Beloved Family:
I closed last week’s bulletin message with a very brief quotation from the book, From Christendom to Apostolic Mission, a book that was gifted by Bishop Malesic to priests of the diocese at Christmas, referencing the action of the Holy Spirit in abundance in our day and age, if we choose to recognize it and let its power go to work on our souls. I feel compelled to follow that up with a much more extended citation from the same book, in light of where I believe we are as a nation and—more significantly— as a Church. I ask you not simply to read it but to chew on it in fervent prayer and bring it to times of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.
…the Church’s primary stance before an unbelieving world is not the imposition of law, which assumes knowledge of its existence and purpose, but the invitation, under an attitude of mercy and hope, into a relationship with the living God and incorporation into the new humanity… during the last half-century or so there has been an unconscious embrace by many Catholics of an American narrative vision by which the United States is seen, effectively, as the Church. A strong strain of the American mythical narrative views America as the hope of the world, the true “salt of the earth.” Few Catholics would express it this way, but the underlying assumption is present and potent. One can see its influence in the investment of a kind of religious fervor in American patriotism…The legitimate concern that the worldwide Church, called to be a light to the world, and inhabited by the Holy Spirit, remain faithful to Christ and be held to a high standard of purity in her mission for the sake of humanity’s salvation is repackaged as the concern that America be faithful to its founding ideals lest the world go astray…
We should be clear about this: even as we love our country and hope it prospers and exercises good influence beyond its borders, we know that America is in no sense the hope of the world. That honor belongs to Christ alone as he works through his body, the Church (emphasis mine). There is nothing surprising, nothing that should touch our Christian hope, however sad and unfortunate it might be, that America would be susceptible to the corruptions of a fallen humanity. The Blessed Mother was immaculately conceived, not the American republic. (University of Mary Press, 2020; pp. 63-64).
I find great challenge and great consolation in these words, beloved. Indeed, it is important to take our U.S. citizenship seriously and responsibly. At all times, however, I believe we must put our identity as disciples of Christ front, center and non-negotiable. Remember the words of Saint Paul from Sacred Scripture: our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:20).
Let His Peace be with you,
Fr. Stephen
