FATHER COREY’S CHAT
Brothers:
Wow! Is summer upon us! Hot hot hot!
Preparing for July 4 celebration and remembering the virtue of Patriotism and what it means to our brotherhood.
Externally of course, the holiday means parades, the flag, patriotic songs, family gatherings, time off and rest. But the Virtue itself means so much more. Like our religious realities (Sacraments, prayer, worship, Scripture), Patriotism is a lot about Remembering!
We need to remember our history, how we evolved as a nation, why we needed to evolve; Why freedom is so important to all humanity, to our nature as humans.
Founding fathers and mothers recognized this and gave everything to secure it for us in becoming a nation.
Certainly, in living out our patriotism today there are going to be differences of opinions and practices. But the very freedom we have, allows for this.
It is also important for us as Church to recognize and present ourselves as good citizens, honoring our past and bringing our faith into our practices of citizenship (respect for all, pro-life laws and practices, racial equality, voting, etc.)
Our first allegiance of course is to Almighty God and the Body of Christ, the Church. Patriotism in its many forms, can be and should be one of our best expressions of who we are as American, Catholic gentlemen. May God give us the grace to be just that.
Happy Celebrating throughout July!
May God bless us and may Mary keep us always in His love!
Fr. Corey
Brothers:
Wow! Is summer upon us! Hot hot hot!
Preparing for July 4 celebration and remembering the virtue of Patriotism and what it means to our brotherhood.
Externally of course, the holiday means parades, the flag, patriotic songs, family gatherings, time off and rest. But the Virtue itself means so much more. Like our religious realities (Sacraments, prayer, worship, Scripture), Patriotism is a lot about Remembering!
We need to remember our history, how we evolved as a nation, why we needed to evolve; Why freedom is so important to all humanity, to our nature as humans.
Founding fathers and mothers recognized this and gave everything to secure it for us in becoming a nation.
Certainly, in living out our patriotism today there are going to be differences of opinions and practices. But the very freedom we have, allows for this.
It is also important for us as Church to recognize and present ourselves as good citizens, honoring our past and bringing our faith into our practices of citizenship (respect for all, pro-life laws and practices, racial equality, voting, etc.)
Our first allegiance of course is to Almighty God and the Body of Christ, the Church. Patriotism in its many forms, can be and should be one of our best expressions of who we are as American, Catholic gentlemen. May God give us the grace to be just that.
Happy Celebrating throughout July!
May God bless us and may Mary keep us always in His love!
Fr. Corey