Month: December 2017

On
Bishop Robert Barron

Advent: become a witness of waiting

This column is the second part of Bishop Robert Barron’s essay on Advent anticipation.

So when I’m told that waiting seems to belong to the heart of the spiritual life, I’m not pleased, for here, too, I want answers, direction, clarity — and I want them pronto. I desire to feel happy and to know what God is up to; I need my life to make sense — now.

I’m pleased to live a spiritual life, but I want to be in charge of it and to make it unfold according to my schedule: Run Barron Run. All of this is profoundly antipathetic to the mood and spirit of Advent.

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On
Barbara Brochtrup, For the Catholic Herald

Hurricanes damage Schoenstatt shrines

MADISON — On the evening of Friday, Aug. 24, to Saturday, Aug. 25, 18 Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary in Lamar, Texas, experienced the brunt of Hurricane Harvey, including the eye of the hurricane, as it crossed over their property.

Damage from Hurricane Harvey in Texas

The damage left in its wake was catastrophic. Just about every building on the campus was damaged. Some were destroyed, others lost part or all of the roof, most experienced extensive water damage. Even the Schoenstatt Shrine itself lost part of its roof.

Since then, volunteers and generous donors have been helping to clean up the debris, secure the buildings from further water damage, and supply food and other necessities to the Sisters.

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On
Chris Lee

Diocesan seminarians plan annual Caroling Tour

MADISON — Seminarians of the Diocese of Madison are planning their annual Caroling Tour at parishes and health care facilities on Friday, Dec. 22, and Saturday, Dec. 23. Locations and times include:

Friday, Dec. 22

8 to 8:45 a.m. — Opening Caroling Tour Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Madison

10 to 10:30 a.m. — Park Place Assisted Living, Platteville

11:20 a.m. to 12 noon — Holy Ghost and Immaculate Conception School, Dickeyville

12:30 to 1 p.m. — Atrium Post Acute Care of Lancaster, Lancaster

2:30 to 3 p.m. — Good Samaritan, Fennimore

3:15 to 3:45 p.m. — Boscobel Care & Rehab, Boscobel

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On
Bishop Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of Madison

Pray always so we can rejoice always

This column is the bishop’s communication with the faithful of the Diocese of Madison. Any wider circulation reaches beyond the intention of the bishop.

Dear Friends:

In our Second Reading of this past Sunday (1 Thessalonians 5), we hear: “Rejoice in the Lord always,” and “Pray without ceasing.” The idea of rejoicing always is, from a human point of view, unthinkable, without that second half: pray without ceasing.

One of the Christmas cards that I opened recently said simply this: “Bishop, please pray for us. It’s been tough.”

How is that person, from a human point of view, expected to rejoice? The answer is, they’re not.

And consider St. John the Baptist. If you go through his teaching, mentioned in the Gospels, you will see that never once did he tell a joke. So, there was a sort of rejoicing from a human point of view, in which St. John the Baptist did not indulge.

Yet, John was full of joy, just as the family who wrote me the card is called to be full of joy, the family for whom things have been pretty tough.

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On
George Thompson

Don’t publish letters promoting violence

To the editor:

We are deeply saddened that you would publish a letter that promotes violence.

The person who recommends use of automatic weapons to “protect” our churches and schools should not be given access to readers of a Catholic publication dedicated to promoting a message of peace and respect. May Our Lord grant him the wisdom to understand peace and respect.

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On
Dr. John P. Joy

Minimum requirements mentioned, but go beyond

To the editor:

Mr. Studinski made a great point in the December 7 issue about the importance of many other things that weren’t mentioned explicitly in my November 23 piece about what it means to be a practicing Catholic, such as the Works of Mercy and the Beatitudes.

But there was a reason for emphasizing the commandments. The terminology of “practicing Catholic” is one typically used to specify a minimum requirement for fulfilling certain functions within the Church (e.g. catechist, school teacher, godparent, etc.). And in the moral life, although the Works of Mercy and the Beatitudes are certainly more perfect than merely observing the commandments, yet still observing the commandments is the minimum.

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