NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      DENVER, 2 (NE) More than 40 young people received the sacrament of Confirmation from the hands of Cardinal J. Francis Stafford, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity. The Mass was held last week-end in Denver. The young people, who had prepared themselves during 5 months to receive the sacrament, expressed their joy for the presence of Cardinal Stafford, former Archbishop of Denver. The Eucharist took place at the Our Lady of Loreto parish. Before Mass, Cardinal Stafford gave each one of the young people a stamp of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frossati.

      During the homily, he asked the sponsors to be witnesses of Christian life for the young confirmed. He also remembered the person of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frossati, and narrated his life, showing him as a special example for the candidates who were to be confirmed. He was born 1901 and died in 1925. He was a child of a wealthy family, and excelled in his service to the poor and sick, whom he used to visit at night. The Cardinal recalled that the Holy Father referred to him as the "young man who lived the eight Beatitudes."

      Cardinal Stafford encouraged the candidates to live the Beatitudes, inviting them to have a "pure heart, to visit the sick and be peacemakers. One must be open to the presence of Jesus. Jesus identified himself specially when he said 'When you do this to the least of My brothers, you do this to Me'. Open your hearts and be generous." He also asked the young people to pray constantly, specially the Our Father.