Today is July 4th, 2008
Friday of the Thirteenth Week of Ordinary Time
Today, in addition to being the 4th of July in America, is also the Feast Day of St. Elizabeth of Portugal. Let us in our celebrations today remember this great 14th century saint in our prayers. And as we celebrate freedom today, please read the quote to the right from our late Holy Father, Pope John Paul II. He very clearly defines true freedom, what it is and what it isn't. This nation, full of 'freedom,' is clearly lacking in a proper understanding of authentic freedom. For over two hundred years men and women have fought for our freedom, and thousands have died on battlefields across the world so that we, who follow them, can live free of oppression, tyranny and dictatorship. Today we honor these men and women and let it be our resolve today to live such that their sacrifice be not in vain. These men and women fought for the right to vote and speak without fear but I don't think they fought and died for abortion and pornography. They fought and died so that we can worship as we wish, but they did not die for a dictatorship of relativism. They died for the ideals for which this country was established, one country, under God, for liberty and justice for all.
There is much to desire about this country of ours, but there is more to appreciate. So let us today, more than anything, commit ourselves to prayer for America, that great beakon of hope for generations, that she will be such a sign. But most of all, let us pray today, in the words of the opening prayer at Mass today, that our heavenly Father will:
Open our hearts to the truth of his gospel,
that peace may rule in our hearts
and His justice guide our lives.
Amen.
Dave Palmer
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Deep in Scripture - Encore
