Category: Columns

On
Bishop Robert Barron

The maintenance of harmony in the Church

Some years ago, my friend Msgr. Francis Mannion wrote an article concerning the three essential features of the Eucharistic liturgy — namely, the priest, the rite, and the people.

When these elements are in proper balance, rightly ordered liturgy obtains.

Further, from these categories, he argued, we can discern the three typical distortions of the liturgy: clericalism (too much of the priest), ritualism (a fussy hyper-focus on the rite), and congregationalism (a disproportionate emphasis on the people).

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On
Fr. Donald Lange

Valentine’s Day invites us to be thankful for friends

Valentine’s Day is celebrated annually on February 14.

Originating as a Western Christian feast day honoring one or two early saints named Valentinus, Valentine’s Day is recognized as a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romantic love and friendship.

Jesus calls his apostles his friends

In John 15: 14-15, Jesus tells his apostles, “You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you servants because a servant does not know what his master is doing. I call you friends because I have made known to you everything that I have learned from my Father.”

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On
Bishop Robert Barron

A prayer at the tomb of St. Paul

I write these words on the airplane taking me home from my first visit as a bishop ad limina apostolorum (to the threshold of the apostles).

This is the pilgrimage, required by canon law of every bishop, to pray at the tombs of St. Peter and St. Paul and to meet personally with the successor of Peter.

In an earlier column, I wrote of the extraordinary visit to the tomb of Peter and an even more extraordinary conversation with the Galilean fisherman’s successor, Pope Francis.

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On
Tony Magliano

After the March for Life — keep working!

In the more than 30 annual Washington, D.C., Marches for Life I have participated in, I always think the current march is the largest ever. But since accurate figures are hard to come by, it usually comes down to taking a good guess.

But a 60-second time-lapse video produced by Students for Life of America clearly reveals, regardless of the exact number, that this year’s March flowed on and on.

It’s heartening to see that lots of people care. But do we really care enough?

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On
Bishop Robert Barron

Spending time with my spiritual father

I write these words from the Eternal City of Rome, whither I’ve come with my brother bishops from Region 11 (California, Nevada, and Hawaii) for our ad limina visit.

This is a regular and canonically required trip to pray at the limina apostolorum (the threshold of the Apostles), the tombs of Ss. Peter and Paul, and to meet with the successor of Peter.

Yesterday was the first official day of the pilgrimage, and it was extraordinary indeed.

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On
Sr. Constance Veit, LSP

Elders shape the future

Sr. Constance Veit, LSP

During February my thoughts turn to two of my favorite biblical figures, Simeon and Anna.

Simeon is described in St. Luke’s Gospel simply as “a man in Jerusalem” and Anna as an 84-year-old “prophetess.”

These two elders greet Mary and Joseph as they bring their newborn infant to the Temple in Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. We celebrate this moment in Jesus’ life, referred to as the Presentation in the Temple, on February 2.

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On
Fr. Donald Lange

Jesus is main teacher at Catholic schools

In 1974, Catholic Schools Week was established as the annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States.

This year it occurs from January 26 to February 1. Catholic schools celebrate with Masses, open houses, and other activities for students, families, parishioners, and community members.

Educate whole person

Jesus is the main teacher in Catholic schools, where students learn about Jesus and his teachings. His message is not just a set of intellectual propositions or truths, but a way of life.

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On
Michael Lancaster

Catholic schools teach children who they are

It seems these days that our culture is focused on the question of individual identity. Young people are searching to find out who they are.

They are yearning to define themselves in the world and to give their lives specific meaning. Whether it is the type of clothes they wear, the music they listen to, the food they eat, the company they keep, or their social media profile and postings on Facebook and Instagram, etc., everyone seems to be engaged in the tasking of forging a unique identity in the search to add meaning and significance to their life.

Searching for meaning

The question of the meaning of human existence is not new. People have been asking this ever since the dawn of time. “Who am I?” “What is the meaning of life?” “What is the meaning of my life?”

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On
Fr. Richard Heilman

Marching Bosco’s pillars around the state Capitol

Fr. Richard Heilman

On Friday, Jan. 31, at 6 p.m., we are calling all pro-lifers to join together on this Feast of St. John Bosco, as we bring “Bosco’s Two Pillars” of the Most Holy Eucharist and the Blessed Virgin Mary to the sidewalks surrounding the Wisconsin State Capitol building in Madison.

We will meet on the State St. steps and then process the Holy Eucharist and Our Lady around the State Capitol. All who march with us will be given Epiphany Holy Water and Exorcised and Blessed Salt to sprinkle around our State Capitol, and call upon God to bless and transform our state and country back to a culture of life.

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