Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
July 5, 2025 Column Father De Celles
Independence. What an amazing thing the United States of American has been. God has truly blessed us right from the beginning, from defeating the world’s leading military, to giving us wise founding fathers to establish our inspired Constitution, to becoming perhaps the greatest nation in the history of the world.
As Catholic Americans we remember that our nation’s birth on July 4, 1776, was founded on principles laid out so beautifully in our Declaration of Independence, principles rooted in the fundamental Christian beliefs of our countrymen at that time, including: God, not man, establishes what is truly good and is the giver of basic rights, duties and freedoms and that there are some things that are just self-evidently true.
Read for yourself.
Declaration of Independence [in part]
“In CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.
“The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America,
“When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
“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. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…”
Of course, the Declaration was only the beginning. Twelve years later the founders gave us the Constitution, which was approved by the people only after it was amended to include a Bill of Rights, rights dear and cherished by all Americans, especially Catholics, for 2 centuries. And these began with this one:
First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
For those who foolishly think that the first right of freedom of religion was meant to keep religion out of the public square, and that God has no place in governing our country, we recall the words of the Father of our Nation.
George Washington’s First Inaugural Address, April 30, 1789 (excerpt):
…[I]t would be peculiarly improper to omit in this first official Act, my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the Universe, who presides in the Councils of Nations, and whose providential aids can supply every human defect, that his benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the People of the United States, a Government instituted by themselves for these essential purposes: and may enable every instrument employed in its administration to execute with success, the functions allotted to his charge.
In tendering this homage to the Great Author of every public and private good I assure myself that it expresses your sentiments not less than my own; nor those of my fellow-citizens at large, less than either. No People can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand, which conducts the Affairs of men more than the People of the United States.
“Every step, by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation, seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency. And in the important revolution just accomplished in the system of their United Government, the tranquil deliberations and voluntary consent of so many distinct communities, from which the event has resulted, cannot be compared with the means by which most Governments have been established, without some return of pious gratitude along with an humble anticipation of the future blessings which the past seem to presage.
“These reflections, arising out of the present crisis, have forced themselves too strongly on my mind to be suppressed. You will join with me I trust in thinking, that there are none under the influence of which, the proceedings of a new and free Government can more auspiciously commence….
“…Since we ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of Heaven, can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself has ordained: And since the preservation of the sacred fire of liberty, and the destiny of the Republican model of Government, are justly considered as deeply, perhaps as finally staked, on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people….
“I shall take my present leave; but not without resorting once more to the benign parent of the human race, in humble supplication that since he has been pleased to favor the American people, with opportunities for deliberating in perfect tranquility, and dispositions for deciding with unparalleled unanimity on a form of Government, for the security of their Union, and the advancement of their happiness; so his divine blessing may be equally conspicuous in the enlarged views, the temperate consultations, and the wise measures on which the success of this Government must depend.”
Some say, fine, but organized religions aren’t important, and should stay quiet about the governance of the Republic. “His Excellency” had this to say about that:
George Washington’s Farewell Address, September 17, 1796 (excerpt)
“Of all the dispositions and habits, which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men and Citizens. The mere Politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked, Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths, which are the instruments of investigation in Courts of Justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect, that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.
“It is substantially true, that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. The rule, indeed, extends with more or less force to every species of free government. Who, that is a sincere friend to it, can look with indifference upon attempts to shake the foundation of the fabric?
15 Years at St. Raymond’s. Today, July 6, I complete my 15th year at St. Raymonds, looking forward to many more. We have shared some interesting and challenging times together, and gone through a lot of changes. I thank you for allowing me to lead you as your spiritual father, and I thank God for this great gift. Honestly, the best 15 years of my life. Please continue to pray for me, as I for you.
Oremus pro invicem. Fr. De Celles