Denver Catholic

2 I cathOlIc lIfe June 19, 2013 I Denver CatholiC register arChBishoP's ColUMn mOst Rev. samueL J. aQuILa America needs our prayers and our sacrifice The people of Israel faced a terrible drought nearly 3,000 years ago. It began when Ahab, the Israelite king, abandoned the true God, and worshipped an idol; a false god. The prophet Elijah proclaimed a drought, which lasted three years. Eventually, Elijah proposed a test of the goodness of the true God and the power of the idol Baal. Two altars were built, one for God and one for Baal. Worshippers prayed that each deity might send fire to the altar. The worshippers of Baal prayed all day, and poured their blood on the altar. But Baal did not send fire. Elijah chose a different tactic. He poured water on God's altar, making the wood soaking wet. Then he quietly prayed to God, and a fire came down from heaven. The glory of the Lord was revealed. After God's glory was revealed, his mercy was revealed. As Elijah prayed quietly, the heavens opened, and a renewing rain covered the people of Israel. When we quietly and humbly pray, God's mercy and glory are revealed. In response to our prayer, his love covers us in abundance. As the letter of St. James says, "The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects." Today, like the people of Israel in the time of Ahab, our country seems to worship false gods. We've created false gods of "tolerance" and "equality" and "choice." Instead of worshipping the Lord, we've found ways to worship pleasure and vanity—we've found ways to worship ourselves. And, like the people of Israel did in Elijah's time, we're suffering the effects. Worship of choice leads to abortion and contraception, and the Health and Human Services contraceptive mandate, which threatens our freedom of religion. Worship of money leads to poverty. Worship of "equality" leads to a fundamental rejection of marriage and family. We're worshipping false gods, and we're in trouble. But, like Elijah, the Lord calls us to pray. And to pray in a special way for our country. This Friday, we will begin the "Fortnight for Freedom." The Fortnight is an invitation for all American Catholics to pray and work for our nation—to pray for a return to the true principles that make America great, most especially for the protection of religious liberty. If we give ourselves to quiet, humble prayer, like Elijah, God's glory and mercy will be revealed. In particular, I am inviting all Catholics in Denver to join me in fasting for the protection of religious liberty in our country. I will fast on June 21 and 28—the Fridays of the Fortnight for Freedom. By fasting, we can unite our prayers to Christ's suffering on the cross. By fasting, our day can become a prayer—and prayer has real power. In the time of Elijah, Israel was lost. Today our nation is lost. But Israel became great again—so great that Christ our Lord was born of Israel. America can be great again too—can be a witness to the power of God to convert a people, and draw them into his love. But America needs our prayers. And our sacrifice. Please join me in prayer and fasting in our nation. Together, we will witness to God's power and mercy, poured out for us and for our nation. Charities accepting aid; springs fire most destructive in state history By DenVeR CAThOliC ReGiSTeR AnD COlORADO CAThOliC heRAlD As the toll of destroyed homes reached a record high last week, Catholic Charities began collecting donations to aid the thousands of Colorado Springs residents displaced from a raging fire that engulfed structures and killed two people. The Black Forest Fire claimed 483 homes by June 16—making it the most destructive fire in the state's history—surpassing the Waldo Canyon wildfire's 350 destroyed homes in June 2012. Denver Archbishop Samuel Aquila urged solidarity with the wildfire victims. "Please join me in prayer for those affected by the wildfires, and for the firefighters, medical personnel, and civic leaders helping to contain the blazes," Archbishop Aquila stated. "Last month Pope Francis called the Church to 'become courageous Christians and seek out those who need help most.' Those who have lost their homes need our help the most." Catholic Charities of the Denver Archdiocese is directing donations to Catholic Charities of Central Colorado, which is accepting monetary donations online and sending food and material donations to Care and Share and Goodwill. Some 38,000 people were displaced from their homes in northeast Colorado Springs, after an unknown cause sparked the fire June 11 and consumed 15,700 acres. Simultaneously fires broke out near the Royal Gorge and Rocky Mountain National Forest. The Royal Gorge Fire consumed 3,200 acres and the Big Meadow Fire J PhOtO by JOe amOn/the denveR POst FiReFiGhTeRS back-burn at Black Forest Trail Head 16 near the corner of Burgess Road and Buckskin Lane along the edge P r of the Black Forest Fire in Colorado Springs June 13. s hoW to help Donate to help victims displaced from the Colorado wildfires by visiting www. ccharitiescc.org/donate and clicking on "Donate online" and selecting "Colorado fires." For more information, call 719-636-2345 or email info@ ccharitiescc.org. Catholic Charities is providing counseling, referrals, food boxes, gas cards, clothing and other items. Two telephone assistance lines will be staffed between 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Friday. The numbers are 719-8666559 and 719-866-6441. burned more than 600 acres. No injuries were reported. Some parishes and religious communities were evacuated from the Black Forest area last week, including the sisters of Benet Hill Monastery. Sister Marie Therese Summers told the Denver Catholic Register the 24 sisters at the monastery began evacuating June 12 and left the next day after a mandatory evacuation. "We were worried on Wednesday because the fire was within 2 miles of the monastery," Sister Summers said. The fire came within a quarter mile June 13, but winds shifted and the monastery was reportedly unharmed. "It looks like we've had a good report from last night," she said. "But we have a lot of friends in our neighborhood that have lost their homes." Many sisters are staying at the Mount St. Francis nursing home run by the Franciscan sisters. Franciscan men living at Our Lady of Angels friary near Colorado Springs were ordered to evacuate June 13 and are reportedly safe from the fire. see Fire, Page 7 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. The Register is printed by The Denver Post LLC in Denver. Periodical postage paid in Denver, CO. editor Roxanne King 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 Register, Circulation Dept., 1300 S. Steele St., Denver, CO 80210 or e-mail circulation@archden.org. 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