Dear Friends,
Bishop Walker Nickless of Sioux City, Iowa, has expressed very clearly our Church’s teaching on health care reform — his observations are offered below. It is urgent that you read this, remembering that no single proposed Bill from the U.S. Congress exists as yet.
This column is taken from Bishop Morlino’s homily at the Diocesan 50th Wedding Anniversary Celebration Mass on August 16.
Dear Friends,
I have three points from the readings (Ex 16:2-4, 12-15; Ps 78:3-4, 23-24, 25, 54; Eph 4:17, 20-24; Jn 6:24-35) and then a few closing observations. We heard a lot in the first two readings of this Sunday, about wisdom and foolishness.
It’s very interesting that the Scriptural author indicates that foolishness is the opposite of wisdom. He could have said ignorance is the opposite of wisdom or he could have said stupidity is the opposite of wisdom. Why did he say that it is foolishness that is the opposite of wisdom?
Many of us are ignorant of many things and many of us are stupid about a few things. But, it’s rare that we choose to be ignorant or choose to be stupid. We don’t usually say something like, “I know that’s stupid, but I want to stand by it anyway.” When people are unaware, or when people are stupid in some areas, they usually don’t choose it. But, you have to choose to be foolish. That’s why foolishness is the opposite of wisdom — you have to choose it and you have to take responsibility for it. For example, the Scriptures remind us, “the fool says in his heart, ‘there is no God’” (Psalm 14:1).
Dear Friends,
As I write this column we are preparing for the celebration of the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary, when the Blessed Mother, “having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory,” as was written by Pope Pius XII in his Apostolic Constitution Munificentissimus Deus.
The Solemnity of the Assumption is a testament not only to the tremendous love which God has for the Blessed Mother, but also a powerful reminder of the love which Jesus Christ has demonstrated for all of us, in conquering death through His death.
Dear Friends,
Thank God and thank you, my brother priests, deacons, our Sisters, and our whole diocesan family, for your prayerful support during these days. My period of rest and recovery from heart arrhythmia is almost complete.
I do expect to ordain our three new priests, from the Society of Jesus Christ the Priest, for our diocese this coming Friday. As with all ordinations, that day will be a great joy for me and, please God, it will do my heart good. But I must say, I am especially happy to be back in this occasional form of communication, my column.
From the Office of the Bishop
Members of the Diocese of Madison are asked to continue their prayers for the health of Bishop Robert C. Morlino, which continues to get better each day.
Msgr. Daniel T. Ganshert, Vicar General of the Diocese of Madison, announces the following announcements by Bishop Robert C. Morlino:
Dear Friends,
My great affection for the University of Notre Dame, growing out of the years that I spent there and my deep respect for the president, Father Jenkins, have, thus far, led me not to weigh in, in writing, on the whole matter of President Obama’s coming to speak and receiving an honorary degree at this year’s commencement. But, I think the time has come when I must, nonetheless, do so.
In the first place, let me say that were I the president of the University of Notre Dame, I would never have invited President Obama to speak at a commencement and to be honored with a Doctor of Laws Degree — I would simply never have done that and anyone who knows me would know that.
Msgr. Daniel T. Ganshert, vicar general of the Diocese of Madison, announces the following appointments made by Bishop Robert C. Morlino, effective Wednesday, June 10, 2009:
Msgr. Daniel T. Ganshert, vicar general of the Diocese of Madison, announces the following announcement made by Bishop Robert C. Morlino:
Dear Friends,
This past Sunday we celebrated Divine Mercy Sunday, which, as you know, is a joyous celebration for us on the Second Sunday of Easter to consider the tremendous mercy of God, poured out for us. And so, I think, I would like to draw upon my homily for this past Sunday and to reflect upon the Gospel we read. I should also note, however, that this past Sunday we also celebrated the fourth anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI’s election as the Successor of St. Peter, and this week we’ll celebrate the anniversary of his installation. So, let’s keep our Holy Father especially in prayer this week.
