Born 30 June 1948, Wisconsin, United States
Ordination 29 June 1975 by Pope Paul VI
Consecration 6 January 1995 by Pope John Paul II
Created cardinal-deacon 20th November 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI

The Introit expresses our confidence in God to overcome enemies that oppose us. The Collect is a prayer that the course of the world may be ordered by the Lord and “joyfully serve Thee to quiet devotion.”

In the Epistle we ask for “deliverance” from corruption into the “liberty” enjoyed by a child of God. The Gradual continues the theme of asking for help from God lest the “Gentiles” ridicule our religion.

The Gospel teaches that Christ is the great Fisher of Men who relies upon the Apostles, priests and Bishops, for success. We are the fish drawn out of the water by the teaching of Christ from the sea of the world.

In the Offertory we ask Jesus to “enlighten my eyes” and in the Secret entreat Him to “draw our rebellious wills” to Him. The Communion reflects the sentiment that the Lord is my “firmament...and...refuge,”

While the Postcommunion tells us that the Mass and Holy Sacrament of the Altar will “purify” our hearts and protect us. Today the Vigil of SS Peter and Paul Apostles is commemorated in the Mass. A slight bow is made by the celebrant toward the Crucifix at mention of their holy names.

The Sacred Heart for the world, the world for the Sacred Heart was the theme of last Friday’s Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Today, the Mass illustrates the mutual search between His Divine Heart and our heart.

The Introit voices the sinner’s sense of being “alone” due to his inner struggles, usually beyond all human aid. The Prayer, a synopsis of Christian life, recognizes the right use of “the good things of this life” and asks God in His Mercy to “guide” us against their abuse.

This life, therefore, becomes a warfare against the anti-Christ (Epistle), but “humbled” by afflictions, nevertheless be “strong in faith” since ultimate victory is “in Christ Jesus.” Who of us could ever doubt the Love of the Sacred Heart after reading the Gospel? Who of us would refrain from doing “penance” to make His “find” complete? Who of us on earth would not add to His joy in Heaven (Communion) by leading some soul back to the Sacred Heart?

Prior to 1960 the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus had an octave and was commemorated in the Mass for the edification of those unable to go to Mass on the feast day. Today at the election of the priest Masses of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, with commemoration of the Sunday, are permitted in each church or chapel in accordance with the 1962 rubrics of the Roman Missal. In most churches today the Mass of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is celebrated as a Solemnity

The Most Adorable Trinity! "All things" good in nature or grace flow from and return to the Trinity; "from Him," God the Father, our Creator; "by Him," God the Son, our Redeemer; "in Him," God the Holy Spirit, our Sanctifier (Epistle).

At our Baptism the entire Trinity took possession of our entire being (Gospel); hence our lifelong necessity of practical true faith in the presence of the Trinity in our souls, as our defence against "all misfortunes" (Prayer); the necessity of being ever conscious in our prayers that we are the adopted "sons of the Father," " co-heirs with Christ," and "temples of the Holy Ghost"; the necessity of shunning mortal sin, which automatically exiles the Trinity from our souls.

The offering of the Mass to the Trinity (Introit, Offertory) makes the offering of our lives (Secret, Communion) acceptable and pleasing. This offering of the Mass and of ourselves brings Divine help to body and soul (Postcommunion).

On this feast we should renew our Baptismal vows: "I renew my Baptismal vows. I renounce Satan and all his works and all his pomps. I take Jesus Christ for my Model and my Guide, and I promise to be faithful to Him unto the end of my life. (Pater, Ave, Gloria). Under the newer rubrics of the Mass, the I Sunday is not ordinarily commemorated, but many Traditional Catholic orders are now making the commemoration, while Last Gospel is Proper Gospel of the I Sunday.