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One of the basic tenets of humanity is our God-given free will; our freedom to choose right from wrong, virtue over sin; to choose obedience over disobedience. After the fall, this free will was tainted, but still exists. One of the basic tenets America was founded upon is freedom. Freedom from a king; freedom to live out religion without fear of persecution. Freedom to dream and work towards those dreams. Now the reality of this freedom is not as idyllic as it sounds due to human nature, but that is also the case with our fallen free will.
Freedom, as one of the defining elements of the human person, and the foundation of America, should still be celebrated even with the imperfections experienced by its lived reality. Pure freedom will not be found until Heaven, but elements can be seen here, right now. The freedom which every America experiences has been paid for with the blood of the troops who go forth and sacrifice their lives for the rest of us. Just as Jesus sacrificed His life to provide each of us with the opportunity to spend eternity with Him. In an effort to help inspire reflection, here are a few quotes about America and freedom.
“America, your deepest identity and truest character as a nation is revealed in the position you take towards the human person. The ultimate test of your greatness in the way you treat every human being, but especially the weakest and most defenseless ones.”
– St. John Paul II during his final address of his apostolic journey to the US and Canada, 1987
“America has always wanted to be a land of the free. Today, the challenge facing America is to find freedom’s fulfillment in the truth: the truth that is intrinsic to human life created in God’s image and likeness, the truth that is written on the human heart, the truth that can be known by reason and can therefore form the basis of a profound and universal dialogue among people about the direction they must give to their lives and their activities…Surely it is important for America that the moral truths which make freedom possible should be passed on to each new generation. Every generation of Americans needs to know that freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought.”
– St. John Paul II during his homily in Baltimore, 1995 apostolic trip to the US.
“Freedom does not mean that right to do whatever we please, but rather to do as we ought. That right to do whatever we please reduces freedom to a physical power and forgets that freedom is a moral power.”
– Ven. Fulton J. Sheen
“Freedom is not only a gift, but also a summons to personal responsibility. Americans know this from experience – almost every town in this country has its monuments honoring those who sacrificed their lives in defense of freedom, both at home and abroad. The preservation of freedom calls for the cultivation of virtue, self-discipline, sacrifice for the common good and a sense of responsibility towards the less fortunate. It also demands the courage to engage in civic life and to bring one’s deepest beliefs and values to reasoned public debate. In a word, freedom is ever new.”
– Pope Benedict during his White House address, 2008 apostolic journey to the US and UN Headquarters
The U.S. flag and a crucifix are pictured in an illustrative photograph. Pope Benedict XVI in a talk to a group of visiting U.S. bishops Jan. 19 echoed the bishops in their concerns over extreme secularism and threats to religious freedom in America. (CNS photo/Mike Crupi, Catholic Courier) (Jan. 19, 2012) See POPE-US Jan. 19, 2012.
“The more one does what is good, the freer one becomes. There is no true freedom except in the service of what is good and just.”
As we prepare the potato salad, burgers, and watermelon for our Fourth of July parties this weekend, may we find a second to stop and reflect on the true privilege of being an American, which is our freedom. May we never take for granted safely attending Mass and openly practicing our faith.
Featured Image: Pixabay. Free for commercial use. No attribution required.
Share This With Your Friends (and Your Enemies, too!)
