VOLUME XCI - NO. 19 | 115 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE GOSPEL | MAY 23-29, 2015
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WaterWorldColorado.com
Catholic
Youth Day
Wednesday,
July 9
A
mid the many theological and pas-
toral reasons for lowering the age
of confi rmation and restoring it to
its original place before fi rst Eucharist,
none ranks higher for Archbishop
Samuel J. Aquila of Denver than to pro-
vide children with much-needed spiritual
strength to become "courageous, authen-
tic disciples of Jesus Christ."
"In an increasingly secular world," he
wrote in the pastoral letter Saints Among
Us, released on the solemnity of Pente-
cost, "the reality is this: the souls of our
children are the battleground."
"As the shepherd of the Archdiocese of
Denver, I must do everything I can to help
those who form children win that battle,"
he added.
In Saints Among Us, the archbishop
explains that one way to do this is to
"make available every sacramental
grace the Church has to oƒ er to children
who have reached the age of reason
[around 7 years old]."
"This is profoundly important," he
wrote, "because we live in a diƒ erent
spiritual terrain than our parents or
grandparents did. Indeed, the spiritual
landscape of modern American society
underscores the need for chil-
dren to receive grace earlier."
Saints Among Us
BY KARNA SWANSON
303-715-3230
karna.swanson@archden.org
www.twitter.com/KarnaSwanson
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ILLUSTRATION BY DAVID HAZEN/PHOTO BY DANIEL PETTY
Children need the strength of the Spirit
PHOTO BY DANIEL PETTY/DENVER CATHOLIC
Meet Denver's fi ve new priests » 8-9
