The month of July captures not one but two celebrations of freedom. Every American is familiar with the first freedom which celebrates our independence. The second comes to us from the Church which dedicates the month of July to the Most Precious Blood of Christ. Jesus shed his blood on the cross to free us from the bondage of sin.

Temporal Freedom

July 4, 1776 is the day that 13 colonies declared our country free from British rule and the tyranny of King George III. The Declaration justified the independence of these United States by listing 27 grievances against the crown and declaring our right to be separate and free. The most memorable and best-known words in the English language are found in the second sentence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” This passage should be hailed as the moral standard we live by because so many shed their blood to pay the price for freedom.

How many died for our civilian liberty? At least 25,534 combatants lost their lives across this eight-year conflict with Great Britain. While the toll may not appear to be high, according to history professor, Michael Dickinson, in proportion to the population of the 13 colonies, that number would be the equivalent to losing 3.5 million soldiers in war today.

Spiritual Freedom

The Catholic Church has encouraged devotion to the precious blood of Jesus since the day Our Lord was crucified. The bible testifies to this in three different passages in the New Testament.

In his first letter, Saint John declares that the blood of Christ is our saving power: “If we say, ‘We have fellowship with him,’ while we continue to walk in darkness, we lie and do not act in truth. But if we walk in the light…then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:6-7).

In his letter to the Romans, Saint Paul assures us that we have been spared from God’s reproach through Christ’s blood: “How much more then, since we are now justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God” (Romans 5:9).

And in the letter to Hebrews we are guaranteed that Christ’s blood gives us safe passage into heaven because: “…through the blood of Jesus we have confidence of entrance into the sanctuary” (Hebrews 10:19).

July is the month to celebrate our temporal and spiritual freedoms which came at the high price of bloodshed by colonists nearly 250 years ago and by Christ some 2000 years ago.

God bless the Americans who protect us and the Lord who saves us.

Holy Homework
For the entire month of July let’s celebrate our gratitude for freedom from political corruption and spiritual evil by placing a picture of the American Flag and Papal Flag in our front window. Each time we pass by them, let’s offer a prayer of thanksgiving for the life-giving freedoms that were won for us at the high price of life-giving blood.

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