Dear Folks,

A quick word, as I’m currently in Scotland to celebrate a wedding at St. Andrews. And yes—like anyone whowatched TV in the ’70s—I’ll be making a trip to Loch Ness to see if I can catch a glimpse of Nessie!

I’m typing this late at night, with the Loch Ness excursion planned for tomorrow. It’s a beautiful country, and I’ve seen some impressive castle ruins.

This coming weekend is the Fourth of July. I think this was always one of my favorite days of the year as a child—fireworks, Holy Mass, popsicles, and picnics! So much celebration.

Patriotism is not blind nationalism, but a form of love rooted in justice and charity. The Catechism addresses this as a specific expression of the Fourth Commandment: “Honor your father and your mother.”

It teaches, “The love and service of one’s country follow from the duty of gratitude and belong to the order of charity. ” —CCC 2239

I always appreciate that when we sing a patriotic song at the end of Mass, so many folks stay through the last verse! It sometimes means I’m out front waiting a bit for the post-Mass greetings—but it’s worth the wait!

God bless America—my home, sweet home!

pax,

Father John Mosimann