Denver Catholic

2 I CATHOLIC LIFE DECEMBER 18, 2013 I DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER ARCHBISHOP'S COLUMN MOST REV. SAMUEL J. AQUILA Jesus made Pope Francis 'Person of the Year' On Dec. 11, the world learned that Time Magazine had named Pope Francis its "Person of the Year" for the speed with which he pulled the "papacy out of the palace and into the streets." But if you read his first apostolic exhortation, "Evangelii Gaudium" (The Joy of the Gospel), it becomes clear that his acts of love are motivated by more than a desire to be in the streets. The press focused on the huge change in the public's perception of the Church and papacy, as is evidenced by the media's fascination with him over the past seven months. But Pope Francis is not concerned with fame or with what the media thinks. Instead, he is focused on our hearts and what leads to their conversion. The papal spokesman, Father Federico Lombardi, reacted to the recognition from Time by saying, "As for the pope himself, he's not someone who seeks fame and success, because he has put his life at the service of announcing the Gospel of the love of God for mankind." This message of God's love for mankind is accompanied by the pope reminding us that sin has consequences, that it hurts us individually and at the communal level. The consequence of sin is unhappiness. We all know this and we experience it every time violence, corruption and selfishness—some of the fruits of sin—disfigure our lives. Here in the archdiocese, all we need to do is look to the Dec. 13 shooting at Arapahoe High School and the horrific mass shootings that have preceded it. Evil really exists in the hearts of people, and only the love of Jesus Christ can change it. As Catholics we must pray for an end to all sin and all violence, and proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to the world. In the midst of a fallen, broken and confused world, Pope Francis proclaims in "Evangelii Gaudium" that what gives him joy is meeting, knowing and loving Jesus. He calls on each of us to personally encounter the merciful Christ, acknowledge our sinfulness and follow him. "No one should think that this invitation is not meant for him or her," the pope writes, "since 'no one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord.' … Now is the time to say to Jesus: 'Lord, I have let myself be deceived; in a thousand ways I have shunned your love, yet here I am once more, to renew my covenant with you. I need you. Save me once again, Lord, take me once more into your redeeming embrace (EG, 3).'" And then Pope Francis exclaims, "How good it feels to come back to him whenever we are lost!" It is essential for each and every one of us to experience God's forgiveness and mercy at the personal level, and we cannot stop there. In the Gospels we can see how the encounter with Jesus changed the lives of Zacchaeus, the Samaritan woman, the apostles, and so many others. Once a person encounters Jesus' personal love for them, they leave sin, turn to love and proclaim it to others. They become generous in their love. So far, the press has focused on Pope Francis' touching embrace of the sick and poor, his acts of charity, his words of acceptance for those who feel marginalized, while his call to conversion to Jesus Christ is left in the background. But the Holy Father is only able to live the Gospel because his heart was changed by personally meeting Jesus in prayer, in the sacraments, in the Scriptures, in the teaching of the Church, and in the poor. He sees the face of Jesus in every person he encounters. That is not something the press will cover, but it is crucial for us to discover, especially because his loving relationship with Jesus is what made possible all of the things Time praises him for in its "Person of the Year" See Aquila, Page 3 Bells set the tone for worship Cathedral Basilica bells now ringing again downtown BY JULIE FILBY For centuries, church bells have served as timekeepers and guardians for communities, marked the joy of marriages, dignified the passing of loved ones, and called the faithful to God's house for prayer. After two years of silence, the bells of Denver's mother Church, the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, resumed these services to the community last week following months of renovations and upgrades. "We are excited to have them functioning again," said Msgr. Thomas Fryar, cathedral rector since 2006. "Not only for the fact that it's maintaining the heritage of the cathedral but it's going to allow us to continue what they were put there for: to be a bit of comfort and solace in the middle of the city." The Cathedral Basilica is located at the bustling corner of East Colfax Avenue and Logan Street in the heart of downtown Denver. The bells last rang prior to a December 2011 inspection called when several components of the original system were broken, thus limiting the full range of the bells. However, the inspection revealed more serious concerns with the old wooden frame. After 100 years of supporting the collection of massive bells—weighing in at 17,725 pounds—the frame was deteriorating due to age and exposure. The Archdiocese of Denver then began a period of research and planning with general contractor, Haselden Construction, in coordination with The Verdin Company, a family-owned business out of Cincinnati, Ohio, and bell specialist since 1842. Work to replace the wooden frame with steel supports began this year in May. The new steel frame will hold the original 15 bells, made of pure copper and tin, cast by the McShane Bell Foundry Company in Baltimore, Md. When VIDEO STILL AFTER a two-year silence, the bells at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception are ringing again. BY THE NUMBERS WHAT'S IN A NAME? Set your clock to it Times cathedral bells will ring It is a tradition to name bells in Catholic churches. The bells at Denver's Cathedral Basilica are named and inscribed with an explanation of each name. Chime every quarter hour hour, hour, Toll the 1. Presentation 9. Sanctus 2. Inauguration Georgius (Roland) 3. Verbum Dei 10. Sanctus 4. Immaculata Hugo Conceptio 11. David Rex 5. Nicolaus Chrysostomus 12. Sanctus Michael 6. Joannis 13. Joanne de Franciscus Arc 7. Helena Maria 14. Sancta 8. Maria Philomena (Phyllis) 15. Sancta Caecilia on the with Westminster Chimes Angelus bells daily at noon 6 p.m. five minutes and Call to Worship before each weekend Mass installed 101 years ago, they were one of the largest and most complete set of chimes in the country. Ranging in size from a 3,500-pound D flat to a 525-pound G flat, the collection was a gift of the family of John F. Campion, a Catholic philanthropist and Denver mining magnate in the early 1900s. Housed in the 210-foot east spire, they were rung for the first time Oct. 26, 1912, the eve of the cathedral's dedication. Their silver tones "proclaimed the glad news of the cathedral's completion," according to cathedral history book "The Pinnacled Glory of the West" by Father Hugh McMenamin, cathedral rector from 1908 to 1947. "Thousands lingered near to listen to the music." There are four large swinging bells and 11 carillons, or bells that play tunes. Recent renovations also included adding a Carillon Master Control system that allows the bells to be controlled remotely by a small console and keyboard located in the choir loft. "Instead of sending up a pole that throws the clapper off at an angle," Msgr. Fryar said explaining the original system of levers, rods and chains. "(The new system) is connected through wiring that sends an electrical circuit that will pull a magnet, and the magnet will pull the clapper and ring the bell." See Bells, Page 18 DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER CIRCULATION CUSTOMER SERVICE: 303-722-4687 OR CIRCULATION@ARCHDEN.ORG Published by the Archdiocese of Denver, 1300 S. Steele St., Denver, CO 80210 General Manager Karna Swanson Denver Catholic Register (USPS 557-020) is published weekly except the last week of December and the first week of January, and in June, July and August when it goes bi-weekly. The Register is printed by The Denver Post LLC in Denver. Periodical postage paid in Denver, CO. Editor Roxanne King Subscriptions: $35 a year in Colorado; $42 per year out of state. Foreign countries: $42 surface, all countries, 6-8 weeks for delivery; $135 air, all other countries (average). Mexico, $48 air; Canada, $55 air. Postmaster: Send address changes to: Denver Catholic Register, Circulation Dept., 1300 S. Steele St., Denver, CO 80210 or e-mail circulation@archden.org. Business Manager Michael O'Neill Editorial: 303-715-3215 or editor@archden.org Advertising: 303-715-3253 or dcrads@archden.org Circulation: 303-715-3211 or circulation@archden.org Online: www.DenverCatholicRegister.org Aqu From Pag announ In "E pope al choosin conseq that on loving g

• Cover