By John Rohlf, The Message assistant editor
Diocese of Evansville Bishop Joseph M. Siegel celebrated Mass July 4. The Mass was in honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States of America.
Bishop Siegel celebrated the Mass at St. Benedict Cathedral in Evansville. Diocesan priests who concelebrated the Mass were Father Alex Zenthoefer, diocesan Vicar General and rector of St. Benedict Cathedral; Father Dusty Burns, pastor of St. Clement Parish in Boonville; Father Ryan Hilderbrand, pastor of St. Philip Parish in Posey County and Father Tyler Underhill, parochial vicar of St. Benedict Cathedral. Transitional deacon Nathan Folz proclaimed the gospel.
During his homily, Bishop Siegel said Americans gathered July 4 to celebrate the 250th birthday of our nation with fireworks, parades and picnics. But as Catholics, they gathered first at the altar to recognize the gift of liberty and the many blessings they enjoy in the United States, remembering they are all from the Lord. We need to pause for a while in prayer to give thanks to the God on whom the Founding Fathers firmly relied, he said.
Bishop Siegel referenced Pope Leo XIV’s letter to the country for the celebration on July 4. In the letter, Bishop Siegel said, Pope Leo points to July 4, 1776, as a defining moment in our history, which gave an enduring voice to the foundational ideals of liberty, including religious liberty, equality under law, democratic self-government and justice for all. Pope Leo notes that this anniversary stands as an invitation not only to celebrate the nation’s remarkable journey, but also to reflect upon the responsibilities of the sons and daughters of this country to bear to one another and to the generations who will inherit the nation that is being shaped today.
Bishop Siegel said as followers of Christ and American citizens, our understanding of liberty, freedom and power must always be elevated by the light of the gospel. We must ask ourselves, Bishop Siegel said, what freedom means for us as Christians and Americans. In our civic life, independence all too often means the right to be left alone, or the right to pursue one’s own interest and the freedom to act autonomously. But in the kingdom of God, Bishop Siegel said, freedom is not the right to do whatever we want. It is the God-given power and responsibility to become who we were created to be. Christian freedom is the freedom to love without reservation, to give of ourselves and be bound together in Christ’s love. Through radical, humble service and love, citizens of God’s kingdom transform worldly independence into interdependence and solidarity.
Bishop Siegel said the ultimate test of our freedom is to choose mercy over vengeance, kindness over judgment and the freedom to bear one another’s burdens. As a nation, true patriotism and healthy civic life are strengthened when we promote respect for human life from conception to natural death, express compassion for the marginalized, show patience in our political discourse and display humility in recognizing our shared humanity.
Bishop Siegel said as Christ taught us, we must be a leaven for our society and our nation, leading by example in the ways of truth and justice. Then indeed our country might be a model for the world and truly live up to the image envisioned by those who founded the country to be a shining city on a hill.
As we all know, we are not there yet, Bishop Siegel said, but God has blessed us with the means to accomplish this goal if we accept the responsibility of helping to form and strengthen our national will and continue to make our founding principles a reality for all our people.
Bishop Siegel said as Catholics and Americans, we dare not take our freedom for granted if we want it to flourish and be able to pass it on to future generations as a birthright. As Pope Leo reminds us, we must be active and vigilant. We want the United States to fulfill the promise of 250 years ago to be one nation under God, with liberty and justice for all.
Bishop Siegel said through the intercession of Mary Immaculate, patroness of our country, may the Sacred Heart bless the United States, mend our every flaw and grant us peace.