On the 250th Anniversary of America’s Declaration of Independence, we celebrate a nation like none other. A nation which was designed with specific provisions and limitations to establish and secure the freedoms of American Citizens. And yet one must ask, is America free? Are Americans free? Today on both sides of the aisle and in the heart of every American there is an aching concern that the state of our union, our home, is not well. 

Many times we have heard people shrug their shoulders lamenting “what can I do, I am just one person…”, “where to even begin?”, or “things are too far gone…” Perhaps we, too, have shared in these same frustrations. 

If only we realized that who we are and what we’re capable of is more powerful than we think. And that while “numbers” in any “movement” are certainly important; it is the brave and conscious actions of regular men and women, inclined to Truth and reliant on the Divine Will, that will inevitably, with Our Lady’s intercession, effectuate real and fruitful change. God gave each of us Free Will. That means it’s up to us, you and me, to choose and act on Divine Truth.

Think of those first 50 people who went to the Cova da Ira on June 13, 1917 for the second apparition at Fatima, thirty days after the Blessed Mother’s first appearance. Nobody told them to go. No newspapers were in attendance to document the events of that day. Those first 50 people who traveled to the Cova on June 13 were regular people, local farmers and workers who closed their shops, left their farms, and set aside their daily duties in search of truth. Those 50 people were the beginning of something great, an incredible witness of faith.

It was through the courage and sacrifices of the three children, Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco, that Our Lady of Fatima brought her message to the world. Those three children, though Divinely chosen to proclaim Our Lady of Fatima’s message, were not alone. The first 50 people, with hearts inclined toward truth, who traveled to the Cova on June 13 to “see for themselves” began to spread the word. They were not going to “change the world” by themselves, that was not their intention, they simply shared their witness with friends, family, and neighbors out of love of Truth and the numbers quickly multiplied.

One month later in July, the crowd at the Cova grew to 5,000; then 15,000 in August; 30,000 in September; and finally 70,000 gathered on October 13, 1917 to witness Our Lady and the Miracle of the Sun. Over one hundred years ago, before social media and the internet, those 50 regular people in search of truth grew to number the tens of thousands in just a few months. Today, millions travel the world to visit Fatima every year. The Blessed Mother is really that powerful. And so is the Truth.

Our Lady of Fatima made many requests, one of which was to pray the Rosary daily for peace in our homes, families, and nations. Just like those first 50, faithful souls at Fatima, we, too, have an obligation to be a witness to the truth and spread Our Lady’s message in our time. So, on the dawn of America’s 250th Anniversary, let us take courage in the words of St. Theresa of Avila, “Trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.”

Would you be willing to take up your Rosary and gather in your homes to pray each day for America? The Rosary is just twenty minutes of your day. As Sister Lucia dos Santos of Fatima said, “…there is no problem, no matter how difficult it is, whether temporal or above all spiritual, in the personal life of each one of us, of our families…that cannot be solved by the Rosary. There is no problem, I tell you, no matter how difficult it is, that we cannot resolve by the prayer of the Holy Rosary.” We must take confidence in this great prayer as a powerful weapon and protection against the devil and the evils of this world.

Would you be willing to take up your Constitution to secure the blessings of life and liberty for yourself and your children here in America? The Constitution is a powerful document, written by the people, for the people, which enshrines and secures our God-given Rights. Though the Constitutional design of the American Republic is buried beneath decades of corruption and perversion, the Constitution is still the Supreme Law of the Land in our nation.“The Constitution is a written instrument. As such, its meaning does not alter. That which it meant when it was adopted, it means now.” (S. Carolina v. U.S., 199 U.S. 437, 448 (1905))

Imagine if just 50 people from each state in our Union decided to take up their Rosary and their Constitution to join in this great effort to restore America as a nation under God and subject to the written rule of law, the Constitution. We may be a small number in the beginning, but conviction is powerful, the Truth is irresistible, and nothing is impossible with Our Lady’s intercession. But if we fail to act and continue to allow our Constitution and Freedoms to be trampled upon, America will be lost and we will be left with tyranny. 

We know our Faith is not a privilege but inherent to our existence like the air we breathe. If we, as Catholics in America value our Faith, we must begin to realize that the written rule of law in this country, the Constitution, though not a Catholic document, acknowledges Natural Law and secures our God-given Right to practice our incredible Faith, among many other things.

Why not be like those first 50 faithful souls who sought the Truth and trusted in Our Lady? We are all called to do our part, at this moment in time, to turn the tides. America is our home; we must take care of our home. On the dawn of America’s 250th Birthday, we have a responsibility to ourselves and our children to stand firmly in our Faith in order to secure the blessings of life and liberty here in America. God, in His Divine Providence, has given us exactly what we need to overcome any adversity. Truly, “If God be for us, who is against us?” (Romans 8:31) The first step begins with our individual commitment to the Truth and cooperation with the Divine Will.

Our beautiful country is entrusted to the patronage of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. Let us take confidence and refuge in her care and protection. Take up your Rosary and your Constitution to join in the Restoration of Constitutional Governance in America. Stand against the evils that befall our great nation, especially godlessness and lawlessness. And always remember, Our Lady promises protection to her dear ones.

“If you desire peace in your hearts, in your homes, and in your country, assemble each evening to recite the Rosary. Let not even one day pass without saying it, no matter how burdened you may be with many cares and labors.” -Pope Pius XI

Note to Reader:

If you don’t know how to pray the Rosary, don’t worry. It is easy to learn. The beauty and the power of this pray will assist you throughout your whole life.

If you are unfamiliar with the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution amended with the Bill of Rights, now is the time to familiarize yourself with the documents which secure your freedom.