Bp. Morlino expects all seminarians to learn to say Mass in the Extraordinary Form before they are ordained

In another entry I answered a question from a lay person who desired to pray for a priest as he learns the Extraordinary Form of Holy Mass at the request of his bishop. It occurs to me that this is a good intention, since the Devil hates priests and the older form of Mass and the sacraments and will work with the assiduous malevolence of fallen angels to undermine, to block, to harm priests who are thus tasked or attached.

However, learning the older forms is necessary. Expanded the use of the Extraordinary Form is clearly something that our Holy Father desires for priests to do as part of a larger project, call it a “Marshall Plan“, to rebuild our devastated Church’s identity in continuity with our magnificent heritage through the worship which is God’s due. No other good projects we can undertake as Catholics will get true traction if our worship of God is not sound.

To this end, I hereby share a photo of His Excellency Most Reverend Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of Madision, who during his recent week-long pow-wow with all the seminarians of the diocese, celebrated Holy Mass for them in the Extraordinary Form.
continue at WDTPRS

If it were possible, I would move to Madison in a heartbeat.  I get emails more often than you would think of people relocating from all parts of the United States looking for a place that is... well, "safe" to practice their faith.  I always recommend joining the Cathedral parish in Madison as the top spot in this state(not to say it's the only good spot). 

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

I wonder who will become the next Archbishop of Chicago I would have to think that Morlino could be a possibility, other possibilities would include Bishop Sample (Marquette, MI) Bishop Perry (Aux. Bishop Chicago) and Bishop Paprocki (Springfield, IL) all great leaders!

Badger Catholic said...

One theory I heard from a priest who's been around was Listecki to Chicago and Callahan back to Milwaukee. I don't really agree there, but I think it could be a possibility. I think Listecki is more likely than Bishop Perry. Bp. Morlino I do not think is going anywhere. I am rooting for Sample.

Anonymous said...

(Brian from Illinois) We have property in the Western U.P. of Michigan, in a little town called Wakefield. I have had the pleasure to meet Bishop Sample on several occasions in the last few years. We're hoping that he doesn't get moved anytime soon, but we're also realistic about the (strong) possibility of his being moved. We live in Illinois, on the border between the Rockford and Chicago Dioceses. In Rockford, we just got our new Bishop, David Malloy from the Milwaukee Archdiocese. He seems really good so far.
As far as Archbishop Listecki maybe going back to Chicago, how is he doing in regards to his recovery from the cardiac procedure? I wonder if his health might be taken into consideration. I think Bishop Callahan is going to be moved to a bigger (Arch)Diocese sometime soon; I know that Indianapolis is still vacant. Portland, Oregon is also waiting for a new Archbishop. Also, Bishop Donald Hying will probably get his own Diocese eventually. Stay tuned! :)

Anonymous said...

(Brian): P.S. I believe that Bishop Joseph Perry will also be getting his own Diocese soon. I have heard his name mentioned as a successor to Bishop Bruskewitz in Lincoln, Nebraska, or Bishop Matthew Clark in Rochester, New York. In fact, a web site in the Rochester Diocese: www.cleansingfiredor.com, has a "Bishop Perry watch/countdown" on their site! It was rumored two years ago that he would be named a Coadjutor Bishop there, but Bishop Clark supposedly turned down a Coadjutor. Again, stay tuned! :) I wonder if there are other potential Bishop Candidates in Wisconsin who we don't know about yet?

Anonymous said...

Interesting stuff re: Perry, almost funny how his name is being tossed around for Lincoln Diocese (arguably one of the most traditional) and the Rochester Diocese (probably in the top 5 for most liberal). I hope whoever ends up in Lincoln continues the good work that Bishop Bruskewitz is doing esp. in regards to vocations (and doesn't try to impose altar girls to make that diocese 'conform' to the 'norms' in the USA.) Perry is solid and I think can be trusted in that regard. That said, I would love to see Perry going to Rochester and really getting things back on track there!

I personally doubt a shuffle will take place sending Listecki to Chicago and Callahan to Milwaukee. Lacrosse and Milwaukee have both in recent years seen a lot of moving and often been a springboard to bigger things (Burke to the Curia, Dolan to NYC, Callahan and Listecki moving back and forth). While that is all well and good in the universal church, these flocks are due for some solid time with a steady hand at the helm and a spiritual father who stays put. While I would say that Callahan and Listecki both have the ability and the credentials to rise higher there is a lot to be said for where they are at now. I think Archbishop Listecki is really just hitting his stride and it would be a shame to see him go so quickly. I think there is a good equilibrium among the various Wisconsin Bishops now and things here will remain pretty stable for the next few years. Though if I were to make one "wild card" prediction it would be that Bishop Morlino's fine work in Madison will get some additional recognition/support in the form of that diocese getting it's own Aux. Bishop (they did have one until 2004.)

Anonymous said...

(Brian) Anon, have you ever heard of Monsignor Kevin Holmes of the Diocese of Madison? He just turned 55 on Tuesday, and he's the Pastor of Madison's Cathedral Parish. Back in 2009-10, when the Diocese of Lacrosse was vacant due to Archbishop Listecki going to Milwaukee and before Bishop Callahan was named there, there were rumors that Monsignor Holmes was a candidate for Lacrosse. Given his age and the fact that there are still about 17 Dioceses in the U.S. waiting for new Bishops, he'll probably be named a Bishop sometime soon. Or Maybe he might be your "wild card" prediction as a Madison Auxiliary Bishop. Also, I like what you said about stability in these Dioceses. I think Milwaukee especially needs this! Cardinal George will probably retire in about 2-3 more years, barring unforseen circumstances. Also, I wonder about Bishop David Ricken of Green Bay. I have friends at the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help, and they think that Bishop Ricken will eventually be moving on to "bigger and better things." We'll see. Also, Bishop Peter Christensen of the Superior Diocese is another still young Bishop. He needs a lot of help in that Diocese, unfortunately! Finally, an interesting aside in all this is that Cardinal Burke is of course a Wisconsin native, and he's also considered by many the most influential American who serves in the Congregation for Bishops. He's had a lot of solid influence lately, especially for U.S. appointments. The next few years should be very interesting, to say the least!

Anonymous said...

(Brian) I'm Praying for Cardinal George. :(

Anonymous said...

Brian, thanks for that additional info. I once met Msg. Holmes and I have heard very good things. You are right he would make an excellent bishop!

It seems that everywhere one looks now you are finding people who love their bishop and think that the bishop will get promoted to a bigger diocese/archdiocese/curia etc.

I take this as a good indicator. In so many places people had to deal with ultra-leftist bishops for decades upon decades. A lot of places are getting their first "conservative" (and I am defining that term in a very broad way) bishop in over a generation. It probably can almost seem too good to be true to at last have bishops who are doing the basics, promoting priestly vocations, being vocally pro-life, encouraging and even seen engaging in devotions like the Rosary and Eucharistic processions. A lot of dioceses had not seen that kind of stuff in 40 years.

Anonymous said...

(Brian): Yes anon! :) Sad, but true. I've heard similar things about our new Bishop in Rockford, David Malloy. He worked with the USCCB in Washington for about 10 years before he was named our new Bishop in March. People are already wondering how long he's going to be in Rockford before they transfer him to a bigger (arch)diocese. I know that Cardinal George has done the best he could in Chicago with what he inherited from Cardinal Bernardin. I understand that he's done a good job with improving Mundelein Seminary. I'm praying for him with his return of cancer. I hope that it won't be serious, but that he can stay around for awhile. That being said, I'm also praying daily for the (Arch)Bishop who will eventually succeed him, that he can continue to build on the good work that Cardinal George has done. Sadly, I think we'll be seeing his successor sooner rather than later. :( Keep praying! :)

Anonymous said...

This sort of careerism, lusting for "bigger and better" things and upward mobility are not well supported by the teachings of Jesus. I feel we are seduced by politics and power and prominence and privilege to talk like this.
Are there any humble servants around who will do their duty and not look for honor?

Badger Catholic said...

Careerism = following the wishes of the Vicar of Christ. I hope I'm a careerist as well in that case.

Anonymous said...

(Brian): The most important thing for any Bishop is to stay focused on where God has him right now; not overlook the present. Bishop Sample gets really irritated with people who say things to him about his "going places." I'm sure he realizes there's a chance he could get moved eventually, but as he said: "That's up to the Holy Spirit." It will be very interesting to see what happens here in the U.S. with 17 or so Dioceses waiting for new Bishops. Stay tuned and keep praying! :)