Denver Catholic

15 DENVER CATHOLIC | OCTOBER 28-NOVEMBER 10, 2017 Father O'Neill called attention to the day of Friday, the 13th,± which is typically considered a superstitious, unlucky day to some. But instead, the archdiocese was gathered on such a day for sacred blessing. "We are here in the darkness on an unlucky day to celebrate a beautiful, holy thing, the feast of Our Lady of Fatima," Father O'Neill said. "Today is a very lucky day for us, and by lucky, I mean blessed. In the midst of our fears comes a woman dressed in white." After some time of silent adora- tion before the Eucharist, Archbishop Aquila also addressed the faithful before the fi nal prayer of consecration, recalling the miracle that occurred 100 years ago to the day. "Our Lady said, 'In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph,'" Arch- bishop Aquila said. "And in that, we see the heart of Mary and her love for Jesus. Her last recorded words were, 'Do whatever he tells you.' She constantly reminds us of her son and her deepest desire is that we be as pure in heart as she is pure of heart." Archbishop Aquila reminded the faithful that Our Lord "promises to give us a new heart," and that Mary wants us to open our hearts to salvation and to Jesus. He went on to emphasize four themes that will lead us deeper in inti- macy with Jesus: The gift of faith, con- version, praying for peace and remem- bering Our Lady's message of hope. "Mary invites us to put our faith in God, to believe in his love for the world and to put our trust and confi dence in him," Archbishop Aquila said. "We also need to pray for our own conversion, as well as the conversion of the whole world," he continued. "She also reminds us to pray for peace in the world," Archbishop Aquila pointed out. "We may not be in a World War today, but there are many small wars going on. We see threats of war with North Korea and there's that angst — but how often do we ask the Lord, grant our world peace? "The peace the Lord gives is not without su" ering or the cross," he added. "But it is strong. It is the peace Mary knew at the foot of the cross…so, we are praying for that peace today." Archbishop Aquila concluded by reminding the archdiocese that with Mary's apparitions always comes a mes- sage of hope — that life has meaning, and that there is eternal life. Father O'Neill also highlighted three events in Mary's life that o" ered us an example of her virtues to imitate: The Annunciation, the wedding feast at Cana, and her love of the cross. In the Annunciation, Father O'Neill said, "Mary receives the gift God wants to give her," and that, often, we wish for things other than the great blessing God is trying to give us. At Cana, Mary exhibited humble con- fi dence. She points out a need and is very confi dent that Jesus will answer it the way he wants, Father O'Neill said. "St. Therese prayed like that," Father O'Neill said. "She said that even if things don't go the way you want, remember that Jesus loves you so much that if you could see it, you would die of ecstasy. It's not about what he gives, it's about who he is." The third example of her virtue is at the cross. "It didn't feel good, but there was a choice. She chose the cross," Father O'Neill said. "Every cross is a prepara- tion for a greater blessing, a ripening of our soul for greater grace. I want you to see the cross as something really good coming your way." As the archdiocese joined the Arch- bishop in prayer of consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the faithful prayed, "May every country and every person in the world come to know your maternal love for them…through your intercession, may every human being encounter your son, Jesus Christ, and become the person he desires them to be." "As we consecrate ourselves to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, let us pray for faith… to love Jesus as Mary loved Jesus, and pray for peace and let us pray for hope, rooted in the promise of eter- nal life," Archbishop Aquila concluded. "It is only by keeping our hearts fi xed on Jesus that this will come about." Open House Come and see what's new at Nativity! 900 W. Midway Blvd. | Broomfield | 303-466-4177 | school.nool.us Introducing preschool in Fall 2018 TOURS Sun, Jan 28 after 9:30 & 11:30 Masses Mon, Jan 29 5-8pm Wed, Jan 31 - Thurs, Feb 1 8:30am-3:30pm and by appointment The event, which was live-streamed across the world and into participat- ing parishes, began with procession and exposition of the Blessed Sacra- ment, followed by a rosary, an exhortation and the consecration prayer. Today is a very lucky day for us, and by lucky, I mean blessed. In the midst of our fears comes a woman dressed in white." FATHER O'NEILL "

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