Be friends with Christ:
Bishop addresses new pope's spirituality

By Julianne Nornberg
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

MADISON -- Pope Benedict XVI says we must accept the responsibility of being friends with Jesus Christ.

That was one of the points Bishop Robert C. Morlino made during his homily at St. James Parish, Madison, April 24. The Mass marked the 100-year anniversary of the parish and also served as a time to pray for Pope Benedict, who was installed as the new Holy Father the same day.

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"You're asked to share this celebration," Bishop Morlino told the St. James parishioners. "Today we have the formal beginning of the ministry of Pope Benedict XVI."

As you've shared unselfishly for so many years, it is fitting to open our hearts wide to a celebration that covers the earth, he said.

Addressing relativism

In these first days, Pope Benedict has been made famous by some for having used the term "dictatorship of relativism," said Bishop Morlino. "Pope Benedict does not approve of the 'dictatorship of relativism' and neither does the bishop of Madison."

We have a wonderful image in today's Scripture of Jesus as a rock on which some will fall - such is their destiny, he said. It's scary that there are those whose lives are lived in such a way that they choose to make Jesus a stumbling stone for themselves, he said. "They've made a choice so that Jesus is an obstacle for them."

That image captures what Pope Benedict refers to when he mentions the "dictatorship of relativism," he said. "Jesus said, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life,' not 'I'm the way, the truth, and the life for those who think I am.' Jesus said, 'There is truth and I'm the truth.'   Full story ...

Beloved statue:
Found beneath debris at damaged cathedral

By Julianne Nornberg
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

From cathedral rector The following is what Msgr. Paul J. Swain, rector of St. Raphael Cathedral in Madison, wrote for parishioners in the parish bulletin concerning the recovery of the statue of the Blessed Mother: Statues and other works of art are beautiful ways to lift our hearts and minds to the holy. It is traditional in Catholic churches to have a statue of the Blessed Mother in a prominent location. They help us recall that touching moment when Jesus from the cross gave us his mother as our mother. They remind us of the model of humility, faith, and discipleship she is for us. They encourage us to pray for her intercession for ourselves, our families, our church, and our world. We worship only God. We venerate and honor the saints, Mary above all. And so it was disconcerting when the three-foot silver statue of the Blessed Mother seemed lost in the rubble from the fire at St. Raphael Cathedral. Since 1957 thousands of prayers, moments of silence, and expressions of hope had been spent kneeling before that statue. So it was with great joy this week that the statue was recovered in good condition, an Easter moment of resurrection. It will once again lift our hearts and minds to the holy. This recovery in the Easter Season and the role of Mary in our lives brings to mind the Regina Coeli: Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia For he whom you merited to bear, alleluia Has risen as he said, alleluia. Pray for us to God, alleluia Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia. Because the Lord is truly risen, alleluia Let us pray: O God, who by the Resurrection of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, granted joy to the whole world, grant, we beg of you, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, his Mother, we may lay hold of the joys of eternal life, through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen.

MADISON -- Hope shone forth once again as the silver-plated, three-foot statue of Mary that had stood on a ledge at the side of the sanctuary at St. Raphael Cathedral was recovered from debris in the fire-damaged building April 18.

Since the March 14 fire, parishioners have been asking about the statue all the time, said Msgr. Paul J. Swain, cathedral rector. The statue had been in the cathedral since the 1950s.

The statue, which had been lifted out of the cathedral with a crane, now lies in storage. It appears undamaged except that it just needs to be cleaned up, said Monsignor Swain.

Items retrieved

As for other items in the cathedral, the altar was lifted out of the building with a crane and sustained little damage except for a chipped corner, he said. The bishop's chair was retrieved, but it was pretty well burned, he said.

Seven of the 14 Stations of the Cross were also recovered as well as some pieces of the missing arm of the crucifix that was retrieved earlier. Recovered items are being stored in the rectory and storage areas.
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