Pastor Notes July 2, 2023
-
July 3, 2023Approaching our national holiday, the Fourth of July, we would be remiss to consider this a strictly secular observance. As one noted writer, philosopher and Catholic aptly said, “America is the only nation in the world founded on a creed.” Other nations were carved out by their ancestry, geographical location, or simply by the power of a king’s will; America was shaped by a ‘shared belief’ evident in the statement Thomas Jefferson penned in our Constitution: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Benjamin Franklin chimed in with his view as our nation was taking shape, separating our floundering country from the British Empire: “The longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: ‘that God governs in the affairs of men.’ And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that a nation can rise without His aide?”
Our First Amendment spells out the new beginning of tolerance and acceptance of Christian beliefs and practices. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
In spite of this newfound freedom of faith and practice, in reality, the Catholics coming to America were the least valued, misunderstood, and too often persecuted or simply left out of communal gatherings. Catholic immigrants who were amongst the first to settle in this ‘New Country,” were nonetheless persecuted for their faith, ridiculed for their practice, and in many areas not allowed to hold public gatherings for prayer and the Eucharist. Immigrants from England were especially harsh on those arriving with their Catholic beliefs and practices. Maryland was the ‘preferred’ colony of the arriving Catholics and the first colony to have their own bishop, John Carroll. And yet, it was another group of individuals persecuted for their beliefs, the Quakers, who in many cases protected and sheltered Catholic families, allowing them safe passage through the thriving country. Likewise misunderstood for their Christian beliefs and practices, the Quakers nonetheless remained pacifists and individually practiced such virtue by protecting others (notably Catholic families) from unwarranted violence and persecution. Quakers played a vital part of our foothold within this nation.
We have a debt to repay as American Catholics, affording respect, understanding and dignity to Christians of other denominations. Thankful for the freedom to practice our faith without any
retribution, and to openly participate in the Sacramental life our Church, especially the Eucharist. As one of the founding fathers, Patrick Henry, eluded to the reality of the First Amendment freedom: “It cannot be emphasized too strongly. . .that this great Nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians. . . .For that reason alone, people of other faiths have been afforded freedom of worship here.”
We lift up our hearts, O God,
on this day of celebration in gratitude
for the gift of being Americans.
We rejoice with all those who share
in the great dream of freedom and dignity for all. With flags and feasting, with family and friends
we salute those who have sacrificed
that we might have the opportunity
to bring to fulfillment our many God-given gifts.
As we deny all prejudice a place in our hearts,
may we also clearly declare
our intention to work for the time when all people,
regardless of race, religion, or sex,
will be granted equal dignity and worth.
Come, O gracious God,
who led your children Israel from slavery,
keep us free from all that might hold us in bondage.
Bless our country and join our simple celebration
that we may praise you, our Source of freedom,
the One in whom we place our trust. Amen. (Ed Hayes, Pilgrim Almanac)
God Bless, Fr. Tim
FYI: “Let the Fourth of July always be a reminder that here in this land, for the first time, it was decided that man is born with certain God-given rights... We sometimes forget that great truth, and we never should.” (President Reagan)
