Florida Catholic | Bishop Dewane's Column

The presence of the Risen Christ is a comfort to all

Published: 03.21.08

My brothers and sisters in Christ,

On Easter Sunday, the Church proclaims a message of great joy. Jesus Christ, who suffered, died, and was buried, is risen from the dead!

Although we may not have been in Jerusalem on that joyous first Easter, generations of Christians have passed down the hope and faith that Easter signifies. It is the hope of salvation and faith in Christ our Savior. His Resurrection gives us the promise of new life, both in this world and the next.

The presence of the Risen Christ is a comfort in a world with so many challenges. May our world leaders overcome present difficulties and make progress toward a more peaceful world order. May the people who serve in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of our state government be guided by the Holy Spirit, in their service to the people of Florida.

Easter is a time of spiritual renewal. Our faith and hope in the Resurrection gives us a new spirit, empowering us to reach out in loving and healing ways to others in need of the compassion and comfort of the Risen Lord. And when there is nothing but darkness in our lives, when we have experienced the greatest losses imaginable … with the Risen Christ, we still have hope.

This Easter let us learn from the Blessed Mother, who stood by her Son throughout His Passion, enduring the “sword of sorrow” that pierced her heart, and in her faith, experienced the joy of His Resurrection. With her assistance, may we deepen our faith and allow Christ to rise once more in our lives.

So now we, who never had to endure those three days of despair in Jerusalem, have the hope of Easter. Jesus Christ has conquered death and sin for us, and the Risen Lord stands before us to prove it.

Alleluia, Alleluia, Happy Easter!

Sacrament of Penance an annual obligation

My friends in Christ,

As this Lenten Season of fasting, penance, and almsgiving approaches an end, it is a time to reflect upon the state of our souls and the times in which we have not been faithful to God and His commandments. Many Catholics often forget that we are obliged to seek the Sacrament of Penance once a year.

Our Holy Father has recently reflected on the Sacrament of Penance (or Reconciliation) in our day. He laments that our world, “is losing the notion of sin.” There is a tendency in our culture today to ignore objective morality and the Church’s doctrinal teachings. For this reason, Catholics often do not avail themselves of the Sacrament of Penance and the graces found therein.

It is important to remember that Christ established the Church and the Sacraments to give grace and help us get to heaven. He wills that each of us be saved. In commissioning the Apostles, Our Lord said, “Receive the Holy Spirit; whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.”

Pope Benedict XVI teaches us that “those who recognize themselves as weak and sinful entrust themselves to God and from Him obtain grace and forgiveness.” As we prepare to celebrate the Resurrection of Our Blessed Lord, let us recall that at the heart of the Sacrament of Reconciliation is the virtue of humility, which through the graces of the Sacrament, gives us all pardon and peace.

Sincerely yours in Christ,
+ Frank J. Dewane
Bishop of Venice in Florida

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The presence of the Risen Christ is a comfort to all

Sacrament of Penance an annual obligation

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