Denver Catholic

2 I CATHOLIC LIFE July 3, 2013 I Denver CatholiC register arChBishoP's ColUMn most rev. samuel J. aQuIla Don't be discouraged, God is at work I grew up in Southern California. On hot days, my imagination turns to the beach—to cooling off with a dip in the ocean and perhaps even to time spent surfing. When I lived in Italy, I joined the thousands of people who flee Rome every summer—I spent the hottest parts of the year with my family in Sicily. Since I've come to Colorado, I've spent hot days in the mountains, hiking into cooler temperatures and shady forests. No one wants to spend a summer day in the heat and congestion of the city. Saturday, June 22, was very hot, especially in the city. But on that day, like many of you, I witnessed hundreds of Coloradans gather in the center of Denver. They gathered together to pray. They gathered to ask the Lord to protect, to lead and to bless our nation. A few days later, the United States Supreme Court dealt a crushing blow to family life in our nation. The U.S. v. Windsor decision, released by the Supreme Court on June 26, suggested that our government can find no difference between same-sex relationships and the grace and gift of true marriage—which exists only between a man and a woman. The decision is frightening, and gravely disappointing. At the same time, in Texas, anti-life advocates worked furiously this week to prevent laws from passing that would protect the unborn across the state. The hate expressed for those who would protect the unborn was disturbing. It can be easy to take stock of our nation and be discouraged. To presume that we are destined for destruction. To imagine that God has left us, mired in our own sinfulness. Brothers and sisters, the Gospel faces unprecedented challenges in our nation. Christians are an ever-shrinking minority. And many Christians are unformed and uneducated—unable to explain or defend even the basic moral tenets of our faith. Furthermore, secular agendas—anti-life, anti-family, anti-truth— are well organized, powerful and determined to undermine truth. But the Lord has not left us. Our prayers—like those prayers in the heat June 22—effect real change. They consecrate our nation to the Lord. And whether we see it or not, the Lord is working in our country. The Lord is working through the sacraments. He is working through grace and the Holy Spirit. And the Lord is working through us. We may never, in our lifetimes, see the fruit of the Lord's work. But our call is to be tools in the hands of the Master, and to trust that all good things are accomplished in him and through him. It's easy to be discouraged. But it is important to be faithful. And it is easiest to be faithful when we remember that we are not destined for this world. We live in this world and we serve the Lord in this world but St. Paul reminds us not to be consumed by this world. He says, of those who persecute us, that "their end is destruction. Their God is their stomach; their glory is in their 'shame.' Their minds are occupied with earthly things." "But," says St. Paul, "our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." Let us continue, dear brothers and sisters, to work for truth and to be faithful to the Lord. But let us remember that we are his servants—he is in control. And let us remember that we are citizens of heaven—that if we are faithful to the Lord and trust his plans, we will spend eternity in our true, lasting and just home. rally wields spiritual weapons in religious liberty battle Archbishop Aquila urges prayer on Capitol steps What is fOrtniGht fOr freedOm? learn more: by visiting www. fortnight4freedom By nissa laPoint Prayer is the spiritual weapon that breaks the chains of evil. As threats to religious freedom mount and practice of religion is increasingly restrained, Denver Archbishop Samuel Aquila spoke to a crowd gathered for the Prayer in the Square rally in downtown Denver about the need for prayer. "All of us know the challenges we face today. We know that our rights are threatened. We know our freedom is threatened," he said June 22 to the hundreds sprawled across the state Capitol lawn. "Prayer is the weapon and the solution we have, which the evil one does not. Prayer is a powerful weapon which sets captives free. Prayer changes hearts and minds. Prayer leads us to friendship and communion with God." Some 500 youths, couples, families and religious congregated in response to a national call for prayer and public action over threats to freedoms, most notably the federal Health and Human Services mandate that requires employers to cover contraception, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs that Catholics and others find morally objectionable. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops launched the second annual Fortnight take action: by texting the word FREEDOM (or LIBERTAD) to 377377 for updates. Follow a calendar: for ideas on making sacrifices for religious liberty see the June 19 issue of the Denver Catholic Register Page 3. for Freedom initiative from June 21-July 4, urging dioceses across the nation to join the two-week call to fasting, prayer and action. Under a hot sun, faithful came with signs like "Defend religious freedom" and banners with images of Jesus to sing hymns, pray and cheer for speakers who testified to freedom. Natalie Hattenbach, a mom from St. Mary Parish in Littleton, told the crowd she and other parents decided to no longer be silent amid attacks. She helped to start a group, guided by the USCCB's Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, which became involved by petitioning their state representatives, writing letters and educating themselves on current issues. "For generations we Christians have been the silent majority enjoying the very freedoms upon which our great country was founded— life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," she said during the rally. "But as Christians we are not called to keep silent about our faith. This is not a time for the faint of heart. This is a time for boldness and courage. This is a time for compassion and truth." This boldness is needed in faithful's daily lives, she said, when many will face persecution on some level. It could be a glare or honk in protest to a Christian bumper sticker, name calling for belief in traditional marriage or threats to keep worship within the confines of a church. "Speaking up for our religious beliefs and liberties is a brave thing to do in these days of open hostilities toward people of faith," she said. "We have all probably experienced, on one level or another, this hostility." Rachel Murrieta, 25, of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Littleton, and her sister Regina, 27, came to support the cause. "I want the freedom just to be Catholic, to pray in public," Rachel said. Regina talked about difficulties sharing the faith with friends and family who have opposing views. "Many already face preconceived notions of what a Catholic is," she said. "If I post something on Facebook, they think I don't care about them or their beliefs. I love them. I want them to know the truth." Others felt the need to attend for their children's sake. see liberty, Page 4 denVer cathOlic reGister CIRCULATION CUSTOMER SERVICE: 303-722-4687 OR CIRCULATION@ARCHDEN.ORG Published by the Archdiocese of Denver, 1300 S. Steele St., Denver, CO 80210 General manager Karna Swanson Denver catholic register (USPS 557-020) is published weekly except the last week of December and the first week of January, and in June, July and August when it goes bi-weekly. 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