SW News: Archbishop of Denver, Samuel J. Aquila has called on the faithful to become “apostolic people” to proclaim the Good News to a “weary world.” In his Lenten note to the archdiocese of Denver, archbishop Aquila noted that people are facing challenging times with the pandemic, social and political unrest, and even “strife within the Church.” He stated that we are living in a “post- Christian” age or at the end of “Christendom.”

Christendom as defined by Archbishop Fulton Sheen in 1974 is “the economic, political, and social life as inspired by Christian principles.” He said that secularization, which has been gaining ground in the last few hundred years, has resulted in the end of the Christendom culture. He also attributed falling church attendance and the rise in the number of “nones” in the country to secularization.

“To lose God is to lose the purpose and meaning of life, and in that barren landscape where can hope and love take root and thrive?” he asked.

In these difficult times the archbishop reminded the faithful that God is calling his “Church to go on mission” and to be “joyful witness in the face of opposition.” In preparation for the apostolic mission of sharing the Gospel to all, the archbishop invited the faithful during this Lenten season to three important practices:

As the first practice, the archbishop encouraged everyone to re-encounter Jesus through the Gospels. “The fundamental message of the Gospel firmly establishes us in our identities as beloved daughters and sons of the Father and spurs us on to embrace the complementary calls of holiness and mission,” he asserted.

The archbishop encouraged the faithful to read all four gospels and to take part in the archdiocesan Lenten initiative The Search, from the Augustine Institute and Chris Stefanick.

The second practice is to engage in “earnest prayer and fasting.” Apart from the prayer to be read at all Masses from Ash Wednesday through Easter and a 54-day Rosary novena for renewal, the faithful are encouraged to add their own intercessory prayers and offer Holy Hours.

For the third practice, the archbishop urged the faithful to engage in the formation of consciences based on the teachings of Jesus “which we discover in Sacred Scripture and Apostolic Tradition.” He encouraged the faithful to proclaim the truth without shying away and to approach everyone with charity.

“This Lent join me in praying for the fire of the love of Jesus Christ to be enkindled in our hearts. May he remain our first love!” wrote the archbishop concluding his note.