Patriotism is defined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church under piety, a gift of the Holy Spirit, as the duty to love and honor one’s country. In the simplest ways, this gift calls us to rejoice in the unity and peace which our country enjoys, and to mourn and reject anything that seeks to destroy that same unity and peace.
In the past few decades, we seem to have lost this gift. There is more likely to be rejoicing over the downfall of a political opponent than over the upholding of our most basic rights to life and freedom. There is more anger and angst over the loss of a political race than over the loss of civility and justice in daily civil life.
This ought not be so. As Christians we are called to be vessels of peace, keepers of peace, spreaders of peace. Never should the political realm take precedence over the spiritual. Never should our designs for how we think things should be “fixed” take precedence over our personal call to holiness lived out in daily life in either private or civic life. Never should our rejoicing be given over to anything that is contrary to God’s will and law. Sadly, however, that rejoicing over evil seems to be politically acceptable at the moment.
Immediately following the assassination attempt of one of the candidates for the highest office in our country, some demonstrated gleefulness—tempered only by the fact that the attempt was not successful. Those rejoicing seemed to have no concern for the long-term effects of political violence on our nation’s freedom and stability. The short-term goal of eliminating one’s political opponent appears to be more important than continuing to be the republic which shines the light of liberty for the entire world.
Witnessing laughter and expletives over the failed attempt, I felt like I had entered a dystopian twilight zone. Never have I been so thankful that my parents and their generation had already passed to their reward and did not have to see what had become of the freedoms they fought so hard to hand on to us.
People who dare to say “not my president” regarding someone who is elected and sworn in, for whom they did not vote, do not simply disagree with the results of a trustworthy system of checks and balances (which has served us for nearly 250 years), but instead choose to disregard their duty to desire and work for what is best for their country under any elected official.
Every American has studied our Civil War. We know the terrible cost that was paid for national sins. We know that the effects continue in many ways a century and a half later. And yet we so callously look upon the importance of unity and peace that we think that the violent elimination of a candidate or an elected official could be a good thing.
Are we not students of the Bible? Have we not read the woeful history, throughout the thousands of years leading up to Christ? Where has placing politics before God’s commandments ever gotten anyone?
There exists no political solution to a spiritual problem. Our spiritual problem in this country, in this world, is that we have stopped loving God with our whole heart and our whole mind and our whole soul, and stopped loving our neighbor as ourselves. We may disagree on what the foremost commandment from our Lord means on a civic level, but it is impossible to define it in a way that says that assassinations are good.
“Rejoice, our enemy has been shot!” Lord, have mercy.
Many people, including our Holy Father, Pope Francis, have suggested that World War III has begun, and that we are headed in a very bad direction. Our nation, gifted with an outrageous amount of every kind of blessing imaginable, has the corresponding responsibility to use those blessings for the good of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for every person in the world. We cannot shine with that God-given light if we employ the darkest political “techniques” used throughout history, condone their use, or even—God forbid—celebrate them.
There is one simple way back: repent. Stop trusting in man and in systems and place all your trust in God. Put first things first and then true patriotism, true piety towards your country can shine again in its proper place, serving peace and unity, while not being its source. Only the conversion of hearts will change what ails this country and this world. Only Jesus can heal our land.
Stop putting political machinations before fear of the Lord. Start praying for the Lord to reveal to you how you have strayed from the ideals of peace, justice, and unity. Then repent and serve the Lord by loving Him first, your neighbor as yourself, and trusting that all else will follow in His perfect order.
It is no coincidence that this assassination attempt took place on the anniversary of Our Lady’s appearance to the three Fatima children when she showed them the vision of hell. What is hell but the complete absence of love for God and neighbor, where the only glee is at the suffering of the other? That “hell” was revealed in the glee of our fellow Americans who could joke and laugh about the recent suffering and violence.
This republic is precious. If you don’t think so, visit Arlington, Gettysburg, or your local VA hospital. Remember that freedom isn’t free, and that we must be diligent in our stewardship of it, even when we disagree with who is in power or who is running for election.
Thanks be to God and his Blessed Mother that an inch came between us and another American tragedy on July 13, 2024. Thanks be to God that He allows this time of mercy to continue. But let’s not forget what Jesus said to St. Faustina in paragraph 1587 of her Diary:
In the Old Covenant I sent prophets wielding thunderbolts to My people. Today I am sending you with My mercy to the people of the whole world. I do not want to punish aching mankind, but I desire to heal it, pressing it to My Merciful Heart. I use punishment when they themselves force Me to do so; My hand is reluctant to take hold of the sword of justice. Before the Day of Justice I am sending the Day of Mercy.
We are still in the Day of Mercy. But we know that it will not last forever. Is our behavior as a nation, both privately and civically, hastening the Day of Justice or elongating the Day of Mercy? Live mercy. Spread mercy. Reject violence and division. Be a steward of this great republic not a person who is taking a hammer to it.
The Holy Spirit has given us this gift of piety for our country known as patriotism. As with all His gifts, we need to respond to His grace and exercise the gift. In this challenging chapter of American life, let us make it a priority to live true patriotism by being merciful, God-fearing, God-loving, God-and-neighbor-serving Catholics. Let us not sink to the level of degradation and division that so many unfortunately have. And most of all, let us pray.
Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. You have given us an abundant land and home to be free and to live at peace. We have turned each to our own devices. We have forgotten sacrifice and our neighbor. Help us to return to you and the peace, justice, and unity that you have for us if we but live rightly. Help us to repent and live anew. Blessed Mother, wrap us in your mantle of love and teach us true patriotism at your knee. Bless our nation. Heal our souls. Amen.
Photo by Samuel Schneider on Unsplash
