Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
January 30, 2002
150 attend ecumenical prayer vigil in Denver Jan. 23
Justice and peace begins with forgiveness and love, archbishop says
By Roxanne King
Seeking to support Pope John Paul II's Jan. 24 Assisi prayer meeting for religious leaders, some 150 Catholics and Greek Orthodox faithful attended an Ecumenical Prayer Vigil for Peace the night before at Christ the King Chapel.
Several parishes throughout the diocese held similar services, said Sister Moira Debono, R.S.M., director of the Liturgy Office.
The service in the chapel at the John Paul II Center included a homily by Archbishop Charles Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. Metropolitan Isaiah, head of the Greek Orthodox Denver Diocese, blessed the congregation and offered a prayer asking the intercession of Mary. Greek Orthodox Father Luke Uhl, chancellor of Assumption Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Denver, also participated in the liturgy.
Sweet incense, an invocation to the Holy Spirit chanted in Greek, and a moving sung Gospel accompanied by the rhythms of a Spanish guitar, warmed the senses. As voices united in prayer and hymns calling for peace, hearts filled with hope that good would indeed conquer the evil causing violence and suffering in so much of the world.
"I think we can agree that never has the world needed more prayer and more peace," Archbishop Chaput told the congregation, adding that the threat of global war is probably greater now than at any time in the past 40 years.
"As we begin a new year, I think we need to remember what Christians mean by peace and why we need to seek it so zealously," he said. "Peace is not merely the absence of war. It's the presence of justice."
Challenged by economic, racial and ethnic injustices that plague our society and our world, and by consumerism and abortion, Americans are a long way from experiencing peace even within their hearts, the archbishop said.
"In honestly reflecting on our own mistakes and sins, I think 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," Archbishop Chaput said, adding that hanging on to grievances, however legitimate, delays peace.
"The only way the web of mutual finger-pointing can be broken is through forgiveness," he said. "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," the archbishop continued, adding that the prayers and actions of those not in Assisi are nevertheless vital to the gathering's success and its intention of promoting peace.
"Whatever issues may still separate us as disciples of Jesus Christ, mutual prayer, rooted in mutual love, is what God is calling us to pursue for the sake of the world," Archbishop Chaput said.
God can bridge any division of culture, politics or religion, he said.
"Peace is God's gift to humanity," the archbishop said, later adding, "Peace is a gift every honest and forgiving heart can share. But we need to ask for it with our hearts, our prayers and our actions."
Diana Rodriguez, 43, of St. James Parish in Denver, attended the vigil with her husband José and three children.
"I think it's very important that we support Pope John Paul II in his quest for peace," she said explaining her family's attendance.
Community of the Beatitudes Sister Magdalit Bolduc, 38, said she believes ecumenical services encourage Christian unity and increase the possibility for world peace.
"I believe peace is possible if there is a movement of going outside ourselves toward the other seeking understanding," she said. "That's where the healing happens. It cleanses the past and the future is possible."
Italian immigrant Corrado Mochi, 72, said he believes unity among Christians is the goal of this century for the Church.
"When Christians are united it will be a big sign for all people around the world," he said. "Pope John Paul II is always pushing for this."
Describing the vigil as "lovely," Ruth Uhl, wife of Greek Orthodox Father Uhl, added, "We're glad we came."
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