Denver Catholic

2 DECEMBER 12-25, 2015 | DENVER CATHOLIC Archbishop's Page Vatican Archbishop's Column Most Rev. Samuel J. Aquila Denver Catholic (USPS 557-020) is published bi-weekly. Denver Catholic is printed by Signature Oš set in Denver. Periodical postage paid in Denver, CO. 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, Circulation Dept., 1300 S. Steele St., Denver, CO 80210 or email circulation@archden.org. EDITORIAL: 303-715-3230 or denvercatholic@archden.org | ADVERTISING: 303-715-3253 or denvercatholicads@archden.org CIRCULATION CUSTOMER SERVICE: 303-715-3230 or circulation@archden.org General Manager KARNA SWANSON Director ANDREW WRIGHT Business Manager MICHAEL O'NEILL Published by the Archdiocese of Denver, 1300 S. Steele St., Denver, CO 80210 ARCHBISHOP'S SCHEDULE Dec. 12: Mass, Our Lady Mother of the Church, Commerce City (5 p.m.) Dec. 20: Mass, Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (8:30 a.m.) Dec. 24: Midnight Mass, Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (12 a.m.) Dec. 25: Christmas Day Mass, Mullen Home (10:30 a.m.) Jan. 9-10: Pastoral visit to Windsor and Ault I can't remember another Advent when the contrast was so stark. As Catholics we are preparing our hearts and homes to celebrate the wonder and mystery of Jesus at Christ- mas – the innocent God-Man who by his birth, life, death and resurrection heals our brokenness. In contrast to this light stands a darkened culture that breeds violence, callousness towards others and dissatisfaction with life. On the night that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, an angel appeared to shepherds who lived in the fi elds and were watching their fl ock. The angel told them not to be afraid because he had "good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord" (Lk. 2:10-11). That angel was then joined by a multitude of others, who declared, "Glory to God in the high- est heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!" This past year has been anything but peaceful. Every time an attack occurs, people rightfully lament the lives that have been taken and those who have been wounded; but very few people ask why. Instead, a chorus of calls for stricter gun control laws or government monitoring is heard. The answer to why people carry out these atrocities is the same as it was when Christ was born. The human heart needs to be healed, and only Jesus Christ can do that. Sadly, though, West- ern society is pushing Christ out of its laws, public debates and culture. Ban- ishing God from the conversation leaves only atheism. And so, without true heal- ing, the war within our hearts continues to claim victims. During his Nov. 14, 2012 general audi- ence, Pope Benedict XVI described the consequences for cultures that engage in this kind of practical atheism. "Were God to lose his centrality," he said, "man would lose his rightful place, he would no longer fi t into creation, into rela- tions with others. What ancient wisdom evokes with the myth of Prometheus has not faded: man thinks he himself can become a 'god,' master of life and death." And the violence of today, as in past history, occurs when man makes himself "god." This void is easily fi lled with numer- ous destructive ideologies that promise to fulfi ll us but ultimately fail, some- times with devastating consequences. In their analysis, "Paris: The War ISIS Wants," authors Scott Atran and Nafees Hamid argue that ISIS is one move- ment that attempts to fi ll this vacuum. They write, "ISIS's theatrical brutal- ity—whether in the Middle East or now in Europe—is part of a conscious plan designed to instill among believers a sense of meaning that is sacred and sublime, while scaring the hell out of fence-sitters and enemies." Catholic scholar Ross Douthat agrees, writing in his Nov. 23 column "The Joy of ISIS," "The deep reality here … is that many human beings, especially perhaps young human beings, still crave a tran- scendent purpose,•even in a society that tells them they don't really need one to live a comfortable, fulfi lling life." Not all forms of godlessness cause such obvious physical damage. I reg- ularly encounter people who have discovered that material possessions, sexuality disconnected from God's design for it, various addictions, and self-absorption are in fact idols that enslave them and lead to bitter dis- appointment, loneliness and broken hearts. These are the fruits of God being pushed away and replaced. But every Advent and Christmas we celebrate the fact that God refused to leave us in this state. Unlike the highly coordinated marketing that competes for our attention, God chose to o er us salvation with powerful simplicity. Jesus was born in poverty, in a shelter for barn animals. He was announced fi rst to simple shepherds, not to the privileged. The contrast is becoming greater as God and the Gospel are pushed further away. This Advent, let us make a con- scious e ort to welcome Jesus into our homes and hearts with prayer, gratitude, and joy. Let us give our infant Savior the kind of welcome that is heard in the opening line of the St. Andrew Christ- mas Novena prayer: "Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born Of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold." May he be born anew in our hearts and souls this Christmas! PHOTO OF THE WEEK @ArchbishopDen Dec. 8 As we begin the #YearofMercy, may every human being come to encounter Jesus Christ and the mercy of the Father! Blessed Solemnity! +sja Archbishop Samuel Aquila reaches out to greet a child after the Jubilee Year of Mercy Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, 2015. PHOTO BY DANIEL PETTY/DENVER CATHOLIC The contrasts of Advent 2015 This Advent, let us make a conscious e• ort to welcome Jesus into our homes and hearts with prayer, gratitude and joy." ARCHBISHOP AQUILA "

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