Denver Catholic

2 MARCH 26-APRIL 8, 2016 | 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 OŸ 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 Mar. 26: Easter Vigil, Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (8 p.m.) Mar. 27: Easter Sunday Mass, Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (10:30 a.m.) Apr. 1: Mass, 25th anniversary of the Fraternas, Holy Name Parish, Englewood (6:30 p.m.) Apr. 2: Mass, Prayer in the Square event, Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (9 a.m.); followed by Rosary at Capitol steps Apr. 3: Mass and Confi rmation, St. Joseph parish, Akron (8 a.m.); Mass and Confi rmation, St. Mary parish, Brush (12 p.m.) PHOTO OF THE WEEK Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila kneels before the altar and prays during the Vigil Praise Mass at Christ the King Chapel on March 19. PHOTO BY BERNARD GRANT The rebirth of hope " Christ my hope is arisen!" This line from the sequence sang at Easter Sunday Mass captures the heart of what happens in our redemption – the love of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit breaks through the bonds of death and sin to restore not only our life but our hope. The entire sequence is worth deeply refl ecting on and praying with, but the section recalling Mary Magdalene's encounter with Jesus is particularly powerful: Speak, Mary, declaring What you saw, wayfaring. The tomb of Christ, who is living, The glory of Jesus' resurrection; bright angels attesting, The shroud and napkin resting. Yes, Christ my hope is arisen; to Galilee he goes before you. Christ indeed from death is risen, our new life obtaining. Have mercy, victor King, ever reigning! Jesus, in his wisdom fi rst appeared after his Resurrection to Mary Magda- lene, the woman out of whom he had driven seven demons. When she fi rst spoke to Jesus, she thought he was a gardener and lamented that his body was no longer in the tomb. But Jesus broke through her sorrow by saying her name, "Mary." Mary reacted by embrac- ing Jesus, until he told her, "I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God" (Jn 20:11-18). With his ascension to the Father, Jesus gave the Holy Spirit to the Church, bringing all believers into the full embrace of the Trinity. Before his death and resurrection, this reconcil- iation was impossible – the o‡ ense of our sins against God's infi nite goodness could not be overcome without Jesus' infi nite sacrifi ce. Jesus speaks each of our names and calls us to receive the hope of his res- urrection. This hope is di‡ erent than being optimistic that things will turn out well. When we speak about the hope of the resurrection, we go beyond mere human optimism to speak of a grace that supernaturally sustains us. The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes hope as "the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ's promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit (emphasis added)." Just last week, Secretary of State John Kerry acknowledged what over 100,000 people and numerous experts have: that the systematic killing and brutal persecution of Christians and other minorities in the Middle East is geno- cide. These brothers and sisters in the faith–many of them lay people–can rely on supernatural hope, since it is linked with the happiness of heaven. I frequently speak about the Second Vatican Council's charge to the laity to be "leaven in society." Yeast, or leaven, is what transforms bread dough, quietly expanding it until it is airy and no longer fl at. If the yeast is dead, though, the dough will remain dense and inedible. To be active, living leaven, all of us need the gift of supernatural hope. I urge you to seek reconciliation with God in this Year of Mercy and ask the Holy Spirit to stir into fl ame the gift of hope born from Jesus' resurrection, which every Christian receives at Baptism. There are many ways that you can serve as leaven in our society. One apostolate that is an important part of bringing hope and life to the archdiocese is the Prayer in the Square gathering that happens every First Saturday at locations in Ft. Collins, Greeley, High- lands Ranch, and Stapleton. Their intentions include the unborn, the dying, persecuted Christians throughout the world, immigrants and the poor. The Prayer in the Square gatherings bear public witness to the power of prayer and to the Lord who strengthens us. I encourage you to participate each First Saturday in this witness to prayer at a location nearby you and I invite you to join me at the next event on Saturday, April 2, the anniversary of the death of Pope St. John Paul II. We will begin with Mass at the Cathedral at 9:00 a.m., fol- lowed by a Rosary and Chaplet of Mercy at the State Capitol, to pray in repara- tion for all sins against the dignity of human life and asking the Lord to build a culture of life. May the Holy Trinity fi ll you with the joy and hope of the Resurrection, so that you may be leaven in our world! May you have a blessed Easter Season! It is important to refl ect upon the Resurrection as a symbol of Christian hope during the Easter season. STOCK PHOTO

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