Rev. Msgr. James Bartylla, Vicar General, announces the following appointments made by Most Reverend Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of Madison:
Rev. Msgr. James Gunn …
Category: Bishop
Theological reflection regarding the pastoral letter
 |
|
Following is a Theological Reflection Regarding the Pastoral Letter of The Most Rev. Robert C. Morlino on the Practice of the Commemoration of the Departed In the Sacred Liturgy of the Church (25 February 2011).
The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is the re-presentation of the Sacrifice of Christ on the Cross for the forgiveness of our sins, so that we may be found worthy of the Eternal Life prepared for us. This is the unwavering doctrine of the Catholic Church, and it only follows that the Funeral Mass, given the circumstances of its celebration, carries with it a uniquely intense focus on the mystery of God’s endless Mercy.
The Funeral Mass celebrates the mystery of the Divine Mercy of God, infinitely Just and infinitely Merciful. The greatest act of charity that can be given to Catholics who pass from this life, within the confines of the Church, is the offering of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. It is the ultimate supplication of mercy to Almighty God for the soul of one who has departed from our midst. It only follows in reason that everything about the offering of this Most Precious Sacrifice must be in accord with this petition of His Mercy.
| Pastoral Letter |
|
| Click here to read Bishop Robert C. Morlino’s Pastoral Letter regarding the Practice of the Commemoration of the Departed in the Sacred Liturgy of the Church (PDF) | |
The Church urges the maximum participation of the faithful in the Holy Mass, which unmistakably calls for their uniting themselves with the Sacrifice being offered on the Altar for the deceased person. It is to the greater benefit of the faithful to be able to do so with undistracted attention and utmost focus. Anything, therefore, that distracts from this focus is a grievance to those present as well as a grave injustice toward the deceased for whom the Mass, Mystery of God’s Mercy, is being offered.
Our top priority and the common good
 |
| 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,
The Gospel of this past Sunday is addressed to those who are too worried about tomorrow. That’s why Jesus addresses them as “you of little faith.” If they were where He wanted them to be in their relation to His Father and Himself, He wouldn’t have said, “you of little faith.” Because of our human weakness and frailty, whatever faith we have, from God’s point of view, is certainly always “little,” but for Jesus to address it as such indicates a moment of challenge to growth.
One of the measures of our faith is: “how much do you and I worry about tomorrow?” Why is it not a good thing to make worrying about tomorrow my top priority? Certainly it is among our priorities, for obviously we have to be concerned with putting food on the table of our family, and clothing on their backs, and shelter over their heads. It is the sacred responsibility of parents to “worry” about such things. Jesus’ point is not offering some kind of recipe for a care-free life, where one’s responsibilities are just forgotten and put aside. But, our top priority can never be worrying about tomorrow, if we have met Jesus Christ risen from the dead.
The more worrying about tomorrow is our top priority, the more we need to place Jesus Christ ahead of that priority, so that He is our top priority.
Appointments (March 3, 2011 issue)
Rev. Msgr. James Bartylla, Vicar General, announces the following appointments made by Most Reverend Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of Madison:
Rev. John Joseph Sasse, L.C. …
Rev. George Horath …
Clarifying the fairness issue
|
Dear Friends,
Believe it or not, I frequently try to avoid weighing in-on certain situations. However, the recent happenings in our state capital with regard to legislation about labor union practices beg for a comment. In this column, I simply want to point out how a well-informed conscience might work through the dilemma which the situation poses.
To God be the Glory, indeed!
|
|||
Dear Friends,
Like so many of you, I hope, I enjoyed an excellent Sunday this past week — with time for prayer and with some time for leisure.
In the first place, I was very happy to have the opportunity to say two of the Sunday Masses in Platteville, first at the local Parish of St. Mary’s, and then at the University Parish of St. Augustine’s. It was great to be at prayer with all of those good people, and I was very encouraged to see the new things happening for the Catholic community on the campus of the UW-Platteville.
Together with some generous donations, and some hard work by students and priests alike, the church at St. Augustine’s is looking more beautiful than ever, and the pieces are in place for continued growth in the faith activities of those students.
What the future really means
|
| 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,
It is wonderful to be back in Wisconsin, though I am very grateful to have had a bit of time for vacation — where the weather was a bit different from our weather here and now. Nevertheless, it is good to be home!
I’d like to bring up here a very interesting phrase that has come to the fore in recent weeks in our national life.
Appointments (Dec. 30, 2010 edition)
Rev. Msgr. James Bartylla, Vicar General, announces the following appointments made by Most Reverend Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of Madison:
Bishop’s letter to the Apostolate to the Handicapped
During this Christmas season of gratitude and thanksgiving for the birth of Our Lord, I extend my heartfelt gratitude and indebtedness to both Msgr. Thomas Campion and to you for your faithful volunteer service and financial support for the Apostolate to the Handicapped.
A call to be the light of Christ
|
| 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,
As you read this letter, Christmas will be upon us and the Year of the Lord 2010 will have almost expired. As we look around the whole world, we see the violence of war and terrorism raging, we see hunger thriving in so many places as well as extreme poverty, we see senior citizens being actually or virtually euthanized and we see the slaughter of the unborn, we see God’s gift of human sexuality, naturally oriented toward unselfish love, cheapened and continually used for every kind of self-centered entertainment. It’s not a “pretty picture,” but it is a picture of this world that, we claim, belongs to God this Christmas.