Denver Catholic

PASTORAL LETTER I 3 DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER I JULY 2, 2014 culture in which we live than by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Hearts have become hardened to the permanent, lifelong com- mitment of marriage and di- vorce has become much easier for couples today. Couples who truly reverence Christ and put him first in their marriage, lov- ing one another as Christ loves, will remain faithful to each oth- er even in difficult times in their marriage. PART III: HOW TO LIVE THE FAMILY'S MISSION Heralds of the Gospel of Marriage In December 2011, Pope Ben- edict XVI gathered members of the Pontifical Council for the Family at the Vatican and spoke to them about how the evan- gelization of society is tied to the family. He observed, "In our time, as in times past, the eclipse of God, the spread of ideolo- gies contrary to the family and the degradation of sexual ethics are connected. And just as the eclipse of God and the crisis of the family are linked, so the new evangelization is inseparable from the Christian family." By announcing the special Synod on the Family for October 2014 in conjunction with the Or- dinary Synod of 2015, Pope Fran- cis also recognizes this connec- tion and is asking the Church to focus her energies on renewing the family. Three important concerns that the synod must address include: raising children in broken homes where only one parent is present, providing effective pastoral care for couples who are divorced and "remarried" and improving marriage preparation so that it both spiritually awakens and educates couples in the truth, goodness and beauty of marital love rooted in the theology of the body. We have to help couples live the fullness of the Gospel in a broken, skeptical and hostile cul- ture. Above all, the Church must shine a light on the joy of living a faithful Christian family life. To help you live out the call to make Jesus Christ and the Church the foundation of your family, I want to provide you with a few practical ways to assist with forming your family so that it has Jesus Christ and the Church as its foundation. The first essential way is the personal encounter with Jesus Christ, who leads us to encoun- ter the Father and the Holy Spirit. Opening our hearts to a person- al encounter with each person of the Trinity, and freely enter- ing into the communion of love with the Trinity will ground us in Christ and the Church. This is done through personal prayer and most especially the prayer- ful reading of the four Gospels. Following the example of St. Ig- natius of Loyola and many other saints, place yourself in the Gos- pel story, listen with your heart to what Jesus is saying, and en- counter his healing compassion, mercy and love. Through this experience, you will be brought into a heart-to-heart relationship with him. This leads to the second way, which is to live the sacramental life of the Church, most espe- cially in the sacraments of the Eucharist and reconciliation. We keep holy the Sabbath by attend- ing Mass each weekend and we go to confession regularly, at least monthly, to experience the mer- cy and forgiveness of Jesus and grow in the virtues. These sacra- ments strengthen our relation- ship with the Trinity, strengthen the love of husband and wife for one another and for their chil- dren, and build up family life by keeping Christ at the center. A third step is to pray together as a family. There is the adage, "Families that pray together, stay together." This begins first with husbands and wives praying with one another, and then pray- ing with their children. Praying at meal times, before making ma- jor decisions, or at bedtime with your children and then later with one another are all possibilities for going before God to lift up your hearts to him. Furthermore, having sacred images in your homes and crucifixes in every bedroom is a constant reminder that God comes first in our lives and we worship him alone. A fourth practical way is to learn more about your faith. We are blessed in the Archdiocese of Denver with many parish and diocesan programs such as Marriage Encounter, That Man is You, Endow, the Catholic Biblical School, the Catechetical School, Families of Character, and the Augustine Institute, just to name a few. All of these programs can help you encounter Christ and help families grow. Finally, it is important to give witness to the good news of family life in the public square. Too many Christian hearts and minds have been formed by the culture in which we live, and too many have left their faith at the doors of the church, rather than working for the transformation of culture and society as the Sec- ond Vatican Council teaches. Too many hearts have become hardened to the Gospel, turned to false gods and empty idols, and have become "blind guides." In the debates of today, it is vital that Catholics give witness to the truth of marriage, the family and the dignity of human life from the moment of conception to natural death. There are many challenges and threats to the family today, so I realize that it is not possible for every difficult family situation to be neatly resolved. But I do know that with the grace of God, every person and situation can more closely resemble the intimate exchange of love we were made to experience. I know in faith and from personal experience that hearts can be transformed and healed through an encoun- ter with Jesus Christ. He alone can bestow peace and joy in the family that no one can take away. Because of his grace and mercy, every family can respond to the challenge presented by Pope St. John Paul the Great, "family, be- come what you are … a commu- nity of life and love" that will find its ultimate fulfillment in heaven. May God bless each and every one of you, and may he bless all families with a special outpour- ing of grace in this time of renew- al of the family! Sincerely yours in Christ, Most Rev. Samuel J. Aquila, S.T.L. Archbishop of Denver June 29, 2014 Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul PHOTO PROVIDED

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