Denver Catholic

3 DENVER CATHOLIC | MARCH 11-24, 2017 Vatican Notes Dr. Barbara Jenkins, AuD, BCABA Colorado's First Board Certifi ed Doctor of Audiology We take your Hearing Seriously. www.AdvancedAudiology.com 303.649.2122 Centennial, Colorado 80112 Advanced Partner Siemens Hearing Instruments • 85% of our patients come from physician and patient referrals • A+ Rated and BBB Gold Star Company • 2013 Best of Service Award – Centennial/ Englewood • 2015 Humanitarian Practice of the Year (National Sivantos Aspire Award) Advanced Audiology, Inc. Hearing & Tinnitus Center "Most Ethical Small Business of Denver 2015 Better Business Bureau." "Most Ethical Small Business of Denver 2015 Better Business Bureau." 4801 North Highway 67, P.O. Box 185, Sedalia, CO 80135 Phone 303-688-4198 ext. 122 (information/reservations) Website: www.sacredheartretreat.org Sacred Heart Jesuit Retreat House March 17-19 ― Women: Fr. Vince Hovley, S.J. Beauty, Friendship and Loss March 23 ― Day of Prayer: Fr. Paul Patin, S.J. Towards Renewing Our Baptismal Promises March 24-26 ― Men & Women: Fr. Hanh D. Pham, S.J. Untie Him and Let Him Go-John 11:44 March 31-April 2 ― Women: Sr. Eileen Currie, M.S.C. Ignatian Weekend Series for Women Part III- Fertilizer: Cutting Back April 5 ― Day of Prayer: Fr. Vince Hovley, S.J. Beauty April 13-16 ― Men & Women: Sr. Eileen Currie, M.S.C. Easter Triduum April 28-30 ― Men & Women: Rev. Donald Sterling, D.Min. Black Catholics' Retreat (Fr. Sterling is from Baltimore, MD) May 9 ― Day of Prayer: Sr. Eileen Currie, M.S.C. Mary in Our Lives Individually directed retreats available throughout the year. BY CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY O n Ash Wednesday, Pope Francis said that while Lent is certainly a time of mortification, it's also a journey of hope that leads to the joy of Christ's Resurrection — a journey that requires both daily sacrifice and love. In his catechesis for the general audience March 1, the Pope likened our journey during the 40 days of Lent to the 40 years the Israelites spent wan- dering in the desert following their "exodus" from slavery in Egypt. "And these 40 days are also for each of us an exit from slavery, from sin, to freedom, to a meeting with the Resur- rected Christ," he said. "A path that's a bit challenging, as is just, because love is challenging, but it's a path full of hope. In fact, I would say more: the Lenten exodus is the path in which hope itself is formed." During their time of wandering, God never forgot his people or his promise to bring them to the Promised Land, Francis said. But even so, in the face of trials on their journey, at times they were tempted to return to Egypt. "All of us know the temptation to go backwards, right?" he said. "We all know it. But the Lord remains faithful and that poor people, guided by Moses, arrived to the Promised Land. This whole journey is made in hope." The Pope explained how the cele- bration of Passover by Jesus became, in a sense, his exodus, since it was by his subsequent su'ering and death that he opened to us the path to heaven. "To open this road, this passageway, Jesus had to shed his glory, humble himself, make himself obedient to death and to death on the cross. Open- ing to us the path to eternal life cost him all of his blood, and thanks to him we have been saved from slavery and sin," he said. This doesn't make reaching heaven easy, however. "Our salvation is cer- tainly his gift, but, because it's a story of love, it requires our 'yes' and our par- ticipation," the Pope said, "as shown to us by our Mother Mary and after her all of the Saints." "The fatigue of crossing the desert — all the trials, temptations, illusions, mirages — all this is to forge a strong, steadfast hope, on the model of the Virgin Mary, who in the midst of the darkness of the Passion and death of her son continued to believe and hope in his resurrection, in the victory of God's love." As a preparation for Easter, Lent "takes light from the Paschal mys- tery toward which it is oriented…" So although Christ has gone before us, rejecting all the temptations of the Devil, we have to still do our part, which means returning to the sacraments and allowing ourselves to shed sin and be renewed, the Pope said. "Each step, each fatigue, each fall and each round, everything has meaning only inside the design of the salvation of God, who wants for his people life and not death, joy and not pain." "With a heart open to this horizon, we enter Lent," he concluded. "Feeling that we are part of the holy people of God, we begin with joy this path of hope." Lent isn't just about penance – it's also a time of hope, Pope Francis says Pope Francis at the general audience in St. Peter's Square on March 1, 2017. PHOTO BY LUCÍA BALLESTER | CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY

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