STOUGHTON — All […]
Tag: prayer
Renewal begins with prayer
Renewal of the Catholic Church in the wake of the sexual abuse scandals must start with prayer.
That’s what the leaders of the Knights of Columbus said in promoting a “Novena for Repentance, Renewal, and Rebuilding” in response to the recent Vatican summit on child protection and the clerical sexual abuse crisis.
Diocesan Prayer for a New Bishop
Even as we are mourning the death of Bishop Robert C. Morlino, all in the Diocese of Madison must now turn toward the Lord and earnestly ask that he send us a successor who will lead us in the faith. Following are some suggestions that were sent in a memo to parishes:
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.
Take bishop’s words to heart
One of the first things Bishop Robert C. Morlino did after becoming Bishop of Madison was to promulgate a Policy Regarding Abuse of Minors, Sexual Misconduct, and Sexual Harassment on November 6, 2003. It was revised in 2016, and copies of this policy are available on the diocesan website (www.madisondiocese.org).
Bishop Morlino has been vigilant in following the U.S. Catholic Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People issued in 2002. In that document, the bishops reaffirmed the obligation of all involved with the Church to “protect young people and to prevent sexual abuse” since this “flows from the mission and example given to us by Jesus Christ himself.”
Pope’s Prayer Intention
Pope’s January […]
Make sure the devil has one hell of a Lent
 |
|
| 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.
A Lenten response to violence
It was interesting to see people with crosses on their foreheads in the crowds shown after the school shootings in Parkland, Fla.
Of course, the shootings occurred on Ash Wednesday, so some of the parents and other family members had gone to Mass during the day.
Is there a message for us? The more I thought about it, I think there is.
Lent: A journey from ashes to Easter
 |
|
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.
Make straight the path for Lent
|
|
|
Word on Fire
|
In these days, therefore, let us add something beyond ordinary expectations of our service. Let each one, over and above the measure prescribed, offer God something of his own freewill in the joy of the Holy Spirit. ~ Rule of St. Benedict, Sixth century
In roughly three weeks, Ash Wednesday will arrive and with this commemoration, the Church begins the penitential practices of Lent.