See our annual Catholic Schools Week Supplement, pages 1B-20B. Serving the Church in Central and Souther n Indiana Since 1960 CriterionOnline.com January 25, 2008 Vol. XLVIII, No. 15 75¢ Roe v. Wade Saved by hope ‘will not stand,’ Patient, doctor bring together hope in medicine and Christ cardinal says at pro-life Editor’s note: The following is the second of two articles about how Christian hope, which was the subject of vigil Mass Photo by Sean Gallagher Photo by Pope Benedict XVI’s recent encyclical letter, “Spe Salvi,” plays an important WASHINGTON (CNS)—Roe v. Wade, role in the life of Catholics in the the 35-year-old Supreme Court decision archdiocese. that legalized abortion virtually By Sean Gallagher on demand, “will not stand,” Hope in things both big and small Cardinal Justin keeps us going from day to day. Rigali of But there are times when hope seems Philadelphia said in to disappear and life comes crashing to his homily at a a halt. Jan. 21 evening Kathy Hirsch faced such dark times Mass that opened five years ago when she was diagnosed the annual National with stage-three ovarian cancer and was Cardinal Justin Rigali Prayer Vigil for told that she only had a 20 percent Life. chance of living for another two years. “Roe v. Wade is incompatible with Despite this prognosis, Hirsch, a human dignity,” said Cardinal Rigali, member of St. Luke the Evangelist Parish chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee in Indianapolis, still had hope in the on Pro-Life Activities. “It must not stand. medical expertise of her gynecological It cannot stand. It will not stand.” oncologist, Dr. Hans Geisler. His declaration drew applause from the But, more importantly, she integrated packed Basilica of the National Shrine of that hope for this world with her hope in the Immaculate Conception in Washington. Christ and joined her sufferings to his. It was one of five times that the cardinal’s remarks during his homily were met with Offer it up applause. In his encyclical “Spe Salvi” (“Saved Cardinal Rigali, echoing the by Hope”), Pope Benedict XVI reflected New Testament reading from at some length about maintaining hope First Corinthians for the St. Agnes feast day in the midst of suffering. Mass of Jan. 21, told the packed church “It is not by sidestepping or fleeing that, “Instead of choosing ‘great’ or from suffering that we are healed, but impressive people in the eyes of the world, rather by our capacity for accepting it, God uses the humble, the foolish, the weak maturing through it and finding meaning and ‘those who count for nothing’ to through union with Christ, who suffered Dr. Hans Geisler and Kathy Hirsch, both members of St. Luke Parish in Indianapolis, pray on accomplish his purposes. with infinite love” (#37). Jan. 16 in Hirsch’s home. From 2002-2004, Geisler treated Hirsch for stage-three ovarian cancer. “It is when we least expect it that But at the end of these reflections, They brought together in that treatment their hope in modern medicine and hope in Christ. the tiniest among us can humble the the pope adds a practical suggestion. powerful,” he said. He briefly discusses the hope to be Christ’s great ‘com-passion’ [literally, to and her husband, Mike, found joy in One example the cardinal cited was an found in reviving “a form of devotion … suffer with] so that they somehow [become] knowing that her patient bearing of embryo glimpsed by stem-cell researcher perhaps less practiced today but quite part of the treasury of compassion so her condition could, when joined to Dr. Shinya Yamanaka. The doctor was widespread not long greatly needed by the Christ’s sufferings, bring about great quoted in The New York Times as saying, ago,” namely, offering human race. In this good for others. “When I saw the embryo, I suddenly real- up the ordinary trials way, even the small “That was where our joy came from, ized there was such a small difference and inconveniences of inconveniences of daily our hope came from,” she said. “We between it and my daughters. ... I thought, one’s everyday life in life could acquire were able to offer everything we went we can’t keep destroying embryos for our union with Christ’s meaning and contribute through for holiness for our children. research. There must be another way.” suffering on the cross to the economy of good “… We could [also] offer it for our Yamanaka announced in December a (#40). and of human love” (#40). community, for their families and their technique that successfully turned The pope suggested that we can Hirsch’s sufferings were far from children, and for all of these people adult skin cells into the equivalent of “insert these little annoyances into common everyday annoyances. But she See HOPE, page 2A human embryonic stem cells without using See MASS, page 2A Archbishop Buechlein diagnosed with cancer A message from Archbishop I am meeting this week with my Our many ministries will continue as oncologist to determine where I go from usual. Daniel M. Buechlein, O.S.B. here concerning a course of treatment. This is all the information I have at the I already know that chemotherapy is moment. I would appreciate your prayers, During the required and I will be undergoing a and please know that I will continue to week of Jan. 13, I complete body CT scan to determine pray for all of you. underwent a series more precisely the extent of the problem. of medical tests Chemotherapy has proven to be a highly because I had been effective method for treating this disease. experiencing a lot I’ve been told that the side effects of of fatigue and had the chemotherapy will be further fatigue. Most Rev. Daniel M. Buechlein, O.S.B. noticed a swelling I regret the interruption this may cause in Archbishop of Indianapolis under my right arm. my normal obligations. Jan. 22, 2008 On Jan. 18, I I do not expect the day-to-day operations received a medical of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis to be report that I have Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a greatly affected. We are blessed to have so More stories about Archbishop cancer affecting the lymph nodes. many dedicated and hardworking clergy, Buechlein’s cancer, page 3A. Hodgkin’s lymphoma is also commonly religious and parish life coordinators as known as Hodgkin’s disease. well as an excellent administrative staff. Page 2A The Criterion Friday, January 25, 2007 He added, “We possess, or will be given, enough time and resources to build a culture MASS of life together.” continued from page 1A During his homily, Cardinal Rigali drew a Haring CNS photo/Paul an actual embryo. comparison between those attending the “If God can use a helpless embryo to Mass and the new Knights of Columbus change a human heart, he can certainly use Incarnation Dome at the basilica, which us with all our limitations and weaknesses,” required 2.4 million pieces of colored glass Cardinal Rigali said. cut and assembled in Italy and shipped in “By seeking holiness and using the gifts 346 boxes for five months of installation. God has given “We too, dear friends, are called to a Coverage of the you to accom- massive undertaking,” Cardinal Rigali said. annual March for plish his will “This urgent project is well under way, but Life will appear in in your life,” we know it is far from complete.” next week’s issue. he continued, God “now sends you out, thousands upon “you are thousands strong, to do your part in forming contributing mightily to that kingdom we all a vibrant mosaic on behalf of life,” he long for, where there will be no more crying added. “You must be the ‘rich color’ he or pain or death. Certainly no abortion. No created you to be. You must play your role euthanasia. No assisted suicide. No deep- in his overarching design, and be patient freezing of embryos as though they were with others as they seek to do the same.” merchandise. And no destruction of The earlier start of the vigil Mass— human life in the name of science.” one hour earlier than in past years—did not Cardinal Rigali said, “Our value does not appear to make any difference in the People hold hands while praying the Our Father during the Vigil Mass for Life at the Basilica of the come from being so-called ‘productive’ numbers attending, as people squeezed into National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington on Jan. 21. Thousands attended the members of society, but from Emmanuel, every pew, aisle, vestibule and side chapel in service at the basilica on the eve of the annual March for Life. The events solemnly marked the God always with us.” the basilica’s main church. † 1973 Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion across the country. knew that she wanted to be treated by “a humbled when patients would return to much, if not more, from patients who praying, Catholic doctor.” him to thank him for healing them. died while under his care than from those HOPE She ended up choosing Geisler, one of “I would tell them that it wasn’t I that who ultimately survived. continued from page 1A her fellow St. Luke parishioners. affected the cure, that it was the hand of “I think that patients, especially when who were praying for us, for their families Geisler practiced gynecological the Lord,” Geisler said. “God works they’re dying, taught me an awful lot,” he and for their children.” oncology in Indianapolis for nearly through physicians and works through said.