The Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman Mother Church of the Diocese of La Crosse, WI

The Gift of Human Life

On Monday of this week, January 23, the Mass for Giving Thanks to God for the Gift of Human Life will be celebrated in all the dioceses of the US and observed as a day of prayer and penance for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life. The following prayer is from the USCCB respect life website.

I gave you the most wondrous signs of my love, and you took the unborn infant’s life.

I gave you my sons and daughters to nurture and cherish, and you threw them away.

I gave you the miracle of married love, and you twisted it to meet your own needs.

I gave you the dignity of life, and you manipulated it to fulfill your selfish desires.

I gave you the mind to decode the mysteries of life,and you used it for destruction.

I gave you the wisdom of old women and men, to guide and inspire you, and you let them die.

I gave you the heart to love even the stranger, and you sent him away.

I gave you the brilliance to create, and you made weapons to destroy.

I gave you a heart to love, and you sold it for senseless pride.

I came so that all might have Life and have it to the full.

He shall reign over them

The theology windows near the sanctuary are partially hidden by the bishop’s chair and the choir stall screens. Themes of those windows are specifically attributed to God as Ruler, Sanctifier , Teacher and Healer. On Tuesday of last week the scriptural readings began with the first Book of Samuel. and continue through this week and next. The middle pane of the Divine Ruler Window depicts Samuel anointing Saul as ruler over the Lord’s people of Israel to save them from their enemies. Saul’s failure and eventual rejection by the Lord led Samuel to Jesse and to David who is depicted in the Fold of Christ Window. In the Divine Ruler window, God is surrounded by elements of his creation, his law given to Moses, the anointing of an earthly king who failed, authority given to Peter and succession of the bishops, and finally his rule for all eternity.

The Solemnity of the Epiphany

We celebrate the Epiphany, the feast in which God reveals that he has come for the redemption of all peoples, Jews and Gentiles alike. The Magi, Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar, set out on a journey following the star for direction, light, and joy. They sought direction to find the Christ child, light and understanding to recognize his divinity and the joy of knowing that they were doing God’s will. The gifts they carried and presented were emblematic of his kingship (gold), priesthood(frankincense) and mortality(myrrh).

It is a Christian tradition to mark the doorway of our homes with the symbols of 20+C+B+M+12 in which the numbers represent the year and the initials of the Magi and the abbreviated Latin phrase Christus mansionem benedicat: “May Christ bless the house.”