Denver Catholic

2 I CATHOLIC LIFE JUNE 18, 2014 I DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER For details and to order tickets, contact your home parish. Tickets for this event are not available for purchase at Water World. Advance Discount Tickets Available for $ 27.50 Catholic Youth Day Wednesday, July 9 WaterWorldColorado.com ARCHBISHOP'S COLUMN MOST REV. SAMUEL J. AQUILA Father Raniero Cantalamessa, the preacher of the papal household, has described the moment when the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles at Pentecost as a "deeply moving experience of being loved by God. You can imagine the love of God as an ocean that overfl owed and overwhelmed the apostles." We celebrated the solemnity of Pentecost on June 8—the event that St. John the Baptist prophesied would be "a bap- tism with the Holy Spirit and with fi re" (Luke 3:16). It is important to realize that the experience of the Holy Spirit descending on the apostles with a rush of wind and tongues of fi re 2,000 years ago was a historical event, but it is equally important to know that God desires to continue pouring out his Spirit today. The Church needs the gifts and charisms of the Holy Spirit just as much now as it did then, and it needs the unique expression of each person's gifts. In his fi rst letter to the Cor- inthians, St. Paul teaches the early Christians and us today that there is a variety of gifts of the Spirit "but it is the same God who inspires them all in every one" (1 Cor 12: 4, 7). Every time I celebrate confi rmation I spend some time beforehand asking the young people presenting themselves for the sacrament about the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I take time for this because having a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit and an openness to his gifts are so important for being a Christian who is able to hear and respond to his promptings. The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, under- standing, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord. I encourage you to commit these gifts to memory and ask for these gifts. You received the seeds of them at your baptism and they were strengthened in you through your confi rmation. But they must be cultivated by you seeking and listening for the Holy Spirit in personal prayer and by asking for an outpouring of his grace into your heart and soul. Having a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit means living a life animated by love. St. Paul taught the early Chris- tians to "earnestly desire the higher gifts," but then told them about a "still more excellent way"—the one rooted in love. He lists the charisms of tongues, prophecy, faith and the willingness to sacrifi ce oneself and says, "if I have all of these things but do not have love, I am nothing" (1 Cor 13:1-3). The charisms of the Holy Spirit are gifts for the Church and they should be desired and used. Above all, though, I urge you to pursue the love of God, which is the strong foundation upon which the Holy Spirit lays the seven gifts. St. Thérèse of Lisieux discovered this truth during her short life of 24 years. Although she did not want to write about it, her mother superior asked her to explain her spir- itual philosophy, and the result was St. Thérèse's now-fa- mous explanation of her "Little Way." Her approach was to trust God like a child and to seek ways to love him through even the smallest acts. St. Thérèse demonstrated her way of life with her fi nal words as she Surrender to the loving embrace of God Faithful invited to take summer Art and Architecture Walk BY NISSA LAPOINT Sometimes words are not necessary. Man can express love and adoration for the mystery of God through exquisite works of art and stunning edifi ces. The Church's rich history of sacred art and architecture can turn minds to the truths of faith in a language accessible only to sight. This summer, the Denver Archdiocese is inviting faith- ful to take a walk through the sometimes inexpressible beauty of art and architecture found along the Front Range. The archdiocese's 2014 Art and Architecture Walk includes seven sites selected for faithful to explore the sacred side of art and architecture. Adoration chapel at St. John the Evangelist Church The newly-constructed Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel at this Loveland parish was se- lected for its artistic theological expression of Scripture and the Church's mission. Former pa- rochial vicar Father José María Quera, an architect from Spain, designed the perpetual adora- tion chapel that is the fi rst of its kind in northern Colorado. The chapel highlights a neo- classical design with seven ex- terior recessed pillars between Spanish alabaster windows. The outside is shaped like a ship, re- ferring to the Church's mission, and led at the helm by a fi gure of St. John the Evangelist. Inside, two angels are en- graved in white marble pan- els around the monstrance to symbolize their protection of the Ark of the Covenant, as de- scribed in the Book of Exodus. The tabernacle is formed by three triangular pieces to sym- bolize the Trinity and two gold pillars that represent the hu- manity and divinity of Christ. Archbishop Samuel Aquila blessed the chapel in December 2013. It is open to the public be- tween 8 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. Visitor question: In the foyer of the chapel is a copper water font engraved with fi ve symbols of the faith. What are these symbols? Icons in Holy Protection of the Mother of God Byzantine Church This cozy Byzantine Catholic Church in Denver is home to symbolically-rich Eastern icons, typically painted as two-dimen- sional religious images consid- ered windows to heaven. At the center of the church and behind its altar is an icon of the Mother of God called the Virgin Orans, also known as The Great Panag- ia. The image can be traced to Ukraine in the 12th century. It depicts Mary with outstretched hands and the child Jesus in a circular "mandorla," symboliz- ing his presence in her womb. The Virgin and child are depict- ed with graceful lines, solemn expressions, and an attitude of prayer, suggesting the priestly role of Mary in bringing Christ into the world. Visitor question: What biblical event is depicted in the icon locat- ed in the arch above the altar? St. Catherine of Siena Church The building itself of this Denver parish is one of the loveliest churches in town with breathtakingly beautiful brick and stone underneath massive exposed ceiling beams. The interior stained glass windows honor popes and St. Fran- ces Cabrini, a favorite among the Italian parishioners who founded the church. A massive square bell tower fl anks the outside and arches to the en- trance of the church are done in gold foil. The more than 100-year-old church was once nicknamed "the carnival parish" for its fa- mous three-day sensational events that attracted more than 5,000 to its grounds. Even the Ku Klux Klan could not stop the lucrative carnival that raised enough funds to build the new church in 1913. Visitor question: Whose image is depicted in the rose window that faces Federal Boulevard? Stained glass windows at Annunciation Church This old-fashioned church boasts being one of the most untouched Romanesque Re- vival buildings in Denver. The traditional Gothic interior is most renowned for its 34 stained-glass windows created by the famous Munich, Germa- ny, artist Franz Mayer, who also provided stained glass for the Cathedral Basilica of the Im- maculate Conception down- town. In 2010, one vandalized window required six months of work before it was restored. Protective shields were placed over all the windows and other repairs were made. The church also boasts of a 25-foot-high altar, Carrara mar- ble, golden oak pews and fl orid capitals carrying vaulted ceil- ings. In 1988, the church and rectory were used in fi lming the TV series "Father Dowling Mysteries." Visitor question: Which stained glass window depicting Christ required repair after it was vandal- ized in 2010? Chapel on the Rock This spiritual landmark in Allenspark, nestled at the foot of Mount Meeker, has been the site of weddings and count- less visitors since it was built in 1935. Constructed during the Depression, the stone chap- el was built to appear to have grown from the rocky granite below it rather than on top of it. Its inspiration began with Den- ver priest Msgr. Joseph Bosetti who vowed to build a chapel at the site after being moved by the breathtaking mountain views. After the priest prevailed in protecting the site from the state highway department that tried to remove the stone, Oscar and Edith Malo donated funds to make the dream a reality. The chapel was constructed with granite cut from the rock it sits on. Additional rock came from Long's Peak and Peaceful Valley rock slides. When the chapel was dedicated, the theme of the music and sermon was based on text from the Gospel of Mat- thew 16:18: "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church." Take a walk on the sacred side See Aquila, Page 18

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