He also knows that even a just war can leave scars, invite revenge and brutalize the human spirit. He also understands how easily prosperity and comfort can distract us from seeing the full implications of war until it's too late. The terrorism we experience today is fueled not only by national grievances and specific political injustices, but also by long memories of ethnic and religious conflict. The threat of war — not a local, "dirty" war, but a major global war — is arguably greater now than at any time in the past quarter century. And like any war, beginning it may be easy. Ending it will be much more difficult.

This week, as we start a new year, we need to remember what Christians mean by peace, and why we need to seek it so zealously. Peace is not merely the absence of war. It's the presence of justice, fraternal respect and mutual cooperation. This is why Pope Paul VI told us that if we "want peace, (we should) work for justice."

Americans are a long way from peace even within our own country. We struggle with continuing economic, racial and ethnic injustices. We face dangers to our children and families. We're harried by distractions and manufactured appetites. And meanwhile, day in and day out, the abortion industry continues its killing —the most obvious, but certainly not the only, violence against the human person right here at home.

These facts don't make us worse than our enemies. They don't excuse or mitigate the evil of terrorist violence. Nor can our failings be allowed to interfere with our government's vigorous actions to protect its citizens. But these facts are nonetheless true and should help to guide our thinking.

In honestly reflecting on our own mistakes and sins, we begin to see the roots of war in each of our personal lives. Sin gives rise to fear and anger, and anger to violence, and violence to more fear and anger.

As with individuals, so too with peoples and nations. We all have grievances, claims and counter-claims. Many of them are legitimate, but the more fiercely we hang onto our grievances, the less likely it is that we'll ever have justice. The only way the web of mutual recrimination can be broken is through forgiveness. The road to justice — the road to real peace — begins in mercy and sacrificial love, and passes through forgiveness.

As Christians, we believe in the power of prayer and God's abiding love for the world He created and His son redeemed. We believe that God hears us and will enable us to accomplish His will if we let Him.

The Jan. 24 Assisi meeting is more than just a summit of religious leaders or a display of pious hope. It's an effort to turn humanity away from war before we pay a price we can't begin to measure.

Those of us who won't be in Assisi, are nonetheless vital to this gathering's success. Therefore I ask each and every Catholic in northern Colorado to fast and spend time in prayer for peace on Jan. 23. In particular, in the coming weeks, I ask you pray for the Holy Father and his extraordinary meeting in Assisi on Jan. 24. Peace is God's gift to humanity, and whatever our differences in culture, politics or religion, peace is a gift every honest and forgiving heart can share.