Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
June 6, 2001
Letters
Praise for archbishop
Just a short note of thanks for taking a stand for our Church and rescinding U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette's invitation to speak. You did the right thing. Our family prays for you each day and we feel very, very blessed having you as our shepherd. You and our Holy Father truly understand the battle against the culture of death. We would also like to thank you for making natural family planning a part of marriage preparation. NFP will build marriages that will last forever. There are so many people that support you! You are doing God's work on earth and are a wonderful example of faithfulness to us.
Thank you and may God continue to bless you.
Brendan and Erin Kelly
Mary's fiat world changing
As a follow-up to my letter "When Christ entered the world" (April 4), I would like to quote Father Paul K. Raftery, O.P., of the Rosary Center, Portland, Ore., writing in "Theology for the Laity" May-June 2001 issue where he writes:
"To consider from Luke's Annunciation account is Mary's acceptance of the Archangel's message, certainly not extensive in words, but so world-changing in effect: `Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.'
"This decision, utterly free and with true discernment, made it possible for the Son of God to enter this world with a human nature. Without that decision we would not have the God-man, Jesus Christ. All that we have received in the Gospels, the 12 men Jesus chose to be apostles, their deeds recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, all that was revealed in the writings of St. Paul and the rest of the New Testament, would not have existed without Mary's consent.
"There is no way of speculating fully on the development of the Church, let alone the very existence of the Church, if Our Lady, unthinkable as it is to suggest, had refused God's request. All that we can say is that Mary's fiat, `Let it be done to me' is a clear case of one human decision setting all of human history on one very specific course.
"That one course has resulted in the Christian faith as we know it today, the formation of law throughout the world based on Christian principles, and the formation of Western European culture.
"Thus, those who want to deny any unique role to Our Lady end up, nonsensically, having to downplay this world-altering aspect of Mary's decision to bear the Messiah."
Again, he writes: "The common misunderstanding among Protestants of Mary's role ending with the departure of Jesus from Nazareth would be very puzzling to early Christians. Such is hardly in line with the way early Christians understood her as the New Eve, a co-origin, with her Son, of a new humanity."
Then let us pray that the U.S. bishops will see fit to elevate the Feast Day of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (March 25) to its proper place as a Holy Day of Obligation in the American Church.
Jim Kluge
Englewood
Blessings from Holy Father
Dear Archbishop Chaput,
The Holy Father has asked me to thank you for the donation of $65,000 which you sent through the Apostolic Nunciature as a contribution from the Archdiocese of Denver for the support of the Holy See, in accordance with canon 1271 of the Code of Canon Law.
His Holiness is deeply grateful to you and the faithful for this practical sign of solidarity in his ministry to the whole People of God. The Great Jubilee of the 2,000th anniversary of the birth of the Redeemer has been for the entire Church a call to new zeal and new commitment.
In his apostolic letter Novo Millennio Ineunte, he wrote: "To make the Church the home and the school of communion: that is the great challenge facing us in the millennium which is now beginning, if we wish to be faithful to God's plan and respond to the world's deepest yearnings" (no. 43). He repeats this invitation to the Church in Denver, and invokes the abundant gifts of the Holy Spirit upon you all as you strive to keep your gaze fixed on Christ in the midst of the many challenges of today.
As a sign of his spiritual union, the Holy Father imparts his apostolic blessing.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Cardinal A. Sodano
Vatican Secretary of State
DeGette disinvitation right
Regarding readers' responses (in favor of) DeGette's disinvitation to speak: I understand where you are coming from as I used to think the same way when Pat Schroeder would be asked to speak at Regis University despite the pro-choice on abortion positions she has done through the years. One gets the idea that choosing is the great idea, even when it's a wrong decision on this life and death subject. It does matter which is chosen. We need more of this level of work done.
Sharron Zancanelli
Arvada
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