Patriotism retired? Just more determined. Seen at church…

Patriotism is part of the virtue of piety which is part of the virtue of justice, rendering the honor of prompt service, for instance, to whom that prompt service is due. Is America suffering some difficulties right now? Sure, but that doesn’t mean you abandon your father. You help your father.

Patriotism comes from “pater”, “father”, in Latin. We hear, for instance, of the “fatherland”. We have the honor and prompt service due our parents, our families, our neighbors, our villages, towns, cities, counties, states, countries, for every tribe, tongue, people, nation.

Our “homeland”, our “fatherland” is, ultimately, please God our Heavenly Father, heaven.

Patriotism is a matter not only of justice whereby members of the family support the family, but is also a matter of love. God is love. Patriotism is to be structured by love. Jesus says that there is no greater love than to lay down your life for your friends. Can you witness to honesty and integrity, to God who is love by risking your very life? As Saint Thomas More said ever so very patriotically just seconds prior to getting his head chopped off under orders of King Henry VIII:

• “I am the king’s good servant, but God’s first.”

Let’s step this up for a moment: Are some apparent members of Holy Mother Church having some difficulties with faith, morality, liturgical discipline and what has turned into geopolitical sycophancy? Sure, but that doesn’t mean we blaspheme Holy Mother Church as the Immaculate Bride of Christ and then abandon the Church. It means we support Holy Mother Church the best we can in the circumstances we have by helping in whatever way we can that wayward individuals rejoice in the Living Truth. It’s like patriotism for the Church, because, remember, our fatherland is to be heaven.