). He drove Jesus out, into a face-to-face confrontation with him who is pure evil. This confrontation was therefore necessary for the sinless, only begotten Son of God.
And as we begin Lent, that tells us, in a way, that this confrontation with the devil is what Lent is all about. For while Jesus has the ultimate victory over the devil in the life to come, in this world the devil maintains his camp, and so we too must confront him.
Christ is our hope and our peace
This past weekend we heard the moving story of the man healed by Jesus of leprosy (Mk 1:40-45). Now, it’s a miraculous story of Jesus healing someone from a painful and humiliating disease, and that in its own right is worthy of our consideration.
Lenten activities in 2018
Lent at Holy Name Heights
MADISON — Lenten prayer opportunities for employees, residents, and guests in the Holy Name Memorial Chapel at Holy Name Heights, 702 S. High Point Rd., include:
• Celebration of the Mass — Mass is celebrated Monday through Friday at 12 noon. There will be no Mass on Holy Thursday, March 29; Good Friday, March 30; or Easter Monday, April 2.
• Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament — The Blessed Sacrament is exposed daily, Monday through Friday, from 9 to 11:45 a.m. Adoration will not take place on Good Friday, March 30, or Easter Monday, April 2.
Lent: A journey from ashes to Easter
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On Ash Wednesday, Feb. 14 this year, we begin the season of Lent. The word Lent comes from an old English word meaning Spring time which is a season of new growth.
Lent is a season of the Church when we open ourselves to new spiritual growth so that at Easter, we can renew our baptismal promises with renewed committed faith and Christ-like joy and love.
Lenten mission at St. John Vianney will feature Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio
JANESVILLE — As we enter into the season of Lent, many Catholics consider how to deepen their spiritual journey and go beyond simply “giving something up.”
To aid parishioners — and Catholics in the Diocese of Madison — St. John Vianney Parish in Janesville has invited Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio, better known as “Dr. Italy,” to come and speak for a one-night mission on Thursday, Feb. 22.
Dr. D’Ambrosio is a well-respected Catholic professor and speaker who has had several books on the New York Times best-seller list, hosted multiple TV series on EWTN, and been a frequent guest on a variety of Catholic radio shows, including Catholic Answers and The Catholic Connection.
Forgiveness — the heart of mercy
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| Robert Enright and Msgr. John Hebl |
Seventh in a series of seven articles on forgiveness.
This final forgiveness essay is a collaboration of both writers. Previously we discussed what it means and what it does not mean to forgive others; how one goes about forgiving; how forgiveness is viewed within the Catholic faith; and how it appears within schools and families.
Today, in conclusion, we will examine how forgiving might be planted for good in our communities.
Mending the ‘holey socks’ of our souls
“M-o-o-o-m! There’s a hole in my sock!”
It was Sunday morning, 20 minutes before Mass, and our household was a-flutter with our four children scurrying about donning church clothes, brushing teeth, and fixing hair.
My eight-year-old son was in his room, half-dressed, with a sock on one foot and disdainfully holding up the matching holey one. “I can’t wear this holey sock to church!” he cried.
Solemnity of the Annunciation and Laetare Sunday
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| This column is the bishop’s communication with the faithful of the Diocese of Madison. Any wider circulation reaches beyond the intention of the bishop. |
Dear friends,
Last weekend the anticipation of Easter joy certainly mingled with, and almost seemed to overcome, the more somber spirit of Lenten penance as we celebrated both the Solemnity of the Annunciation of Our Blessed Mother and Laetare Sunday, which captures in advance the joy of Easter and reminds us indeed of the destiny of Lent.
The Annunciation celebrates Jesus taking flesh in the womb of His mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the moment of His conception, free from Original Sin.
Mary, as she carried Jesus about in her physical body, became the Ark of the Covenant and the Tabernacle of God the Most High.