This week we celebrate Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the Lenten season. Pope Benedict XVI describes Lent as “an itinerary of more intense spiritual training” during which we are called upon to join in the three traditional penitential practices of prayer, almsgiving and fasting. It is in that spirit that we offer these resources to deepen your participation in the 40 days of preparation for the celebration of Christ's death and resurrection.

On the Web

The internet is filled with Lenten reflections and ideas for activities appropriate for the season:

• Message of His Holiness Benedict XVI for Lent 2009
• "Be Reconciled to God" - Bishop Lucas' Pastoral Letter for Lent 2008
• Daily Readings - The web site of the USCCB offers the daily lectionary readings in both text and audio formats.
• Operation Rice Bowl – For 34 years, Operation Rice Bowl has called participants to pray with their families and faith communities; fast in solidarity with those who hunger; learn about our global community and the challenges of poverty overseas, and give sacrificial contributions to those in need.
• Lent: Call to Conversion - Resources from American Catholic.
• Praying Lent - Reflections, bulletin inserts and Lenten recipes.
• Star Quest Production Network – SQPN offers a variety of Catholic podcasts including That Catholic Show, iPadre and Daily Breakfast with Fr. Roderick.

Books

Spiritual reading is a wonderful way to mark Lent. Choose a book (or two!) to read over the course of the forty days:

• Jesus of Nazareth by Pope Benedict XVI (Doubleday, 2007) – The Holy Father invites us to know more intimately the true Christ through his teachings and earthly ministry.
• Earthen Vessels by Gabriel Bunge, OSB (Ignatius Press, 2002) – Fr. Bunge, a Benedictine hermit, explores the connection between prayer and belief through the writings of the Church Fathers. He also gives practical advice to how we should center out prayer lives.
• Lent and Easter in the Domestic Church by Peter & Catherine Fournier (Ignatius Press, 2002) - Activities, stories and crafts for family observances of the season.
• Five Loaves and Two Fish by Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan (Pauline Books & Media, 2003) – In this short book Cardinal Thuan, who was imprisoned by the Vietnamese government for 13 years (nine spent in solitary confinement), offers seven reflections on prayer, the Eucharist, the Blessed Virgin and other spiritual topics.
• United States Catholic Catechism for Adults (USCCB, 2006)

Other

• Why Catholic? - There is still time to sign up for the next series of Why Catholic? faith sharing groups in participating parishes. Contact your pastor for more information.
• Fr. Robert Barron of Word on Fire offers the following reflection on the beginning of Lent:

(Photo by Bright_Star on flickr.)

Today groups from across the diocese will begin their pilgrimage to Washington, D.C., to participate in Thursday's March for Life. These young people will join with others from across the country to peacefully protest the injustice of the Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade.

We invite you to remember these pilgrims with the U.S. Bishop's prayer to the Virgin of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Unborn:

Our Lady of Guadalupe,
we turn to you who are the protectress of unborn children and ask that you intercede for us,
so that we may more firmly resolve to join you in protecting all human life.

Let our prayers be united to your perpetual motherly intercession on behalf of those whose lives are threatened,
be they in the womb of their mother, on the bed of infirmity, or in the latter years of their life.

May our prayers also be coupled with peaceful action which witnesses to the goodness and dignity of all human life,
so that our firmness of purpose may give courage to those who are fearful and bring light to those who are blinded by sin.

Encourage those who will be involved in the March for Life;
help them to walk closely with God and to give voice to the cry of the oppressed,
in order to remind out nation of its commitment to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all people.

O Virgin Mother of God, present our petitions to your Son and ask Him to bless us with abundant life.

Amen.

This weekend many parishes will be holding Advent penance services in anticipation of the joyous celebration of Christ's birth. Receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation is an important part of our preparation for Christmas since we believe the sacrament "reconciles us with the Church. Sin damages or even breaks fraternal communion. The sacrament of Penance repairs or restores it... Re-established or strengthened in the communion of saints, the sinner is made stronger by the exchange of spiritual goods among all the living members of the Body of Christ." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1469)

Preparing for Reconciliation can be an unnerving experience for even the most devout of us. The following resources may help as you prepare to recieve the gift of Christ's forgiveness:

• "Be Reconciled to God": Bishop Lucas' Pastoral Letter
• A Guide for Confession (Archdiocese of St. Louis)
• Fr. Philip's Ten Commandments of Confession (Fr. Philip Neri Powell, OP)

One of the major findings from the National Study of Youth and Religion is how young people, while being the most spiritual generation today, have a whole different outlook on their relationship with God compared to other generations.  The main author, Dr. Christian Smith, labeled this spirituality Moralistic Therapeutic Deism and is characterized by these statements that form a "creed" of sorts...

1. A God exists who created and orders the world and watches over human life on earth
2. God wants people to be good, nice, and fair to each other, as taught in the Bible and by most world religions
3. The central goal in life is to be happy and to feel good about oneself
4. God does not need to be particularly involved in one’s life except when he is needed to resolve a problem
5. Good people go to Heaven when they die

As a youth minister and a catechist, this "creed" offers a number of challenges, particularly #4 in this list.   These challenges also point to the need for continual formation on my part to be better equipped to deal with these challenges.

Look for more resources from my office in the near future!  And if you have not read a copy of the National Study of Youth and Religion by Dr. Smith, please do so!  The study offers a wonderful snapshot of  young people!

Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy. - Mt 25:21

In an age of steroids, biased refs and corked bats, it's good to see someone doing the right thing in professional sports, even if it means disqualification from an entire season. In case you missed the story, golfer J.P. Hayes pulled himself out of the PGA qualifying tournament after realizing that he accidentally played one hole with a non-regulation ball.

Hayes could have said nothing and avoided the repercussions; instead he told a judge, owned up to his mistake and accepted the disqualification. As a result he will not be eligible for the 2009 PGA tour season.

It's easy to take a cynical stance and claim he only did it as a "good PR move." After all, Hayes is a former champion, has made plenty of money over the span of his career and will still be eligible for plenty of smaller tournaments. And after all, it's only a game!

But I think that misses the point. Two Sundays ago, in the Gospel reading, we heard Jesus remind his disciples that they are called to faithfulness in all things, no matter how small they are. By practicing honesty and virtue in small matters we train ourselves to be faithful in more important things. It creates in us the habit of "doing the right thing." This is why sports are sometimes called the training ground for life: by learning to adhere to the rules, to play fairly and engage in good sportsmanship we learn to do the same in our lives.

These are lessons that J.P. Hayes has obviously learned; his "habit of virtue" led him to make the honest choice and showed that golf is truely a gentleman's game.

My wife Jennifer and I went and saw an amazing movie Saturday. We were just married October 4 and with the craziness that follows a wedding, we really had not had a chance to just go out and have a date. So we decided to go see a movie and then catch a bite to eat afterwards. Even though we have only been married for a little under two months, we know that it's not every day that you find a movie that is dedicated to strengthening marriages. Fireproof is just that.

It is filled with action and drama, love and humor, and some very intense emotion. It's amazing. However, I found myself sitting there during the moving amazed that I was watching this in a theater, because the message it was sending, you rarely see on the big screen these days. The idea that your marriage is worth fighting for, let alone including God in the process, is not something you hear about anymore in main stream culture.

Kirk Cameron, who played Mike Seaver in the 1980's TV show "Growing Pains," stars as Caleb Holt, a fireman who is on the brink of divorce. He gets caught up in the snare of selfishness many couples fall prey to in marriage. Self-preoccupation rears its ugly head as both Caleb and his wife express mutual hostility and putting other people and things ahead of each other.

In training a rookie firefighter, Caleb is adamant that he never leave his partner behind, especially in the midst of a fire. Unfortunately, Caleb cannot see that he is disregarding his own advice in his personal life. Thankfully he has a fellow firefighter and friend who is able to help him see the light.

When Caleb shared with his father that he was getting a divorce, his father asked him to wait 40 days. Caleb’s dad had been down this road before and sent Caleb an experiment called "The Love Dare." "The Love Dare" was a journal from that had 40 days of readings and practices for Caleb to use to restore the love and faith in his marriage. The unique aspect of "The Love Dare" is that it shows that it only takes one person to really change a marriage. It might not be easy, as Caleb finds out, but if you truly put faith into it, can reap unexpected benefits.

When Caleb started "The Love Dare," he was just going through the motions, often not reading the biblical passages at the bottom of each page. The practices suggested were not these big, grandiose ideas you hear many people suggest. Instead they were things such as refraining from saying anything negative to your spouse; doing something nice for your spouse or calling them just to check on them. These were the practices that Caleb had to perform, but until he transformed his heart, they didn't work. One in particular that was stressed was studying your spouse. "Get a bachelor's, then a master's then a doctorate degree in your spouse."

Marriage is a promise. Marriage is a covenant. It is not merely a contract that can be canceled at will. Rich rewards await those who push through the pain of personal growth to overcome the challenges and obstacles that all couples face. Fire is a great analogy used in this movie for the refining fire of marriage.

In one memorable scene, Caleb comes to his wits' end regarding how he can possibly continue to love when his love is not received. How can he love when his love is rebuffed and rejected? It is then that he awakens to the role Jesus Christ plays in his ability to love his wife, as he must be able to within marriage. It is then that his heart is transformed and softened to a state that makes him capable of loving in the true spirit of love.

Somewhere in the midst of Caleb's awakening to and acceptance of Christ, there seems to be a transfer of power, such that Caleb is now able to love more so as God loves. This love that we seek in marriage is the love that God freely gives.

The road to Caleb's transformation is not easy. It is full of heart-wrenching pain. It is quite obvious that the process is excruciatingly slow. It is easy to see how such a marital journey is quickly abandoned by so many for the seemingly apparent "peace" that divorce deceptively promises.

I encourage everyone to see this movie and to encourage others to do so as well. Fireproof is great marriage education for engaged couples as well. Jennifer and I are still newlyweds and we found many great ideas to incorporate into our marriage. Going into marriage with an understanding that successful marriages take effort, and knowing a few of the keys to marital happiness are a couple of great gifts that we can give our youth.

The movie opened Sept. 26 in theaters. If you miss it there, be sure to get the DVD when it comes out January 27, 2009. You can check out the movie trailer and learn more about it below.

It is never too late to Fireproof our marriages.

Links you should check out

• Fireproof Movie Website: www.fireproofthemovie.com
• Fireproof Movie Showtimes: www.fireproofthemovie.com/theaters/
• Fireproof Your Marriage Website: www.fireproofmymarriage.com
• Fireproof Couples Resources: www.fireproofresources.com

"And he said, "Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD." And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave." - 1Kings 19:11-13

At the Diocesan Adult Enrichment Conference last week I had the privilege of introducing Matthew Kelly as he spoke on the seven pillars of Catholic spirituality. Kelly is an international speaker who has written on a variety of subjects including the relevance of the Catholic Church in the modern world, building better families and becoming the "best version of yourself."

Kelly's conviction is that the only way to engage people in their spiritual journey is to help them to listen to the voice of God in their lives. This is done by engaging in spiritual practices that foster an appreciation for silence, for it is in silence that we can hear God's promptings.

Silence is a rare commodity in today's world. Everywhere we turn there is the roar of car engines, the laugh track from the television and the chatter of strangers on cell phones. I can't even do the dishes after dinner without turning on some music or listening to a podcast! How can we possibly be expected to hear God's voice with so many other voices vying for our attention?

The key, as Kelly reminds us, is to intentionally seek out silence in our lives. This may mean turning off the television and reading a book, silent adoration before the Blessed Sacrament or even pausing a few extra seconds before leaving the house in the morning to say a quick prayer.

This isn't easy! It means being aware of ourselves and breaking the habits we've grown used to in our day-to-day routines.

Here are a few suggestions of ways to cultivate silence in our lives:

• Turn off the radio in the car and say a prayer on the way to work. Your drive may not be long enough for the Rosary, but you can probably fit in an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be.
• Pause 5 seconds before beginning each meal, even if you've already prayed.
• Read the scriptures for the upcoming Sunday. Silently think about what they are saying to you in your life.
• "Fast" from television for one week. Find other things to do, like play a board game with your family, read a book or finish a project you've been putting off.
• Arrive at church 5 minutes earlier on Sunday.
• Call a friend you haven't talked to in a while. Concentrate on listening to them, rather than talking yourself.
• Keep your cell phone on vibrate. If you need to use it while in public, find a secluded area so as not to disturb others.
• Just sit in silence for 5 minutes and ask God to speak to you.

Like I said, these aren't easy! But if we want to cultivate a spirit of silence so as to open ourselves to God's voice, we need to break the habits that  have brought so much noise and spiritual clutter in our lives. I bet that if you choose one of these suggestions and practice it for one week that you will see a difference in your life and in your relationship with God.

The follow message from Bishop Lucas will appear in this week's Catholic Times:

All during the months leading up to this week’s election, Catholics have been offered tremendous opportunities to learn more about Catholic teaching, to understand the importance of internalizing that teaching and then of applying it to the important issues facing our society, and finally to hear about the importance of bringing a Catholic understanding to the polls on election day. In fact, some have already participated in early voting. For the rest, I offer what I hope will be a helpful summary for your last minute consideration.

We look to the teachings of our Catholic faith to receive the blessing of God’s law communicated to us in our contemporary situation. The truth of these teachings is guarded by the Holy Spirit from one generation to the next. Catholics have the responsibility, as well as the privilege, of learning how to live in the world as God intends by studying the teachings of our faith. In other words, we form our consciences with sound teaching so that we can hold ourselves responsible for doing good and avoiding evil. The law of God for human society that is made explicit in the teachings of our faith is the same law that God writes on the heart of every person. This natural law can be known and understood by any person of good will who sincerely seeks the truth.

Catholic citizens have the right and the responsibility to participate in political and social processes, including voting, through which we share the light of the gospel. We do not accept a false notion of the separation of church and state that is designed to keep people of faith out of the public square. While the church herself may not be partisan nor endorse candidates, we can and must speak up for the defense of God-given rights. Individual Catholics, with well-formed consciences, should do all they can to see that those rights are protected and that government power is exercised in the service of true justice. While voting is important, the communication with those who serve in government about the responsibility to safeguard human rights and dignity is something we must attend to all year long.

The direct and intentional destruction of innocent human life violates the most basic of human rights and is always wrong. Examples of this evil are abortion and euthanasia. It is true that there are many issues that must be of concern to faithful Catholics. But the responsibility to protect the right to life of each human person from conception to natural death must hold primacy of place in our consciences. We are deceiving ourselves if we allow ourselves to trade this responsibility away for some other issue or issues. For example, Catholics are rightly concerned about issues of war and peace, and we follow the gospel imperative to work for peace. However, we cannot ourselves be credible instruments for peace, nor can we credibly call for our nation to be a force for peace in the world, if we do not hold our elected officials to take concrete steps to enlarge the protection in law of the basic right to life here at home.

Catholics should approach participation in political and civic life armed with prayer and penance. We will never be equal to the sacred task of working for God’s plan for a just society until we are involved in a process of conversion ourselves. Therefore, I have asked that in every parish in this diocese, sometime in the several days before the election, all be invited to participate in some period of Eucharistic exposition and adoration. Let us pray together for the help of the Holy Spirit to act with a true conscience, as well as for God’s blessings on this country which we love. Further, I ask that every Catholic who is able participate in a voluntary day of fasting on Monday, November 3 – that is, to eat moderately at mealtime and to refrain from food between meals. I believe our prayer and penance at this time will be a pleasing offering to God in thanksgiving for the light of the gospel and in reparation for sins against the dignity of human life.

We have asked Mary, the Immaculate Conception, to be the heavenly patroness of our nation, as she is also of our diocese. We know that she will pray for us now, if we request her prayers, and will help us know how to be true disciples of her son Jesus Christ.

On October 5th Pope Benedict XVI opened the Synod of Bishops. Given the theme "The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church," the bishops will spend this month reflecting on the role of the Sacred Scriptures in our liturgy, teaching, prayer life, preaching and evangelization.

One theme that has already emerged from the Synod is that Christianity is not a "religion of the Book," but is instead a "religion of the Word." While we venerate the Sacred Scriptures and rightly accord them a place of honor, our faith is based on the living Word of God -- our savior, Jesus Christ.

Cardinal Marc Ouellet of Quebec suggests that our response to this Word should be modeled on the response of the Blessed Virgin Mary. God did not arbitrarily pick the Mother of his Son. He revealed his plan to Mary and invited her to participate in it. By entering into a dialogue with God, Mary gave her humble assent to the Incarnation (Luke 1:30-38) so that the Word might take on our humanity.

Put another way: Mary's trust in God allowed her (and us!) to have a relationship with his Word.

Like Mary we are called into a conversation with God. Through the Scriptures we hear God talking to us, telling us of his plan for our salvation and the great deeds he has done for love of us. In the Scriptures we encounter the Word -- but it is not enough to listen. We must also follow, just as Mary and the disciple's followed Christ, holding nothing back of our lives but allowing ourselves to be transformed by God's awesome grace. This is what it means to have a relationship with the Word: to answer the call to conversion, leave behind our former lives and enter the promises of Christ.

Christianity is a "religion of the Word." By listening and responding to God in imitation of the Blessed Virgin, we place our hope in the living Word that speaks across the centuries and calls us to new life in him.

The Catholic Bishops of Illinois, have issued an appeal for political responsibility to help prepar Catholics for the upcoming election and further participation in the political process. Called Our Conscience and Our Vote, the statement was signed by all the bishops in the Province of Illinois and released through the Catholic Conference of Illinois on September 22. The text of the statement is below.

The privilege and responsibility of citizenship

We citizens of the United States live in a country whose Declaration of Independence was founded on the conviction that every person has inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. For centuries, as our forbears fought to uphold these God-given rights so essential to the makeup of our nation, they also exercised the responsibilities of citizenship with purpose and determination.

Christian faith teaches that our rights flow from our dignity as human persons made in the image and likeness of God, and that along with these rights come responsibilities. Each of us must be concerned in the present for the good of all and look responsibly to the future so that those who come after us will also enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

One of the rights shared by citizens of our nation is also a responsibility – to vote. Voting is not a small matter to be dealt with casually or carelessly. It calls upon all to reflect seriously and prayerfully on moral issues that reflect God’s design for the common good.

Catholics have contributed significantly to the growth and well-being of our country since its very foundation, and our moral tradition has been a consistent, positive influence on public life. That moral tradition is needed now more than ever to address serious challenges in our nation and our state. Illinois is faced with a growing culture of violence – over 46,000 lives were aborted in 2006, and the Chicago murder rate is 18% higher than last year. There is a declining respect for the role religious individuals and institutions play in the delivery of health care and social services. We need to look for creative ways to support Catholic schools and the families of Catholic school children.

Every four years, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issues a statement meant as a call to political responsibility for the Catholics of our country. We do not endorse political parties or candidates but offer guidance solidly rooted in our faith. We encourage you to read this year’s statement, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship; it can be found at www.faithfulcitizenship.org.

The document highlights the role of the Church in the formation of conscience as well as the responsibility of each Catholic to hear, receive, and act upon the Church’s teaching in forming his or her conscience. With a well-formed conscience, Catholics are better able to evaluate policy positions, party platforms, and the promises and actions of candidates.

We bishops of Illinois offer this brief reflection on Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship as part of our pastoral care for the people of our dioceses.

How do we “form” our conscience?

When we speak of “conscience,” what do we mean? Conscience is the voice of God’s law resounding in the human heart, revealing the truth to us and calling us to do what is good and shun what is evil. As Pope John Paul II wrote, “Conscience is the most secret core and sanctuary of a person, where we are alone with God. In the depths of our conscience, we detect a moral law, which does not impose itself on us, but which holds us to a higher obedience. This law is not an external human law, but the voice of God, calling us to free ourselves from the grip of evil desires and sin, and stimulating us to seek what is good and true in life.”

How do we Catholics properly form our conscience? First, we must desire to embrace goodness and truth. Since God is the source of all that is good and true, we begin by seeking his will in prayer. We study the Bible and the teachings of the Church. We seriously examine the situations we face to make sure we understand them and the ramifications of various choices. If we fail to form our consciences, we risk making erroneous and irresponsible judgments.

Because a well-formed conscience seeks to do the will of God, it is more than a “feeling” or an opinion. Forming our conscience is a humble act of faith in God through which we express our belief that God is the source of all wisdom. We have a responsibility both to form our conscience well and to act in accord with our conscience. When we act out of a well-formed conscience, we are praising God – and offering a gift to our families, our co-workers, and the community at large.

There are some things we must never do

There are some things we must never do, because they are so deeply flawed that they are always incompatible with love of God and neighbor. Such “intrinsically evil” actions can never be justified and must always be rejected and opposed; they must never be supported or condoned. Examples are the intentional taking of innocent life, as in abortion and euthanasia; direct threats to the sanctity and dignity of human life, such as human cloning and destructive research on human embryos; other assaults on innocent human life and violations of human dignity, such as genocide, torture, racism, and targeting noncombatants in acts of terror or war.

The fact that we must always oppose intrinsically evil acts should also open our eyes to the good we must do, that is, to our positive duty to contribute to the common good and to act in solidarity with those in need. The right to life, for example, is linked to all other human rights, and all life issues are connected. As Blessed Pope John XXIII wrote, “[Each of us] has the right to life, to bodily integrity, and to the means which are suitable for the proper development of life; these are primarily food, clothing, shelter, rest, medical care, and finally, the necessary social services.” The moral imperative to respond to the needs of our neighbors is universally binding on our consciences. In preparing to vote with a well-formed conscience, it is important to avoid two temptations:

• The first temptation would be to consider all life issues morally equal and thus fail to • see that there is a hierarchy among them. We must keep first in mind that the direct and intentional destruction of innocent human life from the moment of conception until natural death is always wrong. It is not just one issue among many and must always be opposed. Our support for the sanctity of human life is dishonest if it does not include opposition to abortion.
• The second temptation would be to fail to give proper attention to other issues that • pose serious threats to human life, even as we uphold and defend as a priority the sanctity of life from the moment of conception. Issues such as racism, the use of the death penalty, unjust war, the use of torture, war crimes, failure to attend to the needs of the poor, and unjust immigration policy also must be addressed because of our belief in the sanctity of human life.

The choices are not always simple

Decisions about political life and voting can be quite complex. Prudential judgment will be needed when applying moral principles to a variety of policy choices, and we urge the Catholic people of Illinois to listen carefully and prayerfully to Sacred Scripture and Church teaching when analyzing proposals and preparing to cast a vote.

For us Catholics, it is essential that we be guided by a well-formed conscience that recognizes that all issues do not carry the same moral weight and that the obligation to oppose intrinsically evil acts has a special claim on our consciences and our actions. Thus we cannot vote for a candidate who takes a position in favor of an intrinsic evil, such as abortion or racism, if our intention is to support that position. In doing so we would be guilty of formal cooperation in grave evil. By the same token, when we support a candidate who opposes an intrinsic evil, we must not ignore other important moral issues involving the dignity of human life.

When we find that all candidates hold a position in favor of an intrinsic evil, as conscientious voters we face a dilemma. We may decide to take the extraordinary step of not voting for any candidate or, after careful deliberation, we may decide to vote for the candidate less likely to advance the morally flawed position and more likely to pursue other authentically human goods. We should also take into account a candidate’s commitments, character, integrity, and ability to influence a given issue.

How should we prepare to vote?

• Ask God’s guidance in prayer.
• Take time to familiarize ourselves with Church teachings that affect political choices.
• Seriously examine the positions of candidates on important issues.
• Keep in mind the sanctity of human life and the dignity of the human person.
• Acknowledge that not all issues are of equal importance or urgency.
• Remember that there are absolute moral norms that can never be violated for any reason. The deliberate destruction of innocent human life must always be opposed.
• Recognize that we each have a responsibility to the common good, and that forming • one’s conscience well and voting accordingly is both a sacred and civic duty.

“Conscience is the voice of God’s law resounding in the human heart, revealing the truth to us and calling us to do what is good and shun what is evil.”

Our Catholic faith is a blessing to our country!

During his recent visit to the United States, Pope Benedict XVI reflected on the history of the Catholic Church in this country. In his homily at Yankee Stadium, he said:

“How many ‘spiritual sacrifices pleasing to God’ have been offered up in these two centuries! In this land of religious liberty Catholics found freedom not only to practice their faith but also to participate fully in civic life, bringing their deepest moral convictions to the public square and cooperating with their neighbors in shaping a vibrant, democratic society…

“Praying fervently for the coming of the kingdom… also means rejecting a false dichotomy between faith and political life, since as the Second Vatican Council put it, ‘there is no human activity – even in secular affairs – which can be withdrawn from God’s dominion.’ It means working to enrich American society and culture with the beauty and truth of the gospel and never losing sight of that great hope which gives meaning and value to all the other hopes which inspire our lives.”

As the Catholic bishops of Illinois, we share with you a profound hope that God’s wisdom and God’s will become ever more securely the foundation of the hopes, dreams, and principles on which our nation rests.

His Eminence Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I.

Most Reverend Thomas G. Doran

Most Reverend George J. Lucas

Most Reverend Daniel R. Jenky, C.S.C.

Most Reverend Edward K. Braxton

Most Reverend James Peter Sartain

Most Reverend Gustavo Garcia-Siller

Most Reverend Francis J. Kane

Most Reverend John R. Manz

Most Reverend Thomas J. Paprocki

Most Reverend Joseph N. Perry

Most Reverend George J. Rassas

Most Reverend Richard S. Seminack

Most Reverend Mar Jacob Angadiath