Bishops' Schedules: Schedule of Bishop Robert C. Morlino Thursday, August 21, 2003 9:30 a.m. -- Attend Corporate Board Meeting, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Saturday, August 23, 2003 11:30 a.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Eucharist, Bishop's Summer Gathering with Seminarians, Bishop's Residence Tuesday, August 26, 2003 10:00 a.m. -- Attend St. Raphael Society Board Meeting, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Thursday, August 28, 2003 3:00 p.m. -- Preside at Midday Prayer for Vocations, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Schedule of Bishop George O. Wirz Thursday, August 21, 2003 9:30 a.m. -- Attend Corporate Board Meeting, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Tuesday, August 26, 2003 10:00 a.m. -- Attend St. Raphael Society Board Meeting, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Thursday, August 28, 2003 3:00 p.m. -- Attend Midday Prayer for Vocations, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison

Feast of Assumption points to humanity's sacredness

		Under the Gospel Book + Bishop Robert C. Morlino

Dear Friends,

In the first place let me say a heartfelt thanks to all for the marvelous experience which was the Lord's gift to me through all of you of my Installation as your Fourth Bishop. As usual, I cannot mention all the names, but I am deeply indebted to all, among the first being Bishop Bullock, Bishop Wirz, Monsignor Swain, and Monsignor Hippee and his committee, not to forget our devoted diocesan staff. Thank you all so very much!

"Everyone has the right to marry as a most basic, God-given, natural right. No one ever has the right or authority to redefine marriage."

'Under the Gospel Book'

You will notice that my column in the Catholic Herald is and will be entitled "Under the Gospel Book." This is a reference to the beautiful rite which occurs at the Bishop's consecration wherein the Prayer of Consecration is offered over him by all the concelebrating Bishops as he kneels with the Gospel Book held open over his head - thus for those moments the new Bishop is "Under the Gospel Book."

The abundant flow of God's grace which I experienced under that Gospel Book is something that I will never forget. I cannot afford to forget it, because it is my only hope as I seek to serve you and be a good Bishop. I will be asking and indeed demanding of the Lord that he give me anew each day all of the graces which he promised as I knelt under the Gospel Book, and at the same time I hope that my own head and heart will become each day more filled with the Gospel Word so that my teaching will be true and for the salvation of all.

Feast of the Assumption

We missed our usual edition of the Catholic Herald last week, and the week concluded with Our Lady's day in summer, the marvelous Feast of the Assumption. This feast places before our gaze the image of Mary assumed body and soul into heavenly glory, the only human being completely present in a glorified body to her glorified Son who is Christ our God. She is the sign of our human destiny, body and soul, and in this we are unique. Most religions see the body as some kind of hindrance or drawback in terms of attaining to what is mystical.

In Christ risen from the dead in his glorified Body, we see that the human body shares completely in the dignity of the human person and that like the soul it is destined for heavenly glory. God has a plan for the human body beyond the grave. The body is not simply disposable, it is not a thing, and it is not anyone's property as St. Paul tells us so well - you are not your own; you have been purchased and at what a price - so glorify God in your body!

The image of Mary assumed into heaven is the image which teaches us the truth about the sacredness and dignity of the human person including the sacredness and dignity of the human body. At the very beginning, the Lord created the human person in the image and likeness of God, male and female he created them. In the human body of the male and of the female, there is written a law of reason, a language of the body as Our Holy Father calls it.

The human body of the male reveals his call to fatherhood, and the human body of the female her call to motherhood. Fatherhood and motherhood mean an openness to children. And thus the language of the body reveals its nuptial meaning. The human body itself reveals God's plan for marriage: one man, one woman, one lifetime with openness to children.

Sacredness of humanity at root of mercy

It has been said very recently that everyone has the right to marry, and this indeed is true. In fact, it is one of the most fundamental, God-given natural rights. At the same time no one has the right or the authority to redefine marriage. Marriage is defined by the nuptial meaning of the human body, male and female. If one were free to redefine marriage, then one would be free to redefine male and female. If one were free to redefine male and female, then one would be free to redefine humanity.

Humanity as created by God and redeemed by Christ is sacred, and this sacredness is resident in the human person including the human body. The sacredness of our humanity is at the root of our claim to mercy. If marriage can be redefined and along with it, male and female, and also humanity, the sacredness of our humanity is forfeited because of the meaninglessness to which the term "humanity" is relegated. And then this meaningless humanity is consigned to a merciless world. And isn't that, dear friends, where we find ourselves.

From terrorism, to the violence in places like the Middle East and Liberia, to the negligence of the most basic needs of sisters and brothers in our own United States, to the kidnapping, assault, and killing of innocent children, to the sniper phenomena a little while ago in Washington, D.C., and most recently in West Virginia - it seems that each day brings a new story about the absence of mercy. When humanity is subject to redefinition to the point of meaninglessness, there is no claim to mercy. I make this observation keeping in mind one of the most important distinctions in the Encyclical Pacem in Terris of Pope John XXIII.

With love and respect for those persons who might promote the redefinition of marriage and without judging their hearts, I must nonetheless make clear that any redefinition of marriage which rejects or ignores the nuptial meaning of the body should be seen for the error it is.

As the Church, we are committed in Christ to give our bodies to be broken and our blood to be poured out so that there might be mercy. No one has the right or authority to redefine marriage.

Proclaim sacred meaning and dignity

Let us proclaim the truth about the sacred meaning and dignity of the human person including the human body. Let us proclaim this truth loud and strong, because that's what it means when we say at Mass, "I believe in the Resurrection of the Body and the life of the world to come." That's what it means for us to celebrate the beautiful Feast of the Assumption, our Lady's Day in summer, as we did so joyfully and so faithfully last week.

Praised be Jesus Christ! Thank you very much for reading this and God bless each one of you.

Official Appointments:

Most Reverend Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of Madison, announces the following appointments:

Rev. Msgr. Paul J. Swain, in addition to Rector/Pastor, St. Raphael Cathedral linked with Holy Redeemer Parish, Madison, as Vicar General, effective August 4, 2003.

Rev. Msgr. Michael E. Hippee, in addition to Pastor, St. Bernard Parish, Madison, as Judicial Vicar, for a term of one year, effective August 14, 2003.