Lex Cordis Caritas - The law of the heart is Love

As has been widely reported, next weekend marks the introduction of the new English translation of the revised Roman Missal. Much information and catechesis about the new version of prayers that we use at Mass and the reasons for these changes has been shared in print, from the pulpits of our churches, and in classes, seminars and workshops. My purpose here is not to try to explain it all to you or even summarize it in these brief remarks, but rather simply to give you my perspective on this as your bishop.

This weekend I am in Rome for the 30th anniversary of the dedication of the Polish Home of the John Paul II Foundation, which was dedicated by Pope John Paul II himself in 1981 as a pilgrimage house for visitors from Poland. Since the death of Pope John Paul II, the John Paul II Foundation has taken on the added function of serving as a research center of his pontificate. I have the privilege of serving as vice chairman on the board of directors of the John Paul II Foundation. Oct. 22 is also being observed in Rome and in Poland with votive Masses on the anniversary of his inauguration as Pope.

Last weekend I attended the annual meeting of the Knights and Ladies of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre. Also attending were our Springfield Section Representatives, Jim and Mary Comerford, and their son, Father Christopher Comerford, pastor of St. Elizabeth Parish in Granite City, and our local prior (chaplain), Father Christopher House. We also had three priests inducted into the Order as new members: Msgr. Carl Kemme, vicar general; Father David Hoefler, pastor in Effingham and Shumway and dean of the Effingham Deanery; and Father Daren Zehnle, my priest secretary, master of ceremonies and associate vocation director. I have been a member for many years and the order does important work for the church in the Holy Land, so I want to tell you about them.

This column comes to you from Madrid, Spain, where I have attended World Youth Day with Pope Benedict XVI for a gathering of one and a half million pilgrims from 193 countries from around the world. Among those participating are almost one hundred young people and adult leaders from our Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, including Father Brian Alford, Father Chris Brey, Father Nnamdi Moneme, Father Daren Zehnle, and seminarians Steve Arisman and Hyland Smith.

The newest gambling casino in Illinois opened on July 18 in Cook County at the new Rivers Casino in Des Plaines. News reports said that so many people wanted to check out the new gambling palace, in fact, that casino management ended up advising potential guests to “consider delaying their visit” after the facility’s parking lots were overwhelmed and traffic was paralyzed along River Road for hours at midday.