Editorial

People at University of Wisconsin football games have often chanted "Rose Bowl, Rose Bowl" as they cheered the Badgers on to this premier bowl game. Going to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., was a highly coveted goal - and winning it was even better.

But this year, people will be setting their sights on the Rose Bowl for a very different reason. On May 19, 2007, the Rose Bowl will be the site of the largest outdoor celebration of the Rosary in southern California for nearly 50 years.

Rosary Bowl. Yes, instead of crowds cheering football teams, thousands of people will be praying the Rosary during this month of May dedicated to Mary. The theme of this prayerful celebration is "A World at Prayer Is a World at Peace."

People don't have to pay an exorbitant price for this "Rosary Bowl." To be held from 6 to 9 p.m., the celebration is free and open to the public.

What is behind this unique event? The event was spearheaded by Holy Cross Family Ministries of Easton, Mass., and its local member, Family Theater Productions of Hollywood. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is also helping plan the event.

"The Rosary Bowl carries forward the tradition and mission of the 'Rosary priest,' Servant of God Fr. Patrick Peyton, to foster world peace and support the spiritual well-being of the family by encouraging daily family prayer, specifically the Rosary." That's how Fr. John Phalen, president of Holy Cross Family Ministries, explained the idea behind the Rosary Bowl.

He added that "Mystical Rose" is one of Mary's many special titles. "The Rosary Bowl in the Rose Bowl is the perfect family environment to unite Catholics and other people of faith and good will in prayer to ask Mary's intercession for world peace," said Father Phalen.

The special celebration will include prayer, music, and cultural exhibitions. The religious service will culminate in a public recitation of the Rosary with people of different cultures and languages leading some of the prayers.

Tribute to Father Peyton. This celebration seems to be a very fitting tribute to Father Peyton. The late Pope John Paul II called him "The Apostle of the Rosary." In 2001 the Vatican Congregation for the Causes of Saints gave approval for the opening of his cause for sainthood.

For 64 years, Father Peyton tried to make the Rosary the most widespread form of prayer - with the exception of the Eucharist - among Catholics worldwide. He coordinated Rosary events in more than 40 countries.

I remember Father Peyton best for his slogan, "The Family That Prays Together, Stays Together." When I was growing up, my parents prayed the Rosary regularly with us. My father especially had a great devotion to the Rosary, so much so that we had a Rosary engraved on his tombstone.

Pray the Rosary. There does seem to be a resurgence of interest in the Rosary and other forms of individual and family prayer. While we can't all make it to the Rosary Bowl in Pasadena, perhaps we can pray a Rosary individually or as a family on May 19.

If you don't already pray the Rosary regularly, the month of Mary would be a wonderful time to start. I always pray the Rosary during Eucharistic Adoration for Vocations each week at the Bishop O'Connor Center in Madison, imploring Mary to encourage more people to answer the call to serve the church as priests, consecrated religious, deacons, and dedicated lay people.

And how about surprising our friends this week by chanting "Rosary Bowl, Rosary Bowl" and telling them about this special event. It might bring some interest in the Rosary in some unexpected places!

Mary C. Uhler

Mailbag

	Mailbag policy We reserve the right to edit or reject letters. Limit letters to 200 words or less. All letters must be signed. Please include your city or town of residence. Send letters to: Mailbag The Catholic Herald 702 S. High Point Rd. Madison, WI 53719 Fax: 608-821-3071 E-mail: info@madisoncatholicherald.org

Letter was offensive against dignity of women

To the editor:

I have never written to the Catholic Herald in my 32 years of priesthood, but the recent letter of Mr. Beranek (Don't tolerate co-habitation) has caused me to write to you. I am saddened that you have chosen to print such offensive words (women, keep your legs crossed until there is marriage) against the dignity of women.

While the first two paragraphs of the letter have some significant points, the final paragraph shifts from rational to offensive. This is but an ongoing pandering to the far right that has marked your paper.

I would suggest that you begin a more balanced presentation of truth in the Catholic Herald and get on the bandwagon of Bishop Morlino, who continually invites people to the truth in a compassionate and caring manner. I believe no one would be more offended by the third paragraph then he.

Finally, if you were attempting to do "shock journalism" to promote your readership, then you have not understood the purpose of a Catholic paper.

Msgr. Terrence L. Connors, Sun Prairie

Men, all of us should take responsibility for influence

To the editor:

I'm responding to Stan Beranek's letter where he states that co-habitating couples should be ostracized, that the controlling influence is the woman, and that women should keep their legs crossed until marriage.

I wonder if anyone has ever pointed out to Mr. Beranek that there would be no need for women to keep their legs crossed until marriage if there were no men attempting to get between their legs. Could it be possible that this sexist, excuse-making, "boys will be boys" attitude has also contributed to promiscuity, co-habitation, and the high divorce rate?

Rather than ostracizing co-habitating couples, married couples could lead by example and compassionately talk with unmarried couples about prayer, the virtue of temperance, and one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, self-control.

Sanctifying grace is a free gift from God to everyone. The controlling influence starts with each of us regardless of gender.

Barbara J. Hetzel, Spring Green

Discriminatory messages not in line with church

To the editor:

I was absolutely appalled to see that you published Mr. Beranek's letter. He comments, "The controlling influence is the woman. Women, keep your legs crossed until there is marriage, then welcome your partner." Certainly everyone has a right to an opinion. However, the diocese should not take part in propagating such messages of hate and blame rather than love and acceptance.

Reinforcing these discriminatory messages is not the Catholic Church that I know. It throws us back to the days when a woman was blamed for rape, incest, and being the cause of her husband having extramarital affairs. The man was never held accountable for any of his actions.

In fact, if MEN would take more responsibility for their sexual activity by supporting and caring for the children they father, it would lower the abortion rate! Women would not feel so alone and desperate after becoming pregnant and being abandoned by the father.

To Mr. Beranek - perhaps the MAN should just keep his pants zipped!

John Yelich, Watertown

Pray for Our Lady to build civilization of truth and love

To the editor:

Please read about Our Lady of Guadalupe, Protectress of the Unborn, at www.sancta.org/patr-unb.html

As I read this, I realized that Mexico City's recent (April 24, 2007) legalization of abortion ties in with the ritual killings for the dedication of the temple of Huitzilopochtli in the year 1487. The temple was in Tenochtitlan, now Mexico City.

Forty-four years later, Our Lady of Guadalupe came to Mexico City, in December 1531. Our Lady of Guadalupe's original image, on St. Juan Diego's cloak, has remained in the Shrine in Mexico City since that time - 475 years.

In 1999, Pope John Paul II declared Our Lady to be the Patroness of the Unborn in a homily at this Shrine. That was eight years ago.

Our Lady said to St. Juan Diego, "Am I not here, who am your Mother? Are you not under my protection?"

Our Lady of Guadalupe, help us to build "the civilization of truth and love," which John Paul II asked you to do in The Gospel of Life, especially now with Mexico City's legalization of abortion.

Jeanne Breunig, Middleton

Appreciates articles in paper on caring for God's creation

To the editor:

I commend Mary Uhler for the editorial entitled, "Living Simply: Can protect earth" in the May 3 issue of the Catholic Herald. We might do well to reflect on the quote used in her editorial: "working less, wanting less, spending less." To her credit, she included practical steps in taking action in our daily life.

I know it is hard to expect others to change their lifestyle. However, each of us can begin with oneself.

Besides Mary's fine editorial there were two other articles in the same issue on caring for our environment. Kudus to the Sun Prairie Sacred Heart youth on their action regarding water. Barb Rogan wrote an excellent article accompanying their action.

A third article, closer to the back of the paper, reported the Global Warming Seminar held recently at the Vatican.

I was proud and excited that our Madison Catholic newspaper was lifting up the importance of becoming more conscious of what we can do to care for God's creation. At the same time, I do not mean to overlook the care of God's people. (The latter was shown by the Sacred Heart, Reedsburg, youth in their support of a Homeless Shelter. I was thrilled to see that one of my grandnephews was part of it.)

After 34 years ministering in the Madison Diocese, I will be moving on to help my Sisters, the Racine Dominicans, with our Eco-Justice project development. You can view it at racinedominicans.org (click on "Sponsored Ministries" and then on the "Eco-Justice Center") or at pragmaticconstruction.com. Although it has taken some discerning to move on from the Baraboo-Madison Church, I will be acting on a dream. The legacy that I hope to leave is to encourage you to read all that you can about the universe and our environment. Take steps to become more and more conscious of both our emerging universe and our moral responsibilities in this area.

I am not only grateful to every person who has touched my life these many years, but want each of you to know that you and your faith communities have helped me to become the person I am called to be today. I pray that we will all keep on growing into the likeness of Christ in our emerging universe.

Sr. Rose Marie Dischler, Baraboo

Pro-life document available

To the editor:

I was pleased to read Fr. Tad Pacholczyk's column promoting the importance of a healthcare proxy, which is also known as a Power of Attorney for Health Care. Here in Wisconsin, however, the standard Power of Attorney for Health Care distributed by the state has definite pitfalls because it could be used to permit euthanasia by omission.

The Catholic Church defines euthanasia as "an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering." To deal with this loophole presented by the state document, Pro-Life Wisconsin offers a life-protective document, the Protective Power of Attorney for Health Care. It ensures that a person you have personally selected (your "health care agent") will protect your best interests if you are unable to do so. Your agent will base medical decisions on knowledge of your actual condition and treatment options, not guesswork.

The Protective Power of Attorney for Health Care is available on our Web site at www.prolifewisconsin.org or by calling 877-GODS-WILL.

Virginia Zignego,
Pro-Life Wisconsin, Special Projects Coordinator