Bishops' Schedules: Bishop Robert C. Morlino Thursday, April 13, 2006 7:30 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at the Celebration of the Eucharist, Holy Thursday Mass, St. Patrick Church, Madison Friday, April 14, 2006 3:00 p.m. -- Preach at the Good Friday Service, St. Patrick Church, Madison Saturday, April 15, 2006 8:00 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at the Celebration of the Eucharist, Easter Vigil Mass, St. Patrick Church, Madison Sunday, April 16, 2006 11:00 a.m. -- Preside and Preach at the Celebration of the Eucharist, Stational Mass - Easter Sunday, St. Patrick Church, Madison Wednesday, April 19, 2006 7:00 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at the Sacrament of Confirmation, St. Cecilia Parish, Wisconsin Dells Bishop George O. Wirz Tuesday, April 18, 2006 12:00 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at the Celebration of the Eucharist Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Wednesday, April 19, 2006 7:00 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at the Sacrament of Confirmation, St. Peter Parish, Ashton, with St. Martin of Tours Parish, Martinsville, at St. Peter Church, Ashton

Through suffering:
Truth of Christ is revealed

		Under the Gospel Book + Bishop Robert C. Morlino

Dear Friends:

As we enter into the great mysteries of the suffering, death, and resurrection this Easter, we certainly are participating in the mystery of Christ's suffering, both as Catholic Christians and as brothers and sisters who are citizens of these United States.

Within the Church we are suffering because of our own weakness and sins and I hope that Lent has been a time of repentance and conversion for all of us, especially through worthy reception of the Sacrament of Penance.

	Related item: • Easter Mass schedule    (downtown Madison)

As a people in the United States we are suffering because the three central tenets of the natural law, our vocation to live in accord with human reason, are under assault: efforts, primarily in the courts, to remove God from the public arena, continued disrespect for the dignity of every human person from conception until natural death, attempts to redefine marriage.

As a nation, we suffer because of the renewed expression of hostility toward brothers and sisters who are immigrants, not to mention that the violence of war continues as does the terrorist threat. The mystery of suffering is never very far from any of us, but to enter into this mystery is, for us, never a cause of fear or discouragement.

We saw how gruesome and horrendous were the sufferings of Christ on the Cross but we know as well that the suffering of Christ is the veil through which we enter the glory of the resurrection and the heavenly kingdom.

When you and I were first created, that is, when the Lord created your soul and mine, we glimpsed, just for a moment, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And as soon as our souls took flesh, when we were conceived in our mother's womb, because we were not immaculately conceived like our Blessed Mother but conceived as heirs of the sin of Adam and Eve, we experienced a kind of amnesia and forgetfulness of that glimpse which we have had of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

When we listen to the voice of reason within us, that word, that meaning, is an echo of the Eternal Word Whom we saw and heard at the moment of the creation of our soul.

The law of reason within us when given unrestricted range cannot arrive at any other truth in the end than the truth of Jesus Christ. He is Risen, His victory is ours. The challenges are difficult but we have every reason, the reason who is Christ Himself, never to give in to discouragement. Our faith in which alone our reason finds total fulfillment, that faith is our sure victory.

Happy Easter! God bless you all! Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!

Bishop's Letter

Dear Brothers and Sisters, All in the Lord,

On Good Friday of each year the Church in the United States traditionally takes a special Pontifical Collection for support of the sacred shrines and historic sites in the Holy Land. More importantly, this collection is for those pastoral, charitable, educational and social works supported by the Church for the welfare of our Christian brethren. It is for us and these, our brethren, for whom our Savior died. It is incumbent upon us to support these people and the historic places of pilgrimage that they have inhabited for centuries.

The numbers of pilgrims visiting the Holy Land, whose donations over the years have been among the main financial support for these shrines, have reduced due to the constant threat of terrorism. In addition to the stewards of these special places, the people themselves need our help and encouragement. Please be generous so that the historic and spiritual treasures of, and the people who inhabit the Holy Land may be maintained for generations to come.

Let us also pray for peace, for justice, and for greater understanding among the peoples of the Holy Land and throughout the world. Thank you for your thoughtful generosity.

Faithfully yours in Christ,

The Most Reverend Robert C. Morlino
Bishop of Madison