From CNA:
In his homily following a July 20 mass shooting in Aurora, Colo., Denver Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila reminded a crowd of faithful that though there is evil in the world, there is also mercy.
“Sin, evil and death do not have the last word,” he said, citing Jesus’ victory over death through his resurrection.
The Mass was held at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church – just blocks from Century 16 Theatre – where 12 people were killed and at least 59 were injured when a gunman opened fire at a midnight showing of the Batman movie “The Dark Knight Rises.”
The newly-installed archbishop warned Catholics against responding to the violence with vengeance.
“That is not the way of Jesus Christ,” he said. “We must be peacemakers. We are called to love as Christ loved and commit ourselves to peace.”
Parishioner Juliet Younger said her daughter Jo Ann spent the hours leading up to the Mass at University Hospital in Denver where five of her friends are being treated for injuries. Jo Ann said one of them remains in critical condition.
They said they came to the Mass to find peace.
“And hopefully understand ‘why,’” Juliet said, with tears in her eyes. “I don’t understand this. Why go there and kill those people? Why?”
The archbishop said people like the Youngers can take hope from the fact that God is present in their suffering.
“What occurred … was an encounter with evil, and encounter with violence,” he said. “Certainly the love of the Father is stronger than the bullets that killed 12 and wounded (many more).”
Nearly two dozen priests concelebrated the Mass with the archbishop.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.
Reblogged this on Citizen Tom and commented:
There are various ways that we can choose to deal with tragedy that results from evil. What some do is look for someone to blame. Then they seek vengeance. Others take their misery to God.
[...] Mass in Aurora draws people seeking answers to tragedy Posted on July 21, 2012 by Citizen Tom Reblogged from Catholibertarian: [...]
Thanks for posting this! I’m so grateful for the faithfulness of your priests to minister to the people in the name of Christ. To my embarrassment and disappointment, my church UMC issued a statement about gun control and government legislation.
Thanks for posting this. The Colorado shooting is front page news here in Toronto, Canada as well, especially since one of the victims narrowly escaped a mass shooting in our biggest shopping mall just one month earlier. I just posted about her, Jessica Ghawi, on my blog. Here’s the link, if you’re interested: http://8kidsandabusiness.wordpress.com/2012/07/21/jessicas-coincidence-in-the-aftermath-of-colorado/ I included the reflection she wrote about the Toronto shooting. She was quite the young woman.
I am away visiting family til Tuesday so I will either use my parent’s computer again tonight/Monday or I will pop over to your site on Tuesday, Can’t wait to see your post. God Bless.