Happy Independence Day! We celebrate that day on which representatives from the 13 original colonies declared our independence from Great Britain. That day in 1776 came during the Revolutionary War which began in 1775 and ended at the Battle of Yorktown in 1781 (though it took 2 more years to for a treaty to come about). We look back to July 4, 1776 as the birthday of our nation.
Those men and women saw a people that could be unified under one vision – freedom based in Divine and Natural Law and in just man-made laws. The inalienable rights given to us by our Creator must be lived and this government would need to protect and give space for those rights to be lived and exercised. Our government and its people have never done this perfectly or even saintly in any part of our history. Our history is like the history of any human person with virtues and sins mixed together at every moment of its history. Yet, this is a nation and a vision that is worth celebrating because of its ideals and because it is ours! May we take good care of it and hand it on to the next generation in better condition. May God bless the United States of America!
Bishop’s Letter and Q and A
As an insert in the bulletin this week, I have provided a copy of the letter from Bishop Parkes in the July issue of the Southern Cross magazine and a Q and A sheet from the USCCB addressing a few questions folks may have about the new endeavor from the Bishops of the United States of America concerning the Church teaching on the Eucharist. The Eucharist is the Source and Summit of the Christian Life and our Bishops are developing a plan to bring this back to the center of who we are as Christian Community.
At St. James, I am pleased to see so many people coming back to mass and to see such great participation in the Lumen Christi Adoration Chapel! Even with these wonderful signs, it is good for us to examine ourselves about how we celebrate the sacred mystery of the Holy Mass, how we live the Eucharistic sacrifice in our lives by loving God and our neighbor, how we reverence the precious Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus at mass and throughout our day. My brothers and sisters in Christ, please take to heart these words of our Bishop and, as we celebrate the Eucharist under the guidance of our bishops, may we come to know and love our Lord in a deeper way.
What we believe and profess must correspond to how we live and carry ourselves at all times. Belief has consequences in our daily life! As believers, we seek each and every day to live our faith more and more authentically! Be assured of my prayers for each of you as we journey in faith together!
Happy Independence Day!
May the Lord bless each of you and your families!
~ Fr. Daniel Firmin