America at 250!

In a few short weeks, the United States of America will mark its 250^th birthday, the anniversary of our independence. This is certainly a cause for celebration, and also for thanksgiving to God for his blessings upon our country.

There is much to be grateful for on this milestone anniversary. The Declaration of Independence proclaimed 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.” The notion of innate equality was revolutionary at that time, and it still is. Soon thereafter, our founders recognized and enshrined a right to religious liberty, which is not to be confused with mere freedom of worship. When we consider the vast numbers of people in our world who have no such liberty, we can only thank God for the freedom we have to actively live out our Catholic faith. Our nation also embraced the right to freedom of speech, which allows every one of us to speak up in light of our faith and morals for what is right and good, and to work against what is evil and harmful. Once again, vast numbers of people around the world do not enjoy this freedom.

Needless to say, our nation is not perfect and has great need for self-examination and reform. We are still afflicted by racism and bigotry of various kinds. We have seen a decline in morals throughout our population. There is a cultural and popular tendency toward secularization, a false notion that religious faith and expression have no place in the public square, a concept that our founders would consider ridiculous. It seems that violence and crime have become more widespread, and are even defended by certain public figures. And perhaps most egregious of all, the practice of abortion is widespread, and undermines our nation’s commitment to equality and the right to life.

But even with these faults and flaws, the United States of America is truly blessed, and we are blessed to be a part of this great nation. We have endured many trials and divisions, but as a nation we have persevered. The question before us is this: how will we preserve this union, this nation of peoples, and how can we lift it up to greater peace, prosperity, and integrity?

One way to assure our flourishing is for every member of the Church to be actively engaged in public life and active in living out our Catholic faith. Christians are called to be witnesses to Christ in the world, and in this nation that we call our home. We are called to support the common good and defend the innate dignity of every human person. We are not called to retreat and to hide in a bunker, afraid to speak up or act in accord with our faith. We are called to live our faith actively and to bring the truths of our faith to bear on the culture and society in which we live. There is no greater program for the public life of our nation than the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and even a nation that has no official religion can benefit from the leaven of Christian believers who are committed to the well-being of their country. Even in small ways, every individual believer can work for truth, goodness, and beauty, and can elevate the life of our nation by their works of charity and justice.

As disciples of Jesus Christ, we must also pray for this nation. Our founders were unapologetic in their prayers for the new nation, and they expressed trust and reliance on Divine Providence. We too must pray fervently for God’s blessing and for the healing of our many faults and wounds. Some would say that our nation has drifted too far and cannot be recovered, but God’s grace is great enough to bring light out of darkness and good out of evil. Our prayers for our nation are never wasted and will always make a difference if we are faithful.

Ultimately, we are completely dependent on the mercy of God, and for this reason, in observance of our 250^th anniversary, the bishops of the United States will consecrate our nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 11, the eve of the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart. Christ’s Sacred Heart has always been a symbol of his mercy, his divine love, his healing grace, and his deep care for souls. I invite and encourage every member of the Diocese of Fargo to join in this prayer of consecration and to intercede for our nation. As we turn to the Heart of our Merciful Lord, let us ask him to bless the United States of America, and let us thank him for the grace he has shed upon us over these 250 years.
 
“The question before us is this: how will we preserve this union, this nation of peoples, and how can we lift it up to greater peace, prosperity, and integrity?”