On March 19, 2024, the Solemnity of St. Joseph, our Holy Father Pope Francis accepted the resignation of our diocesan bishop, Bishop William Patrick Callahan. Immediately upon the acceptance of his resignation, Bishop Callahan became the bishop emeritus and the Diocese of La Crosse became a “vacant see” (known in Latin as a sede vacante). However, quite surprisingly, Pope Francis immediately named a successor to Bishop Callahan, Bishop Gerard Battersby, formerly an auxiliary bishop of Detroit, to become La Crosse’s eleventh bishop. Bishop Battersby will be installed on May 20 at the Cathedral in La Crosse.
Canon law requests that bishops submit their resignation to the Holy Father when they turn 75. The Holy Father can choose to accept it immediately or wait for a time until it is accepted. Sometimes, due to health reasons, a bishop will submit his resignation early. This is what happened in the case of Bishop Callahan who turns 74 this coming June. What is somewhat unusual is that at the same time Pope Francis accepted Bishop Callahan’s resignation, he also named a new bishop for the diocese. Normally there is a period of “interregnum” where the diocese is vacant and no bishop has been named. In our case, this did not happen. Furthermore, Pope Francis named Bishop Callahan as the Apostolic Administrator of the diocese until Bishop Battersby is installed in May. Bishop Callahan thus will still administer the diocese until Bishop Battersby arrives. Bishop Gerard William Battersby was born on May 15, 1960. He graduated from Wayne State University (Detroit) in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology. He entered Sacred Heart Major Seminary in 1993 and received a Master of Divinity Degree in 1998. In 2009, he was assigned to graduate studies at the University of St. Thomas (the Angelicum) in Rome. He also earned a Licentiate in Sacred Theology (STL) in the New Evangelization from the Angelicum through its partnership with Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. After ordination to the priesthood, he served in parish ministry for ten years. Bishop Battersby then served as director of graduate seminarians and graduate pastoral formation at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Detroit. In 2011, he was appointed Vice-Rector and Dean of Seminary Formation at Sacred Heart Major Seminary and was ordained to the Episcopacy as an Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit (and Titular Bishop of Eguga) in January 2017. The Diocese of La Crosse looks forward to welcoming Bishop Gerard Battersby on May 20! Happy Easter! The collect prayer for Easter Sunday Mass states that Jesus has conquered death and unlocked for us the path to eternity. We ask God today that we who keep the solemnity of the Lord’s Resurrection may, through the renewal brought by the Holy Spirit, rise up in the light of life. Please know that I continue to pray for all of you during this Easter Season. Remember that the Season of Easter, also known as Eastertide or Paschaltide, begins on Easter and continues for fifty days. Saint Athanasius, the great fourth century bishop of Alexandria, calls the Easter Season “the great Lord’s Day” and thus the season is celebrated as a single joyful feast of the Lord’s Resurrection. We can now joyfully say, “Alleluia. The Lord is Risen. He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia.”
I want to take this opportunity to update you all on some projects at the parish: Pictorial Directory—After a number of back-and-forth communications with the directory company to fix errors in the proof copies of the parish directory, it is finally at the printer. We wanted to make sure all the errors were corrected before it was printed. I hope no errors snuck in but I apologize if they did! We should have it available in several weeks. It looks great! Rectory Bathrooms—Bright and early on Monday, March 18th, Altmann Construction arrived to begin the renovation of the rectory’s five, original 1953 bathrooms. There was a delay in the start of the project due to some materials on backorder. You’ll remember this was a campaign item from our parish’s Inspired by the Spirit campaign. Thank you for your continued generosity with this campaign. When the bathrooms are finished, we will print some photos in the bulletin. HVAC Temperature Controls—The majority of the installation of the temperature control project is completed. We are now working with the mechanical company to make sure all the mechanical components are in working order. We have much better control of the whole HVAC system in the building and are working to tweak the programming to make sure everyone is comfortable. There is a definitely a learning curve! School Windows—The documents for the new school windows, ceilings, and lights are at the diocese awaiting approval. The goal is to begin this major project as soon as school is out for the summer. You’ll remember this also was a campaign item from our parish’s Inspired by the Spirit campaign. Assumption Catholic Schools is paying for half of this project. Basement Renovation—The parish is awaiting proposals for the renovation of the basement area under the church. The goal is to begin this project in Winter 2024. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to ask me. Happy Easter! May God bless you and your loved ones! The English term ‘Lent’ comes from an Anglo-Saxon word that means ‘Spring’ since the Season of Lent falls during the Spring season. In Latin, Lent is called Quadragesima which means ‘fortieth day’ and tells us of the great forty day fast that Christians undertake during the Season of Lent. The Code of Canon Law classifies the Season of Lent as a penitential season and thus Christians throughout the Season of Lent spend time in preparation for the coming Easter celebration through prayer, penance, repentance, almsgiving, and self-denial, such as through fasting from food and abstaining from meat.
The three great pillars of Lent are prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Each of these three pillars is like one leg of a three-legged stool: all must be in place for a fruitful Lent or a sturdy stool. The Lenten pillar of prayer can be practiced in many different ways: through the Stations of the Cross, attending daily Mass, spending time in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, or by joining one of the Lenten study or prayer groups at local parishes. You may also want to read and pray with the so-called seven penitential psalms: psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, and 143 or by reading the Passion Narrative in the Gospels, the final chapters of the Gospels that tell the story of Jesus’ passion, death, and Resurrection. Participation in the Sacrament of Penance is highly encouraged for all during the Season of Lent. The Code of Canon Law requires fasting only on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Complete abstinence from meat is required on Ash Wednesday and on all Fridays of Lent, including Good Friday. Why do we fast? Christians fast during Lent to imitate Christ as he fasted for forty days and forty nights in the desert and also to order the bodily desires under the higher powers of the soul: the intellect and will. It is within this pillar of Lent where “giving up” something for Lent comes into play—we order our physical desires under the control of reason through fasting and sacrifice and order our reason under the power of God. St. Leo the Great tells us: Let us use fasting to make up for what we have lost by despising others. Let us offer our souls in sacrifice by means of fasting. Almsgiving means supporting the Church and our neighbor financially, as well as with our time and talents. There are many opportunities to give financially to the poor and needy in Lent, through the Church and other organizations. Volunteering at local organizations whose mission is to help the poor can also be a part of almsgiving. The old 1907 Catholic Encyclopedia admonishes us: Almsgiving should be discreet, so as to reach deserving individuals or families; prompt, so as to warrant opportuneness; secret and humble; cheerful; and abundant. St. Leo the Great also tell us, concerning almsgiving: The giver of alms should be free from anxiety and full of joy. His gain will be greatest when he keeps back least for himself. While Lent may be a season of penitence, it, as the English name suggests, is a season of spring: a season of new life and growth where we Christians grow in grace, even through the “night” of our penance and self-denial. Some of you have heard that I have been elected to the diocesan Presbyteral Council. This council is a group of priests which, representing all the priests in the diocese, is like a senate of the bishop and assists the bishop in the governance of the diocese to promote as much as possible the pastoral good of the people of God entrusted to him. At our first meeting, I was elected chairman of the council. Additionally, I was named to the diocesan College of Consultors. This group of priests is a consultative body that the bishop must consult primarily regarding matters of major financial importance. Moreover, if the diocese becomes vacant, it is the responsibility of the College of Consultors to elect a priest who will govern the diocese until a bishop is appointed. These appointments do not change my assignment here at Our Lady, other than more diocesan meetings that I must attend.
A few weeks ago, our Director of Religious Formation, Rebecca Zalar wrote about the question of when does Mass actually end. A similar question is often raised: how much of Mass must I attend to fulfill my obligation? I believe this is the wrong question but I’ll get to that in a moment. First, we have to see what the church asks of us. Canon 1247 of the Code of Canon Law is the relevant law, which states, “On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are obliged to participate in the Mass.” This is simple and straightforward: we must attend Mass on Sundays and other holy days of obligation. Nonetheless, what does “participate in the Mass” really mean?
Sometimes people bring up that they were taught that you had to be at Mass for the Gospel, or when the chalice veil was removed, or through Holy Communion for it to “count.” The fact is the church has never definitely said what “counts” as participating in Mass to fulfill one’s obligation. Moral theologians over the years have given their thoughts but the church has never officially stated anything. And this is why I stated I think people are asking the wrong question. We shouldn’t be minimalists in our religious practice. We shouldn’t ask about “how much of the Mass fulfills my obligation” because we should earnestly try to be at the entire Mass on every Sunday (or Saturday evening) and holy day of obligation. A well-known priest, Fr. John Zuhlsdorf, writes, “if you are late for Mass through no fault of your own, and there is no other way to fulfill your Sunday or holy day obligation, you have nevertheless done your best. If you are late through your own fault, that is another matter.” This cuts to the heart: Missing the first part of Mass because your child got sick just as you were leaving the house is different than missing the first part of Mass because you left the house late because you were in the middle of a good TV show. Unexpected things come up with illness, weather, trains, etc. and you should try to do your best. If you’re late to Mass through your own fault, that’s a different story. I should also mention that reception of Holy Communion is not a required part of attending Mass. I think people do not always understand this. Fr. Zuhlsdorf writes, “Reception of Communion is not the mark of having fulfilled your Mass obligation. You are still obliged to go to Sunday Mass even if you know you cannot receive Communion. Communion is not the same as getting your parking ticket validated at the restaurant.” The law states we must attend Mass, not that we must receive Holy Communion. There is law that states we must receive Holy Communion once a year, but that’s a topic for a different day. In the end, I ask that you adjust your way of thinking if you’re questioning “how late can I be to Mass for it to still count.” Rather, ask “why am I am late to Mass (or why I am leaving early): can it be helped? Is it through no fault of my own or is it through my fault?” This will help answer the question. Sure, it would be easier if the church said you need to be at Mass from such-and-such a point onward, but that can make us minimalists and we don’t want to be minimalists in our worship. God deserves more than that. Some of you have heard that on November 20, 2023, Bishop William Callahan appointed me Adjunct Judicial Vicar for the Diocese of La Crosse. Some of you have wondered if this means I will be leaving the parish. No, I won’t be leaving the parish. This assignment is in addition to my pastorate here. The Adjunct Judicial Vicar is an assistant to the Judicial Vicar of the diocese who works in the Tribunal, usually handling marriage annulment cases. Since I am a canon lawyer, Bishop Callahan has asked me to use my skills in the Tribunal. I might have to be in La Crosse a bit more but I’ll be staying put for the time being.
In my last column I wrote about general grants of indulgences. Today I want to comment on indulgenced prayers or works, which are most probably what people mean when they refer to ‘indulgences.’ Such indulgences are listed as “partial” or “plenary” meaning it removes some of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven (partial indulgences) or all of the temporal punishment (plenary indulgences). The church does not define how much “partial” is other than it is not all the punishment (it could be 99%!).
To obtain a plenary indulgence, one must say the prayer or do the work (such as spending a half-hour in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament), and fulfill the following conditions (known as the “usual conditions”): (1) Be free from all attachment to sin, even venial sin; (2) receive sacramental confession (within about 20 days); (3) receive Holy Communion; and (4) say a prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father (e.g., an Our Father and a Hail Mary). The conditions may be carried out several days preceding or following, although it is appropriate to receive Holy Communion on the day the prayer or work is performed. If a person is not fully disposed or if the conditions are not fulfilled, the indulgence is partial. A plenary indulgence may be gained only once on any day. It can be applied to oneself or to the dead (but not to another living person). So what are some of these prayers or works? Many prayers have a partial indulgence attached to them, such as the Acts of Faith, Hope, Love, and Contrition, as well as the Angelus, the Anima Christi, the Memorare, and the Apostles or Nicene Creed. The Rosary has a plenary indulgence attached to it when the rosary is recited in a church or when recited in a family (partial otherwise). Even the sign of the cross, while saying the customary words, has a partial indulgence attached to it. Some of the indulgenced works are spending time in adoration the Blessed Sacrament (partial or, if a half-hour or more, plenary), visiting a cemetery and praying there for the dead (applicable to the dead only; partial but plenary from November 1-8), reading Sacred Scripture (partial or, if a half-hour or more, plenary), or attending the First Mass of a newly ordained priest (plenary). Indulgences are a special gift to us from the treasury of the Church. We do not often think about the temporal punishment due to sin but we should. We should try often to keep ourselves out of purgatory by doing good here on earth and assisting those who have already died by Masses said for their souls and applying indulgences to them. Earlier this year I wrote a bulletin column about praying for the deceased members of our families and friends. In that column I used the term “indulgence” and I had a number of people ask to write more about indulgences and the Church’s teaching on them.
We first have to be reminded that sin has a double consequence. The first consequence is called “eternal punishment” which is the deprivation of communion with God. This is usually what we think about when we talk about the punishment of sin. Nonetheless, every sin, even venial sin, entails an unhealthy attachment to creatures. This punishment is called “temporal punishment” and can be purified either here on earth or after death in Purgatory. The Catechism notes that these two punishments must not be conceived as a kind of vengeance inflicted by God but as following from the very nature of sin. When a person goes to confession and his/her sins are forgiven, the absolution entails the remission of the eternal punishment. The vestiges of sin, the temporal punishment, remains. To remove the temporal punishment, here on this earth, the Church offers us indulgences. An indulgence is the remission before God of the temporal punishment due sins already forgiven as far as their guilt is concerned. The Church is able to offer this since she is the minister of the Redemption, and authoritatively dispenses and applies the treasury of the satisfaction won by Christ and the saints. An indulgence can be applied to oneself or applied to the dead as suffrages. There are three general types of indulgences. The first is granted to the Christian faithful who, while performing their duties and enduring the difficulties of life, raise their minds in humble trust to God and make, at least mentally, some pious invocation. This ‘pious invocation’ might be “Lord, have mercy” or “Jesus, help me” or “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph” or something similar. The second type is granted to the Christian faithful who, prompted by a spirit of faith, devote themselves or their goods in compassionate service to their brothers and sisters in need.” This grant concerns charity provided to those who, for example, are in need of food, clothing, instruction, or comfort. The third type is granted to the Christian faithful who, in a spirit of penitence, voluntarily abstain from something which is licit for and pleasing to them. This concerns fasting and abstinence when not required by the Church to do so. To obtain these general grants of indulgence, a person must have at least the general intention of doing so and must be in a proper disposition (that is, not in a state of grave sin). There are other types of indulgences, which is what most people think about when speaking about indulgences. Certain prayers (such as the rosary) and pious works (such as reading scripture) also have indulgences attached to them. These usually consist of several conditions. I will write about them in my next column. As always, feel free to ask me if you have further questions. One of my favorite hymns is Jerusalem, My Happy Home. While the author of the text is unclear, some sources attribute St. Augustine as its author. The most familiar tune it is sung to is “Land of Rest” which is an American/Appalachian folk tune with roots in the ballads of northern England and Scotland. With a focus on the heavenly Jerusalem, the song is often sung at funerals, on All Souls Day, and throughout the month of November.
I was looking at various printings of Jerusalem, My Happy Home and one from 1938 caught my attention. The tempo marking on the music stated: With unhurried simplicity. Those three words caught my eye. I was immediately struck by them. With unhurried simplicity. What a motto for our lives! What great guidance for our life’s work! Should we not each day try to live our lives with unhurried simplicity? We live in such a fast-paced, connected world that we are often hurrying from one thing to the next and yet we are called to live in an unhurried way, in order to focus on what really matters: first and foremost, our Lord and God. If we could just slow down a bit and take the time to focus on God, family, the beauty around us, and our eternal salvation, perhaps our lives would be a bit better. In this month of November, as we remember all the dead, we remember that our lives too will end and our hurriedness will eventually end. Why not take some time to be unhurried now? Yet it is not only unhurriedness that we are called to but simplicity as well. With unhurried simplicity. We are all called to live simple lives, again focusing on the things that really matter. Our lives can become so complicated—we can become so caught up in the events of the world that we forget about the things that really matter: faith, family, friendship. If only we could live a little more unhurried, a little more simply, I think we would all be quite a bit happier in life and more guaranteed of our eternal salvation. As I read those words on that 1938 printing of the hymn, I was struck. I still am. I fail daily at trying to live with unhurried simplicity. I was reminded of a prayer that is prayed during Midafternoon Prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours: Lord, make the peace we pray for a reality: may we live our days in quiet joy and, with the help of the Virgin Mary’s prayers, safely reach your kingdom. May we all, through the Virgin Mary’s prayers, live our lives in quiet joy and with unhurried simplicity. Praised be Jesus Christ! During this month of November, we especially remember the Poor Souls in Purgatory. In a special way, we remember our deceased family members, friends, relatives, and benefactors. On November 2nd—All Souls Day—the Church prays for all who, in the purifying suffering of Purgatory, await the day they will join in heavenly glory. The Mass has always been the principal means by which the Church fulfills the great responsibility of charity toward the dead. Death cannot break the bonds of the Body of Christ.
During this month of November, I encourage everyone to pray for their deceased family members, friends, relatives, and benefactors. In a special way, I encourage everyone to visit a cemetery and offer prayers. During the time of November 1st through November 8th, the Christian faithful who devoutly visit a cemetery and pray, if only mentally, for the dead can obtain a plenary indulgence applicable for the dead only under the usual conditions. Outside of this period, the indulgence is partial. We should also pray the prayer Requiem aeternam often, especially during the month of November. A partial indulgence, applicable only to the souls in purgatory, is attached to this prayer. The prayer is simply: Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen. There is also the prayer Retribuere dignare for benefactors that has a partial indulgence attached to it: Reward those who have been good to us for the sake of your name, O Lord, and give them eternal life. Amen. As I mentioned, the Mass has always been the principal means by which the Church fulfills the great responsibility of charity toward the dead. I know many of you schedule Masses to be said for the repose of the souls of your deceased family members and friends. What a wonderful way to pray for the dead. In our prayers, rosaries, and remembrances, let us always pray for those who have gone before us: may they rest in peace! |