Celebrating Independence: A Catholic Reflection on July 4th
As the night sky fills with fireworks and familiar patriotic tunes echo across the land, Americans everywhere gear up to mark the founding of a remarkable journey in human freedom: the United States.
July 4th represents more than just a historical milestone. It invites us to reflect on the sacrifices, hopes, and values that have shaped our Republic, especially highlighting the contributions of Catholics in this shared history.
Now seems like a particularly poignant moment for everyone, especially Christians, to renew the virtues that have long made our nation a guiding light for others.
We should not forget that we still have a voice at the table. Catholics have actively sought to regain their influence following a challenging political climate.
Consider the first Thanksgiving—not just a turkey dinner in Plymouth, but a Catholic Mass celebrated by Father Francisco Lopez de Mendoza Grajarez in St. Augustine, Florida. He expressed gratitude for the new beginnings granted by this land.
This was an early Catholic acknowledgment of faith, pointing out that long before America as we know it, this land was already rich in spiritual roots.
The courage and conviction of these early believers persisted through the Revolution. One of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, Charles Carroll of Carrollton, stood out as a man of great education and deep faith. At a time when anti-Catholic sentiment ran high, his signature underscored the willingness of Catholics to sacrifice everything for freedom.
No group captured the pioneering spirit of the early Republic better than the Catholic sisters. They ventured into unexplored territories, armed with compassion and discipline rather than weaponry.
In 1727, the Ursuline sisters established the first Catholic hospital in New Orleans, twenty-four years before a similar institution opened in the original colonies. These sisters went on to build many hospitals nationwide, including one in Baltimore in 1827.
The Wild West narrative also intertwines with this Catholic legacy. Dock Holiday, infamous for his shootouts, passed away in a Catholic hospital in the Rockies, attended by sisters who helped him reconcile with his faith before he died.
Unfortunately, recent times have seen efforts to suppress Catholics’ freedom to express their beliefs within the broader society they’ve helped build.
During President Biden’s term, we’ve witnessed the FBI target Catholics for surveillance in places of worship and those advocating for life issues. It’s troubling that while federal agents monitored peaceful Catholics, over 500 Catholic churches faced extremist attacks, with properties vandalized, including St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Wichita, Kansas.
Under the Trump administration, however, efforts were aimed at countering anti-Christian sentiment. Notably, recent Supreme Court victories—some involving Catholic plaintiffs—affirm that not only Catholics deserve the same religious freedoms as others, but they also play a crucial role in defending the foundational freedoms laid out in the First Amendment.
Modern-day Catholic advocates, like Grace Morrison, illustrate the ongoing fight for religious freedom. She courageously challenged the Montgomery County Board of Education in Maryland over age-inappropriate and sexualized LGBTQ material being thrust upon young children. This battle was driven by a desire to protect her daughter’s innocence against radical ideologies conflicting with her family’s beliefs.
Just recently, the Supreme Court recognized the merits of her case, validating her right to stand up for her convictions.
Thanks to individuals like her, Catholics who arrived in America seeking to build can once again dream of a society founded on moral greatness and ordered freedom. Their legacy endures, echoed in the statues of figures like St. Junipero Serra and St. Damien of Molokai within our nation’s Capitol.
It feels like the perfect moment for everyone, particularly Christians and those of goodwill, to revitalize the virtues that illuminate our nation on the world stage.
This isn’t just a time for nostalgia; it’s a chance to mold the future, rekindling the principles that define us and ensuring that this “nation under God” continues to shine brightly.
