On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence to declare to the world that the thirteen American colonies regarded themselves as sovereign states independent from the rule of the British Empire.
In response to this historic event, John Adams, one of only two of the Founding Fathers to go on to become president, wrote to his wife Abigail:
“…This day ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of the continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.”
How fitting that as Catholics we begin this day of pomp and circumstance with the greatest of all celebrations: the celebration of Holy Mass for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
When I was preparing for today’s Mass, I re-read the Declaration of Independence, and I encourage all of you to read it as well. Despite the Declaration’s name and purpose, its proclamation of independence, it actually begins with an acknowledgment of profound dependence: dependence above all on God as the basis of rights as well as duties.
In the Declaration, Jefferson wrote “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.” A recent poll, by the way, showed that 50% of college students could not identify the origin of that quote; some even thought that it was from the Communist Manifesto.
The signers of the Declaration of Independence were not the secular humanists the media often makes them out to be. 26 of the 58 signers held theological degrees. They knew the importance of religion and knowing and following the commandments of God, of being grounded in the truth.
Benjamin Franklin was adamant that our nation could not survive—our liberty could not be kept secure, unless we took religion and moral living very seriously. He said, “Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters."
George Washington himself held that without religion liberty could not be maintained. "Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable.... And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion."
Freedom is a great thing, and we do well to celebrate it on the 4th of July. That being said, authentic freedom must be rooted in truth, and apart from the truth there can be no real authentic freedom. Freedom is only authentic when it is a force for our growth in truth and goodness.
To many people in our modern day, the notion of freedom means the ability to do whatever you want. One even sometimes hears children claim, “I can’t wait until I grow up, then, I can do whatever I want.” But, freedom does not mean doing what we want, but doing what we ought. We are not free if immoral actions and beliefs rule or lives.
The inevitable consequence of abusing freedom is loosing freedom. Bad habits which start out as cobwebs can end up as chains. Our Lord himself says, the man who sins is the slave of sin.
We must live in truth and act in truth if we are to remain free.
The motto of the United States Army Special Forces is: De oppresso liber, to free the oppressed. And isn’t that the job of every Christian. For indeed, Jesus came to set captives free, to bring the light of truth to those in the darkness of ignorance, and we are to continue his work.
We thank God today for the gift of our national liberty, for those who fought and died for our freedom. But, we also recall our duty to preserve that freedom, by seeking to live rightly in communion with God.
May the Lord use us as his instruments for authentic liberty and peace for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
Please stand for our petitions. Our petitions this morning are those composed for the inauguration of President George Washington by Archbishop John Carroll, First Roman Catholic bishop in our country whose brother Charles Carroll was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
We pray Thee, O God of might, wisdom, and justice! Through Whom authority is rightly administered, laws are enacted, and judgment decreed, assist with Thy holy spirit of counsel and fortitude the President of the United States, that his administration may be conducted in righteousness, and be eminently useful to Thy people over whom he presides; by encouraging due respect for virtue and religion; by a faithful execution of the laws in justice and mercy; and by restraining vice and immorality. We pray to the Lord.
Let the light of Thy divine wisdom direct the deliberations of Congress, and shine forth in all the proceedings and laws framed for our rule and government, so that they may tend to the preservation of peace, the promotion of national happiness, the increase of industry, sobriety, and useful knowledge; and may perpetuate to us the blessing of equal liberty.
We pray for all judges, magistrates, and other officers who are appointed to guard our political welfare, that they maybe enabled, by Thy powerful protection, to discharge the duties of their respective stations with honesty and ability.
We recommend likewise, to Thy unbounded mercy, all our brethren and fellow citizens throughout the United States, that they may be blessed in the knowledge and sanctified in the observance of Thy most holy law; that they may be preserved in union, and in that peace which the world cannot give; and after enjoying the blessings of this life, be admitted to those which are eternal.
And we pray especially for all of our countrymen who have gone before us in faith, for all those who have fought and died for our country’s freedom, for all the of the deceased members of our family and friends, and for N., for whom this Mass is offered.
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