Why is the Blessed Virgin Mary, "Patroness of the United States?” [By: TRHPT]
Listen to the first 10-15 minutes of this fascinating 'Explaining the Faith' talk by Fr. Chris Alar, MIC & Director of the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy (July 2, 2022)
July 4, 2022 - Independence Day Post
~ Dedicated to all our friends in the USA
[Quick Notes]
In the first ten minutes of this video, Father Chris Alar, MIC1 offers his answers to the following questions during his First Saturday Devotion Marian Apparitions talk from July 2, 2022:
Why is "the Blessed Virgin Mary, Patroness of the United States?”
Did the Blessed Virgin Mary ever appear in the USA?
What is the significance of the year 1847?
Why is the “Declaration of Independence” such an important document for all global citizens and educators to understand and digest in our uncertain times?2 (See link here to reread and review the key arguments)3
What is the history behind the dates July 2 &/or July 4, etc.? and how are these dates tied to the Blessed Virgin Mary?
How did the American Bishops in 1847 inspire Pope Pius IX to craft the Constitution of Ineffabilis Deus of 8 December, 1854?4
How can we pray for the United States of America to maintain itself as a model of freedom in the free world? Why should this be a Rosary prayer intention today?5
Further Reading:
Filz, Gretchen. “America and the Immaculate Conception” Dec 07, 2016. SEE: https://www.catholiccompany.com/magazine/america-immaculate-conception-5944
If time, review — Saint Pope John Paul II
Need a Pilgrimage destination in Washington, D.C. this summer?
Consider making a pilgrimage to the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception:
VISIT: https://www.nationalshrine.org/
400 Michigan Avenue, Northeast Washington, D.C. 20017
202.526.8300
The Basilica offers Spanish Mass Livestream with the Choir of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
Lots to see / do in D.C. including the Smithsonian, the Mall, and so many historical sites.
EXTRA FOOTNOTES
Father Chris Alar, MIC will be visiting the Rosary Hour Podcast Digital Café. Send your questions for Father Chris to rosaryhour@protonmail.com.
SEE: https://declaration.fas.harvard.edu/resources/text - HARVARD
An classic political science / American political theory text to add to your summer reading pile:
“The Federalist Papers” (Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay) published by Signet Classics (Introduction: by Charles R. Kesler)
Download it for free as an HTML on Project Gutenberg e-books here: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1404.
Read the history behind this book as a “summer school / enrichment project” with your children / household here: https://www.history.com/topics/early-us/federalist-papers
Research the ‘art of debate’ https://www.csun.edu/~dgw61315/fallacies.html starting with a review of logical fallacies. (This is one of many websites one can access).
As an added summer learning activity for all at home educators / parents in the Domestic Church:
consider reviewing some quick notes from Professor Peterson with your family to practice the Art of Argument (at the heart of democracy and conflict / resolution — the art of peace).
watch the following video by BIG THINK exploring how to be “clearer about what you know”, how to listen, how to think, how to identify pros / cons arguments, etc.
how do we take apart an argument (propositions) and formulate a response (in the heat of conflict even)? and why is this an essential skill to have if we are to maintain a democratic conversation?
DEMOCRACY & SUMMER TRAVEL IDEA: ANCIENT GREECE
Those interested in forming an educational trip that centres around studying the origins of democracy in Athens, Greece (and you can find the spot where the apostles St. Paul / St. Peter stood) might visit Πνύκα or https://www.thisisathens.org/antiquities/pnyx — Pnyx Hill, Athens, 117 41 (The Acropolis / Koukaki). Lots of battles to be studied including the Battle of Thermopylae - https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Thermopylae-Greek-history-480-BC, etc.
If you are able to make this trip, the Pynx is a wonderful place to bring your students / family to debate and appreciate the art of argument! You can also visit Patmos, http://patmos-island.com/en/monasteries/info/apocalypse#.YsM1odPwP9E highly recommended by our Podcast friend Harry S. SEE: https://bibleatlas.org/patmos.htm
Please add to your Rosary Intention today the prayer for freedom in the United States on July 4, 2022:
ask that the spirit of God that inspired the constitution continue to be a model for understanding global democratic rights and freedoms as well as how we can parse the complexities of constitutional based governments and the media / organizations etc. within which they operate.
