24 June 2012
St. Anthony, DSM
Today we celebrate the birthday of Saint John the Baptist. This day is picked symbolically to be six months before the birthday of Christ – since Elizabeth was in her sixth month. It is also shortly after the summer solstice – the first day of summer, when the sun reaches its furthest course north, and they days are at their longest. The sun now begins to diminish, looking towards the first day of winter, when we will be in high gear to welcome Christ. This diminishing of created light is analogous to what Saint John the Baptist said towards the end of his life, “[Christ] must increase; I must decrease.”
Let’s look at how the Baptist’s life ended. He knew his entire mission was to point the way to Christ – the true light coming into the world. John was a brilliantly shining lamp, but he knew that everything he received came from Christ, light and truth himself. So, when he fearlessly told King Herod moral truth - that it was not right that he should take his brother’s wife as his own – the King had John arrested, and eventually killed for his faith.
John died for Christ. John died for moral truth. John died for his faith. And, not even the coercive power of a king was able to change his heart to deny the truth.
Last Thursday began the Fortnight for Freedom – a two week campaign, lasting until the 4th of July, sponsored by the US Bishops to promote religious liberty. This campaign isn’t about political candidates or parties, but about the moral issues which have come front row and center before the Church’s conscience – most especially religious liberty. During these two weeks, the Church has us remember the many saints whose feasts are celebrated, who died for their faith at the hands of corrupt government – who died for religious freedom.
Last Friday we remembered St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More, two saints very near and dear to my heart. Both disapproved of King Henry VIII’s divorce and subsequent marriage, which had been done for political purposes and was condemned by the Pope. Both died for their faith in the Church and her teaching on marriage and family. Both died for their belief in the Church Christ founded, and not the one Henry created. Both died for their religious freedom. St. John Fisher, the only bishop with the courage to stand up to Henry, while many others simply tried to get along – until they even named the King the supreme head of the Church – a title reserved for Christ.
And, St. Thomas More, a lawyer; a high-ranking member of the King’s cabinet. Who, rather than affix his name to save his career, resigned his position as Chancellor of England. And yet, even leaving public life, the government of the King was still not pleased to leave him be. Eventually, Thomas’s family went into exile, and he was locked in the tower of London. Finally, false witnesses were brought in, and Thomas was executed – for his belief in marriage – for his faith – for religious freedom.
Pope John Paul II said to the UN in 1995: “The fundamental right to freedom of religion and freedom of conscience are the cornerstones of the structure of human rights and the foundation of every truly free society.” Here in America, we are – or maybe were – the brilliantly shining light of these rights. The first amendment – the first sentence of the first amendment of the bill of rights – says: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” It’s no accident that this was the first freedom guaranteed to every citizen of this country, for many came here fleeing religious persecution. This is why so many continued to come to this country – the Irish against the British, the Italians against Mussolini, the Vietnamese against Communism, etc. etc. – all for the hope of religious freedom.
In this context, our ancestors, fervent in their faith like St. John the Baptist, St. John Fisher, St. Thomas More, could live their faith freely. They could establish parishes, churches, schools, free public associations like the Knights of Columbus and the Altar & Rosary guilds, have processions like Corpus Christi; hospitals, orphanages, soup kitchens, and the like which serve “the least of these” at the very command of Christ – all these things which identify us as Catholic and are expressions of who we are. And today, all these institutions are in danger, as the government built on freedom seeks to dictate to us what our conscience should be, and suffocate the voice of the Gospel of Christ. I dare say, unlike St. John the Baptist, it is our government that has chosen to increase, and mandate that Christ decrease.
My dear brothers and sisters, these are not political arguments. Herod wasn’t a Democrat, nor was Henry a Republican. But, for all their worldly power, both were slaves to their times and their passions. And yet it was John the Baptist, John Fisher, and Thomas More who, though they were imprisoned and executed, were truly free to live – live for Christ in this world and in the eternal life to come.
And so, I don’t care if you’re Republican, Democrat, Socialist, Green, or Independent. We are Catholic, and we are called to religious freedom. And I don’t care if a reporter starts badmouthing me, or if some write-up slandering me finds its way into Cityview. I live for Christ, who loved me and gave himself up for me. And, we all have the obligation now to stand up for our faith and the freedom of Mother Church, lest she be suppressed in our midst.
For Freedom, Christ has set us Free!
Let’s look at how the Baptist’s life ended. He knew his entire mission was to point the way to Christ – the true light coming into the world. John was a brilliantly shining lamp, but he knew that everything he received came from Christ, light and truth himself. So, when he fearlessly told King Herod moral truth - that it was not right that he should take his brother’s wife as his own – the King had John arrested, and eventually killed for his faith.
John died for Christ. John died for moral truth. John died for his faith. And, not even the coercive power of a king was able to change his heart to deny the truth.
Last Thursday began the Fortnight for Freedom – a two week campaign, lasting until the 4th of July, sponsored by the US Bishops to promote religious liberty. This campaign isn’t about political candidates or parties, but about the moral issues which have come front row and center before the Church’s conscience – most especially religious liberty. During these two weeks, the Church has us remember the many saints whose feasts are celebrated, who died for their faith at the hands of corrupt government – who died for religious freedom.
Last Friday we remembered St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More, two saints very near and dear to my heart. Both disapproved of King Henry VIII’s divorce and subsequent marriage, which had been done for political purposes and was condemned by the Pope. Both died for their faith in the Church and her teaching on marriage and family. Both died for their belief in the Church Christ founded, and not the one Henry created. Both died for their religious freedom. St. John Fisher, the only bishop with the courage to stand up to Henry, while many others simply tried to get along – until they even named the King the supreme head of the Church – a title reserved for Christ.
And, St. Thomas More, a lawyer; a high-ranking member of the King’s cabinet. Who, rather than affix his name to save his career, resigned his position as Chancellor of England. And yet, even leaving public life, the government of the King was still not pleased to leave him be. Eventually, Thomas’s family went into exile, and he was locked in the tower of London. Finally, false witnesses were brought in, and Thomas was executed – for his belief in marriage – for his faith – for religious freedom.
Pope John Paul II said to the UN in 1995: “The fundamental right to freedom of religion and freedom of conscience are the cornerstones of the structure of human rights and the foundation of every truly free society.” Here in America, we are – or maybe were – the brilliantly shining light of these rights. The first amendment – the first sentence of the first amendment of the bill of rights – says: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” It’s no accident that this was the first freedom guaranteed to every citizen of this country, for many came here fleeing religious persecution. This is why so many continued to come to this country – the Irish against the British, the Italians against Mussolini, the Vietnamese against Communism, etc. etc. – all for the hope of religious freedom.
In this context, our ancestors, fervent in their faith like St. John the Baptist, St. John Fisher, St. Thomas More, could live their faith freely. They could establish parishes, churches, schools, free public associations like the Knights of Columbus and the Altar & Rosary guilds, have processions like Corpus Christi; hospitals, orphanages, soup kitchens, and the like which serve “the least of these” at the very command of Christ – all these things which identify us as Catholic and are expressions of who we are. And today, all these institutions are in danger, as the government built on freedom seeks to dictate to us what our conscience should be, and suffocate the voice of the Gospel of Christ. I dare say, unlike St. John the Baptist, it is our government that has chosen to increase, and mandate that Christ decrease.
My dear brothers and sisters, these are not political arguments. Herod wasn’t a Democrat, nor was Henry a Republican. But, for all their worldly power, both were slaves to their times and their passions. And yet it was John the Baptist, John Fisher, and Thomas More who, though they were imprisoned and executed, were truly free to live – live for Christ in this world and in the eternal life to come.
And so, I don’t care if you’re Republican, Democrat, Socialist, Green, or Independent. We are Catholic, and we are called to religious freedom. And I don’t care if a reporter starts badmouthing me, or if some write-up slandering me finds its way into Cityview. I live for Christ, who loved me and gave himself up for me. And, we all have the obligation now to stand up for our faith and the freedom of Mother Church, lest she be suppressed in our midst.
For Freedom, Christ has set us Free!
1 comment:
Fr. Dolan, thank you for standing up for Truth, Holy Mother Church, and our Catholic faith. Wow.
God has graced and blessed you with courage!
Praise be to God!
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