Happy 4th of July! As you get ready to grill out and enjoy fireworks, John Morales on Morning Air is serving up a super timely conversation with Catholic writer/speaker Laura DeMaria. 🔥

 

 

Wait… Is Patriotism Catholic? 🗽

 

Yes!  Laura notes that the Catechism says loving and serving your country is part of the virtue of charity... aka LOVE. ❤️

 

📖 "The love and service of one's country follow from the duty of gratitude and belong to the order of charity." -CCC 2239

 

That means loving your country is legitimate when it's in the right order:


👉 God first, then family, then country... not the other way around. It's not making a golden calf out of the Constitution. 🐄📜

 

 

🧭 Real Patriotism ≠ Idol Worship

 

Laura says there's always a temptation to go overboard with nationalism, but the Church gives us balance. 🙏 Loving your country doesn't have to mean ignoring its flaws or pretending it's perfect; it means recognizing God gave you this place as a gift. Your love should come from gratitude, not blind pride.

 

Think of it like this: loving America should be filial, like the love you have for your parents. It's rooted in relationship and responsibility.

 

 

🙏 Want to Be a Patriot? Start with Prayer.

 

Seriously. Laura explains that prayer is the most basic and powerful act of patriotism. It’s not just lighting sparklers and belting Lee Greenwood (though you can totally still do that). 🎆🎤

 

Pray for:

 

-Our country,

 

-Our leaders (yes, even the ones you disagree with)

 

-Our laws and culture

 

-Our divisions and healing

 

Even St. Paul backed this up: 📜 “I urge… prayers be made for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions…” -1 Timothy 2:1-2

 

That's Holy Spirit-approved life guidance. ✝️🔥

 

 

Freedom = Truth. Truth = Jesus.

 

Laura also hits on a big one: the Catholic view of freedom. It’s not “do whatever I want.”


Real freedom is rooted in truth, and truth has a name: Jesus. 🙌

 

Without Him, “freedom” becomes chaos.


➡️ Identity confusion


➡️ Subjective morality


➡️ And a whole lot of unhappy people trying to “live their truth” without THE Truth

 

 

So… How Should a Catholic Celebrate the 4th?

 

Glad you asked. Laura keeps it simple and holy:

 

-Start with a family prayer: Thank God for the blessings and responsibilities of living in this country.

 

-Celebrate with joy and reverence

 

-Let your fireworks be matched with faith

 

Oh, and John Adams (yes, that founding father) said Independence Day should be marked by “solemn acts of devotion to Almighty God.”


Translation: pray before you have a party. God > grill. 🔥🌭🙏

 

 

✅ Patriotism is Catholic, but it's a virtue when rightly ordered


✅ God comes first... country flows from gratitude to Him

 

✅ Pray for your country. 


✅ True freedom = living in God’s truth, not personal opinion


✅ Celebrate the 4th with both joy and humility

 

 

The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.

Happy 4th of July! As you get ready to grill out and enjoy fireworks, John Morales on&nbsp;Morning Air is serving up a super timely conversation with Catholic writer/speaker Laura DeMaria. 🔥
&nbsp;
<hr data-start="425" data-end="428">
&nbsp;
Wait&hellip; Is Patriotism&nbsp;Catholic? 🗽
&nbsp;
Yes!&nbsp; Laura notes that the&nbsp;Catechism says loving and serving your country is part of the virtue of charity... aka LOVE. ❤️
&nbsp;
📖 "The love and service of one's country follow from the duty of gratitude and belong to the order of charity." -CCC 2239
&nbsp;
That means loving your country is legitimate when it's in the right order:
 👉 God first, then family, then country... not the other way around. It's not making a golden calf out of the Constitution. 🐄📜
&nbsp;
<hr data-start="1030" data-end="1033">
&nbsp;
🧭 Real Patriotism &ne; Idol Worship
&nbsp;
Laura says there's always a temptation to go overboard with nationalism, but the Church gives us balance. 🙏 Loving your country doesn't have to mean ignoring its flaws or pretending it's perfect; it means recognizing&nbsp;God gave you this place as a gift.&nbsp;Your love should come from gratitude, not blind pride.
&nbsp;
Think of it like this: loving America should be filial, like the love you have for your parents. It's rooted in relationship and responsibility.
&nbsp;
<hr data-start="1566" data-end="1569">
&nbsp;
🙏 Want to Be a Patriot? Start with Prayer.
&nbsp;
Seriously. Laura explains that prayer is the most basic and powerful act of patriotism. It&rsquo;s not just lighting sparklers and belting Lee Greenwood (though you can totally still do that). 🎆🎤
&nbsp;
Pray for:
&nbsp;
-Our country,
&nbsp;
-Our leaders (yes, even the ones you disagree with)
&nbsp;
-Our laws and culture
&nbsp;
-Our divisions and healing
&nbsp;
Even St. Paul backed this up:&nbsp;📜&nbsp;&ldquo;I urge&hellip; prayers be made for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions&hellip;&rdquo; -1 Timothy 2:1-2
&nbsp;
That's Holy Spirit-approved life guidance. ✝️🔥
&nbsp;
<hr data-start="2224" data-end="2227">
&nbsp;
Freedom = Truth. Truth = Jesus.
&nbsp;
Laura also hits on a big one: the Catholic view of freedom. It&rsquo;s not &ldquo;do whatever I want.&rdquo;
 Real freedom is rooted in truth, and truth has a name: Jesus. 🙌
&nbsp;
Without Him, &ldquo;freedom&rdquo; becomes chaos.
 ➡️ Identity confusion
 ➡️ Subjective morality
 ➡️ And a whole lot of unhappy people trying to &ldquo;live their truth&rdquo; without THE Truth
&nbsp;
<hr data-start="2633" data-end="2636">
&nbsp;
So&hellip; How Should a Catholic Celebrate the 4th?
&nbsp;
Glad you asked. Laura keeps it simple and holy:
&nbsp;
-Start with a family prayer: Thank God for the blessings and responsibilities of living in this country.
&nbsp;
-Celebrate with joy and reverence
&nbsp;
-Let your fireworks be matched with faith
&nbsp;
Oh, and John Adams (yes, that founding father) said Independence Day should be marked by &ldquo;solemn acts of devotion to Almighty God.&rdquo;
 Translation: pray before you have a party. God &gt; grill. 🔥🌭🙏
&nbsp;
<hr data-start="3144" data-end="3147">
&nbsp;
✅ Patriotism is Catholic, but it's a virtue when rightly ordered
 ✅ God comes first... country flows from gratitude to Him
&nbsp;
✅ Pray for your country.&nbsp;
 ✅ True freedom = living in God&rsquo;s truth, not personal opinion
 ✅ Celebrate the 4th with both joy and humility
&nbsp;
<hr data-start="3510" data-end="3513">
&nbsp;
The&nbsp;best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It&rsquo;s free and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out <a href="https://relevantradio.com/listen/get-the-app/">here</a>.

Life can get busy, and it's easy to miss out on the captivating moments from your favorite Relevant Radio shows. But now, we've got you covered! "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" brings you the crème de la crème of Relevant Radio's programming. We carefully curate and compile the most engaging and relevant content from the past week, just for you! Get ready to catch up on faith, culture, current events, and personal growth, all in one convenient and easily accessible podcast. It's like having a front-row seat to the most compelling moments from Relevant Radio's diverse range of shows. So, whether you're an active Relevant Radio listener or new to our programming, "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" is your passport to a world of knowledge, growth, and inspiration.

Life can get busy, and it's easy to miss out on the captivating moments from your favorite Relevant Radio shows. But now, we've got you covered! "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" brings you the crème de la crème of Relevant Radio's programming. We carefully curate and compile the most engaging and relevant content from the past week, just for you! Get ready to catch up on faith, culture, current events, and personal growth, all in one convenient and easily accessible podcast. It's like having a front-row seat to the most compelling moments from Relevant Radio's diverse range of shows. So, whether you're an active Relevant Radio listener or new to our programming, "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" is your passport to a world of knowledge, growth, and inspiration.

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