Patriotism and Faith

Patriotism and Faith

When Father Lambert and I were first getting to know each other, I asked what he liked about being here in the United States. His first answer: he admires our patriotism! Our love of our country is admirable and virtuous, and we have many reasons to be proud of the many blessings, protections, and freedoms we enjoy in the U.S.A. We are also showing our love for our country when we challenge one another and our leaders to live
up to those high ideals, including respect for life, freedom of religion and of the press, and the rule of the law.  One of the reasons I love, "America the Beautiful" so much is that it includes both the blessings and (in verse 3) the constant need for improvement in how we live.  This is important for our country, and for how we live our faith in the community of the Church as well.
 

America The Beautiful

O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber
waves of grain, for purple mountain
majesties above the fruited plain!
America! America! God shed His grace
on thee, And crown thy good with
brotherhood from sea to shining sea.
O beautiful for pilgrim feet, whose
stern impassioned stress, a thoroughfare
for freedom beat across the wilderness!
America! America! God mend
thine every flaw. Confirm thy soul in
self control, thy liberty in law.
O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating
strife, who more than self their
country loved, and mercy more than
life! America! America! May God thy
gold refine, till all success be nobleness,
and every gain divine.
O beautiful for patriot dream that sees
beyond the years, thine alabaster cities
gleam, undimmed by human tears!
America! America! God shed His grace
of thee, and crown thy good with brotherhood
from sea to shining sea.