Happy 4th of July! As you get ready to grill out and enjoy fireworks, John Morales on Morning Air is serving up a super timely conversation with Catholic writer/speaker Laura DeMaria. 🔥
Wait… Is Patriotism Catholic? 🗽
Yes! Laura notes that the Catechism says loving and serving your country is part of the virtue of charity… aka love. ❤️
📖 “The love and service of one’s country follow from the duty of gratitude and belong to the order of charity.” -CCC 2239
That means loving your country is legitimate when it’s in the right order:
👉 God first, then family, then country… not the other way around. It’s not making a golden calf out of the Constitution. 🐄📜
🧭 Real Patriotism ≠ Idol Worship
Laura says there’s always a temptation to go overboard with nationalism, but the Church gives us balance. 🙏 Loving your country doesn’t have to mean ignoring its flaws or pretending it’s perfect; it means recognizing God gave you this place as a gift. Your love should come from gratitude, not blind pride.
Think of it like this: loving America should be filial, like the love you have for your parents. It’s rooted in relationship and responsibility.
🙏 Want to Be a Patriot? Start with Prayer.
Seriously. Laura explains that prayer is the most basic and powerful act of patriotism. It’s not just lighting sparklers and belting Lee Greenwood (though you can totally still do that). 🎆🎤
Pray for:
-Our country
-Our leaders (yes, even the ones you disagree with)
-Our laws and culture
-Our divisions and healing
Even St. Paul backed this up: 📜 “I urge… prayers be made for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions…” -1 Timothy 2:1-2
That’s Holy Spirit-approved life guidance. ✝️🔥
Freedom = Truth. Truth = Jesus.
Laura also hits on a big one: the Catholic view of freedom. It’s not “do whatever I want.”
Real freedom is rooted in truth, and truth has a name: Jesus. 🙌
Without Him, “freedom” becomes chaos.
➡️ Identity confusion
➡️ Subjective morality
➡️ And a whole lot of unhappy people trying to “live their truth” without THE Truth
So… How Should a Catholic Celebrate the 4th?
Glad you asked. Laura keeps it simple and holy:
-Start with a family prayer: Thank God for the blessings and responsibilities of living in this country.
-Celebrate with joy and reverence
-Let your fireworks be matched with faith
Oh, and John Adams (yes, that founding father) said Independence Day should be marked by “solemn acts of devotion to Almighty God.”
Translation: pray before you have a party. God > grill. 🔥🌭🙏
✅ Patriotism is Catholic, but it’s a virtue when rightly ordered
✅ God comes first… country flows from gratitude to Him
✅ Pray for your country.
✅ True freedom = living in God’s truth, not personal opinion
✅ Celebrate the 4th with both joy and humility
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