Editorial

Many of us can go back just one or two generations to find our families living on a farm. In my case, both my father and mother were born to farm families. My mother lived on the farm until she went to college. My father's family moved to the city to give the children better educational opportunities.

A Prayer in Autumn for Country Living GOOD and generous Lord, You have once more brought the year full circle, through planting and growing and ripening to harvest time, and autumn. We thank You for the sun and the wind, the rain and the dew, the minerals of the earth and all the plants that grow and all the beasts and birds of farm and field. We marvel at Your wonderful ways of bringing food from the earth for the good of us all. Dear God, help us to use Your rich gifts as You want us to. Teach us to share them with our neighbors when they are in need. Make us see, in the marvelous succession of seasons and in the growth and ripening of our crops, the merciful, generous hand of Your divine providence. Help us to realize, too, that if we keep Your commandments and live according to the inspirations of Your grace, we shall also reap a plentiful harvest in the autumn of our lifetime: a harvest that we will be able to enjoy for ever and ever, where no rust can destroy, nor blight spoil any least part of it. Amen. Prayer courtesy of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference

Those farm roots run deep. I still enjoy being outside, working in the gardens and smelling the moist dirt. Something calls to my spirit in the outdoors.

Yet, although we may have some nostalgia for our rural past, many of us just aren't aware of what's really happening in our rural areas. Of course, we eat food produced by farmers, but few of us understand the challenges those farmers face today.

Farm Bill every five years. Every five years the U.S. Congress reauthorizes the Farm Bill. That may cause us to become more aware of the needs of our farmers - or it should. The Farm Bill is a complex piece of legislation that sets federal policy for everything from crop subsidies to food stamps. The House passed its version of the Farm Bill on July 27. Now the Senate is debating its version of the bill.

On Pages 14 and 15 [print edition] of this week's Catholic Herald, we focus on Rural Life Ministry. Included is an article from the National Catholic Rural Life Conference (NCRLC) examining Catholic priorities in the Farm Bill. I would encourage concerned citizens to read this article, as well as the reflections by John Kinsman, a farmer in our diocese; Fr. Bernard Rott, diocesan rural life director; and Tom Nelson, who is working in rural life ministry with our diocesan Office of Justice and Pastoral Outreach. All of them emphasize that all of us should be concerned about what's happening in our rural parishes and communities.

Catholic priorities. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and the NCRLC have pointed to several priorities. First is that we must strengthen our rural communities by supporting initiatives to help new farmers, to expand education in rural areas, and improve telecommunications access. The USCCB also wants to improve the food stamp program; promote good stewardship of the land; re-evaluate the current crop subsidy programs; provide safer working conditions for farm and food workers; and fight hunger overseas.

I encourage people in the Diocese of Madison to educate themselves about rural issues and contact our senators about the Farm Bill. We can also take concrete actions in our own lives to support farmers. John Kinsman [print edition only] has some suggestions on how we can patronize farmers in our local communities.

Praying for farmers. We can all pray for God's blessings on the farmers who bring food to our tables. A prayer from the National Catholic Rural Life Conference is included alongside this editorial.

In addition, Bishop Robert C. Morlino will be celebrating a Rural Mass on Thursday, Oct. 4, at 1 p.m. at Holy Rosary Church in Darlington (see Page 14 for details -- online here). I encourage all farmers and others interested in supporting them to attend this Mass.

Let's make a commitment to educate ourselves, support farmers, and pray for the future of rural life which is so important for all of us.

Mary C. Uhler

Mailbag

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Mark 90th anniversary of Fatima with Rosary Novena

To the editor:

In 1917, in the midst of World War I, Our Lady appeared to three peasant children in Fatima, Portugal. She called for conversion of hearts back to God, especially through the prayer of the Rosary, a scriptural meditation on the life of Christ. She warned that if mankind did not turn back to God, the world would be punished by wars, famines, and the persecution of the Church.

Though threatened with being boiled in oil, the three children never changed their story. Further authentication of Our Lady's message occurred at 12 noon on October 13, 1917, through the miracle of the sun, witnessed by an estimated 300,000 people, some as far away as the Azores Islands.

The power of the Rosary has been demonstrated numerous times in history. In 1955, atheistic communist Russia withdrew occupying forces from Austria after a Rosary campaign. No explanation, military or political, has ever been proposed. In 1964 in Brazil, upwards of 5.5 million prayed the Rosary before the central government building prompted communist officials to leave and never return. Civil and military leaders attributed victory to Our Lady.

On this, the 90th anniversary of the apparitions at Fatima, a rosary campaign is again being promoted. To honor Our Lady, please join in a Rosary Novena from October 1 to October 13, the 90th anniversary of the miracle of the sun at Fatima. People are asked to gather at their local government building at 12 noon and to pray the rosary for the conversion of hearts and world peace.

Judy Winter, Platteville

Team up for Rosary Rallies

To the editor:

October 13 will be the 90th anniversary of the "Miracle of the Sun" at Fatima, Portugal. The organization America Needs Fatima is trying to organize 1,000 Public Square Rosary Rallies. This would be at 12 noon as that was the time the miracle took place before 70,000 people and Our Lady appeared to the three children.

Perhaps we could team up together as we are a small parish and would like to have a larger group to be more effective. For information to organize a Rosary Rally, call toll-free 866-584-6012. The address is P.O. Box 341, Hanover, PA 17331.

We need to pray for our country, Russia, and our world. Anyone who can't attend a rally, pray the Rosary at 12 noon on Saturday, Oct. 13. Our Lady promised, "In the end my Immaculate Heart will triumph."

Betty Waala, St. Joseph Parish, Markesan