Homily for Independence Day, July 4

July 4, 2026

Homily in English

Two hundred and fifty years ago today, a group of men — imperfect, courageous, and God-fearing — put quill to parchment and signed their names to a document that changed the world.  They boldly declared that all men are created equal – that they are endowed by their Creator — not by government, not by circumstance, not by conquest — but by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.

They understood then something that a secular age, such as our own, desperately tries to forget: freedom is not the absence of God.  Rather, freedom is only possible because of God.

Today, as we gather in this holy church, in this city that bore witness to one of the bloodiest battles ever fought on American soil — a battle that determined whether this nation would remain united in brotherhood or fall fractured in divisiveness – we are invited to ask a question that goes deeper than fireworks and flags: What kind of freedom are we really celebrating today?

There’s a name that every American Catholic should know — and yet, so few do.  And that’s John Carroll.

John Carroll was the first Bishop of the United States.  He was born in 1735 in Upper Marlborough, Maryland, the third of seven children.  In our fledgling nation, Carroll was a vigorous defender of Catholic rights.  He advised the Vatican that the United States needed a diocesan bishop chosen by its own clergy.  The Vatican agreed.  And guess who was unanimously elected?  And in 1786, when Baltimore was named the first diocese of the United States, John Carroll became our first bishop.

On his mother's side of the family, John Carroll could actually trace his lineage back to the brother-in-law of Lord Baltimore, making him, in the truest sense, a Catholic "blueblood" of the new American experiment.  His cousin, Charles Carroll of Carrollton, on the other hand, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence — in fact, the only Catholic signer, and the last of those signers to die.  

But here’s what I find most remarkable about Bishop Carroll: he didn’t separate his Catholic faith from his American patriotism.  For him, they were inseparable.  He understood that a nation that places God at the center is not less free — it’s more free, because its freedom rests on a foundation that cannot be swept away by politics, power, or popular opinion.

And, here’s the paradox we recall today on this 250th anniversary of our nation: our Founding Fathers boldly declared independence from a human king, but they never dreamed of declaring independence from God.  In fact, because of our true dependence on God – not merely as Creator, but truly as Savior – we can experience real independence– that is freedom – from all that would drag us away from Him, and all that is good, beautiful, and true..  

For some, dependence on God could be viewed as a sort of weakness.  However, acknowledging the truth of where our rights come from – that is, beyond ourselves – empowers us to be not only grateful for them, but accountable for how we use them.  This, in fact, makes us truly free.  

In 1791, Bishop Carroll composed a prayer for the inauguration of the first President of the United States, George Washington.  It speaks to this very dependence on God.  I’d like to offer this very prayer now.  

We pray, O almighty and eternal God, who through Jesus Christ has revealed thy glory to all nations, to preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church, being spread through the whole world, may continue with unchanging faith in the confession of your name.

We pray Thee, who alone are good and holy, to endow with heavenly knowledge, sincere zeal and sanctity of life, our chief bishop, the pope, the vicar of Our Lord Jesus Christ, in the government of his Church; our own bishop, all other bishops, prelates and pastors of the Church; and especially those who are appointed to exercise among us the functions of the holy ministry, and conduct your people into the ways of salvation.

We pray O God of might, wisdom and justice, through whom authority is rightly administered, laws are enacted, and judgment decreed, assist with your Holy Spirit of counsel and fortitude the president of these United States, that his administration may be conducted in righteousness and be eminently useful to your people over whom he presides; by encouraging due respect for virtue and religion; by a faithful execution of the laws in justice and mercy; and by restraining vice and immorality.

Let the light of your divine wisdom direct the deliberations of Congress, and shine forth in all the proceedings and laws framed for our rule and government, so that they may tend to the preservation of peace, the promotion of national happiness, the increase of industry, sobriety and useful knowledge; and may perpetuate to us the blessing of equal liberty.

We pray for… the governor of this state, for the members of the assembly, for all judges, magistrates, and other officers who are appointed to guard our political welfare, that they may be enabled, by your powerful protection, to discharge the duties of their respective stations with honesty and ability.

We recommend likewise, to your unbounded mercy, all our brethren and fellow citizens throughout the United States, that they may be blessed in the knowledge and sanctified in the observance of your most holy law; that they may be preserved in union, and in that peace which the world cannot give; and after enjoying the blessings of this life, be admitted to those which are eternal.

Finally, we pray to you, O Lord of mercy, to remember the souls of your servants departed, who are gone before us with the sign of faith and repose in the sleep of peace; the souls of our parents, relatives and friends; of those who, when living, were members of this congregation, and particularly of such as are lately deceased; of all benefactors who, by their donations or legacies to this Church, witnessed their zeal for the decency of divine worship and proved their claim to our grateful and charitable remembrance. To these, O Lord, and to all that rest in Christ, grant, we beseech you, a place of refreshment, light and everlasting peace, through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.  Amen.

So today, let’s celebrate.  We’ll enjoy the fireworks.  We’ll eat the BBQ.  And we’ll give thanks for this improbable, beautiful, still-unfinished experiment in ordered liberty.  But let’s also not forget where freedom comes from… and who gives it… and the price paid for it – the blood of our faith-filled ancestors and the precious Blood of Jesus Christ.  May God bless America.