PHOTOS | ‘Called to Proclaim Hope’: Archbishop Aquila Encourages Priests and Laity to Jubilee Hope at Annual Chrism Mass
- André Escaleira, Jr.
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 12 minutes ago
Faithful across Northern Colorado may have noticed a conspicuous absence in their parishes on Tuesday as priests from all corners of the archdiocese converged upon Downtown Denver for the annual Chrism Mass.
Held every Holy Tuesday at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver, the special Mass includes a blessing for the holy oils used in Catholic churches throughout the liturgical year. But beyond the once-in-a-year blessing, the Chrism Mass offers priests the opportunity to come together in fraternity as they renew their priestly promises in the presence of the archbishop.
In his homily at the Chrism Mass, Denver Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila reflected with his priests on the unique character of their sacerdotal call “to bring glad tidings to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives, to let the oppressed go free in our own times in which we live” (Luke 4:18-19; Isaiah 61).
As they — and, indeed, each member of the Body of Christ — reflect on their baptismal call to holiness this Triduum and Eastertide, the archbishop said, we come to see that “Baptism changed everything. It made us a new creation, and it gave to us our true identity as beloved sons and daughters of the Father.”
From our God-given dignity and our identity as children of God (1 John 3:2) flows the call to encounter the Lord Jesus and grow in trust, surrender and holiness, the archbishop continued. And, as priests and laity alike grow in love for God, they supernaturally grow in love for their neighbor — especially the poor, the captive and the oppressed — to whom Jesus’ message of hope is most especially directed, all the more so during this Jubilee Year of Hope.
“In this Jubilee Year, our Holy Father Pope Francis reminded us that in this year of hope, we are to be those who proclaim hope. And, my beloved brothers, we are the ones who need to proclaim that to our people, inviting them to that personal encounter with Jesus,” Archbishop Aquila said to the priests gathered. “Pope Francis reminds us that the door of our salvation is Jesus Christ. We are to offer our lives to the Father. It is Jesus who is our very hope. And we are to bring the faithful to that truth. As our Holy Father reminds us, we are called to conversion, a conversion that is born of love, that has the first step of faith and hope. But Jesus must always come first before anything else. We are to be those who proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ and the Gospel.”
(Photos by Anya Semenoff & Dan Petty/Denver Catholic)
In fact, the archbishop noted, the world and the Church find themselves in dire straits “because we fail to invite others to that personal encounter with Jesus Christ.”
The solution?
An ever-deeper, always-richer confidence in the power of God who promises in Christ all things are possible (Matthew 19:26; Philippians 4:13).
“We are called in this Jubilee Year to renew our faith, our hope and our love,” Archbishop Aquila said to his priests. “We are called to be those who proclaim the Good News in this Jubilee Year.”
As priests across the archdiocese engage the call to renew the three theological virtues, Archbishop Aquila encouraged them to deepen their devotion to the Eucharist, which they celebrate daily.
“Every Mass is to give glory to the Father. Every Mass that you celebrate should lead you to a deeper faith in the power of Jesus Christ, as you are nourished by his Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. Anxiety and doubt should leave your heart. And, if you are like Thomas and have those doubts, hear the words of Jesus spoken to Thomas, now spoken to us in the times in which we live: ‘Do not persist in your unbelief, but believe’ (John 20:27),” the archbishop said to the priests present.
Turning to all those gathered for the Chrism Mass, Archbishop Aquila encouraged a deeper intimacy with the Lord Jesus, present in the Eucharist.
“He has freed us from all evil. He has conquered. And we know that perfect love casts out all fear (1 John 4:18),” he said. “Go before the Lord and let him speak to your hearts, my beloved brothers and sisters.
“May we hear the words of Jesus spoken to us: ‘The spirit of the Lord is upon me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives, recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free’ (Luke 4:18-19; Isaiah 61). Today, on this April 15th of 2025, this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing,” he concluded.
