Somerset Maugham, the famous British novelist, once remarked, “I have done things that I am unable to entirely forget. If I had been fortunate enough to be Catholic, I could have delivered myself of them at confession, received absolution, and put them out of my mind forever.”
His statement makes us realize how blessed we are to have the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
As Ash Wednesday approached, I was thinking that this was going to be a Lent like most others. And then came the news on February 11!
MADISON — Bishop Robert C. Morlino has issued a decree clarifying the status of the “community of faithful” constituting the “personal parish” at St. Paul’s University Catholic Center in Madison.
Bishop Morlino notes that in 1967, Bishop Cletus F. O’Donnell erected the personal parish of St. Paul, indicating who would be considered members of the parish and further stipulating that registration would be required for parish membership.
Someone very, very special has been visiting St. Aloysius Church in Sauk City on a regular basis. In fact, every Wednesday and Thursday, at any given hour — day or night — you can drive by the front of the church and see cars parked in the circular drive.
At his election in 2005, some thought of him as a papal place-keeper: a man who would keep the Chair of Peter warm for a few years until a younger papal candidate emerged.
In many other ways, and most recently by his remarkably self-effacing decision to abdicate, Joseph Ratzinger proved himself a man of surprises. What did he accomplish, and what was left undone, over a pontificate of almost eight years?
Q: I have been caring for my mother for the past two years. She is in her late 80’s and has several health issues. The doctors told me she would probably not live beyond one year when I first brought her home. Lately she has been asking me, almost every day, “why am I still here?” I have given all of the cliché answers, such as “God’s not ready for you yet”, or “it’s not your time.” I have run out of things to say. What do you say or do when the person you are caring for is ready to go, and they simply seem to linger? (From a daughter in Middleton)
SUN PRAIRIE — Hurricane Sandy slammed into the East Coast of the United States on October 29, 2012. People are still recovering from the effects of the storm.
To begin our reflections on the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, it would be valuable to first look at the history of the celebration of this central sacrament of our Faith. Such an historical view will give perspective on the celebration in our time.
Recently, there have been changes in the translation of the texts of Holy Mass. A generation earlier, there were changes in a number of the elements that may have upset some people.
MADISON –Pope Benedict XVI invited all Catholics to take a fresh look at the documents of the Second Vatican Council during the Year of Faith. Join internationally known liturgist, Abbot Marcel Rooney, OSB, for a fresh look at what was called for by the Council and what still needs to be done.
Lent is a special time set aside by the Church to prepare for Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection through 40 days of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
There are many ways we can observe the Lenten season. In his message for Lent this year, Pope Benedict XVI asked us, especially in the context of this Year of Faith, to “meditate on the relationship between faith and charity: between believing in God — the God of Jesus Christ — and love, which is the fruit of the Holy Spirit and which guides us on the path of devotion to God and others.”
Pope Benedict emphasizes that faith and charity are linked together. “Everything begins from the humble acceptance of faith (‘knowing that one is loved by God’), but has to arrive at the truth of charity (‘knowing how to love God and neighbour’), which remains for ever, as the fulfilment of all the virtues (cf. 1 Cor 13:13).”
