Columns – Page 132 – Madison Catholic Herald

On November 1, 1950, more than 500,000 joyful people packed St. Peter’s Square to hear Pope Pius XII proclaim the dogma of the Assumption of Mary into Heaven.

In Munificentissimus Deus, Pope Pius XII proclaimed that “the “Immaculate Mother of God, the ever-virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into Heavenly glory.”

In no. 59 of the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium, the Second Vatican Council affirmed this dogma of the Church.

God’s children in need

Pope Pius XII proclaimed the dogma of the Assumption to counter the loss of reverence and respect for the God-given identity of every human being.

On July 28, 2011May 20, 2021

Fr. Tad Pacholczyk

Sexual attractions and the call to chastity

People often surmise that same-sex attraction is inborn, and that homosexuals are “naturally gay” or “born that way.” They suppose that if God made them that way, then it must not be a sin to act on their sexual desires.

The possibility of a “gay gene” is sometimes offered as a further defense, suggesting that the condition, and its associated behavior, are inevitable and inescapable.

One commentator summarized it this way: “Asking someone to stop being homosexual would therefore be equivalent to asking an Asian person to stop being Asian or a left-handed person to stop being left-handed.”

On July 21, 2011May 20, 2021

Audrey Mettel Fixmer

Farm fresh and fabulous

Some of my fondest memories of my childhood in the ‘30s were the Sunday afternoon visits to our country cousins.

We’d all pile into Daddy’s new model Chevy, (he sold them, so we always had a new one), drive the 20 miles or more to run in the fields, jump in the hay mow, and watch the animals warily, keeping a safe distance.

On July 7, 2011

Fr. Donald Lange

One nation under God

On Independence Day we celebrate the anniversary of the day that the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. We also express our admiration and gratitude for the brave men who risked their lives and fortunes to sign this great document.

Bishop Paul Swain once wrote that in his judgment the most famous words related to the Declaration of Independence are, “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.”

One nation under God

The Pledge of Allegiance reinforces the Declaration’s statement that God is the source of our nation’s independence. In 1952, the Knights of Columbus urged Congress to introduce a resolution to add “under God” to the Pledge of Allegiance. The resolution was introduced by Congressman Louis C. Rabaut of Michigan and adopted by both Houses of Congress. It was signed by President Eisenhower on Flag Day, June 14, 1954.

On July 7, 2011

Fr. John Sasse

Bringing Christ to the city

On June 26, the solemn feast of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, the parishioners of St. Mary, St. John Nepomuc, and St. Lawrence O’Toole Parishes participated in the first-ever Eucharistic procession in Fennimore.

Over 165 people participated and some came from as far away as Dodgeville and Prairie du Chien.

At 1 p.m. Fr. John Sasse emerged from the parish hall carrying the monstrance with the precious body and blood of Our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ. Once he was situated under the canopy, the procession began northward down Jefferson St.

On June 23, 2011March 2, 2023

John Huebscher

Recall-loaded summer unlike any other

The summer of the odd-numbered year is usually quiet on the political scene. By early July the Legislature has completed its work on the state budget and goes home until autumn. Other than an occasional special election, the campaign season is more than a year away.

On June 23, 2011May 20, 2021

Audrey Mettel Fixmer

Happily fulfilled in old age

I was fascinated by an article I read this morning over my coffee and cereal.

It was in the July issue of Ladies Home Journal, and written by Michael J. Berland, president of a polling and research firm, who states, “Sure, her family makes her happy, but despite what society expects, a woman’s sense of fulfillment comes from being independent and having a sense of control over her own life.” He calls this the silver lining on that recession cloud because it has driven so many women to become actively involved in their family finances.

On June 23, 2011May 20, 2021

Fr. Tad Pacholczyk

Does Church have doubts about brain death?

The Catholic Church has long acknowledged the role of the medical professional in declaring death. It is the proper competency of medicine, not theology, to identify reliable signs that death has occurred.

The hardening of the body known as rigor mortis, for example, is a reliable medical indicator that death has occurred. When the heart permanently stops beating and the lungs permanently stop functioning (cessation of cardio-pulmonary function), medical professionals recognize these signs as another reliable way to assess that death has occurred.

On June 9, 2011

Fr. Donald Lange

Good fathers leave eternal marks of love

One summer evening dad and I sat on our front lawn and gazed at the field across the road.

Like a huge orange-red host, the sun sank slowly into the chalice of the earth. Its beauty inspired us.

Thoughtfully, dad said, “You know, we really don’t own anything.”

I quickly remembered the list of names on the deed to our land. Owner after owner paraded across the field of my memory. Then I realized that we were just stewards of the land. The real owner was God

This made an ordinary evening special. I felt close to dad.

On June 2, 2011

John Huebscher

Is conceal carry proposal necessary?

The right to bear arms is protected by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and by the Wisconsin Constitution.

But that right, like many others, is not absolute and may be regulated to a certain extent. One such regulation is our state’s current ban on carrying concealed weapons.

Proposal up for consideration

Wisconsin is nearly alone in that regard. For some time this fact has fueled a desire to join other states in permitting citizens to carry a concealed weapon (CCW). Such legislation has passed twice in recent years only to be vetoed by Governor Doyle.