This coming Wednesday we celebrate the Fourth of July, Independence Day.  On this day, we call to mind the birth of our nation. We have also recently completed “Religious Freedom Week” sponsored by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.  As Catholics, we are called to truly cherish in a very special way the many freedoms we enjoy in this country, freedoms not available to many people in other parts of the world.  Our bishops have called on us to reaffirm our commitment to appreciate and guard our freedoms, especially our right to religious liberty.  We are reminded that they should never be taken for granted.  

The following “INDEPENDENCE DAY PRAYER” taken from the publication outlet, “Traditional and Contemporary Prayers”, reflects the significance of these freedoms as we affirm Our Lord as the foundation of our freedoms:

LORD, WE STAND TODAY AS OUR FOREFATHERS HAVE STOOD BEFORE YOU IN TIMES GONE BY, CELEBRATING OUR HISTORY AND REVELLING IN ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT OUR COUNTRY HAS ACHIEVED.

ON THIS DAY WE REJOICE IN THE FAVOR YOU HAVE GENEROUSLY GIVEN US. WE THANK YOU FOR THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY, FOR THIS GENERATION AND FOR THE GENERATIONS TO COME.  WE THANK YOU FOR OUR INDEPENDENCE, PEACE AND FOR ALL THOSE WHO HAVE BRAVELY GIVEN THEIR LIVES IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM AND JUSTICE. WE THANK YOU THAT YOUR GRACIOUS AND PROVIDENT HAND HAS GIVEN US SO MUCH.

YET AS A NATION AND PEOPLE WE HAVE NOT ALWAYS CHOSEN THE RIGHT WAY. WE ASK YOU TO FORGIVE US FOR THOSE TIMES.  ON THIS DAY WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO WHOLEHEARTEDLY HONORING AND SERVING YOU.  WITH EVERYTHING THAT WE ARE, WE LAY OUR LIVES BEFORE YOU.

MAKE US A GENEROUS PEOPLE, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE SET ASIDE TO LOVE YOU FOREVER, FOR THE SAKE OF THE LAND OF THE BRAVE AND FREE, AND THE PEOPLES AND NATIONS OF THIS WORLD.

TODAY, WE DO NOT PRESUME YOUR GRACE FOR OUR COUNTRY. OUR LAND IS IN NEED OF YOU.  OUR PEOPLES ARE IN NEED OF YOU. OUR INDUSTRY AND BUSINESS IS IN NEED OF YOU.  MAY WE LOOK ONLY TO YOU THIS INDEPENDENCE DAY, DEPENDENT ON YOU.

PLEASE COME NOW BY YOUR GLORIOUS HOLY SPIRIT, BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO THE SINEWS ON THIS NATION.   MAY JUSTICE FLOW LIKE RIVERS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS LIKE A NEVER FAILING STREAM, UNTIL THE WHOLE OF OUR COUNTRY IS COVERED WITH YOUR GLORY, AS THE WATERS COVER THE SEA.

WE ASK ALL THIS IN THE WONDERFUL NAME OF JESUS, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, ONE GOD, NOW AND FOR ALL ETERNITY. AMEN.