September 4--St. Rose of Viterbo, Virgin

 

The Communion of Saint Rose of Viterbo, by Juan Antonio de Frías y Escalante

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Which comes first, freedom of speech or freedom of religion? In the United States Constitution, both are enjoined in the First Amendment, with freedom of religion taking first place and freedom of speech taking second. But Pope St. John Paul II wrote in his World Peace Day Message of 1988: “Religious freedom, an essential requirement of the dignity of every person, is a cornerstone of the structure of human rights, and for this reason an irreplaceable factor in the good of individuals and of the whole of society, as well as of the personal fulfillment of each individual. It follows that the freedom of individuals and communities to profess and practice their religion is an essential element for peaceful human coexistence. […] The civil and social right to religious freedom, inasmuch as it touches the most intimate sphere of the spirit, is a point of reference for the other fundamental rights and in some way becomes a measure of them.”

Why is this important for today’s saint? Because St. Rose of Viterbo spoke up to support the rights of religion in her day. She was born in Viterbo, Italy about 1234 and when she was seven preached against the local government when the excommunicated German emperor Frederick II, who was at war with the pope, was accepted by the people in opposition to the pope! St. Rose preached against this so heartily she and her parents were banished. She told her parents that God rewards those who are persecuted for justice’s sake. Later she prophesied the emperor was dying and all would be well. He died shortly after that. She advised: “Live so as not to fear death. For those who live well in the world, death is not frightening but sweet and precious.” She died in 1252, at 17.

April 11--St. Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr

 

"Religious freedom is the first freedom."  The first amendment to the constitution affirms freedom of religion, not just freedom of "worship", by stating that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."  Our saint would surely understand that!  St. Stanislaus became bishop of Kraków in 1072, a time when the Church was reforming itself, especially against the interference of the state.  It is always the Church's duty to speak out against evil and immorality.  St. Stanislas spoke out against the unjust wars and immorality of the Polish king, Boleslaus II.  King Boleslaus repented, but reversed himself and eventually St. Stanislas excommunicated him.  Boleslaus was infuriated enough to kill St. Stanislaus with his bare hands!

We are not in danger of martyrdom for following Church teaching today in America.  But there have been efforts at curtailing our freedoms little by little.  The current administration tried to define who was a minister in a religious school, but was defeated in a unanimous decision by the Supreme Court.  The administration also tried to force companies to go against their religious beliefs by requiring them to provide certain contraceptives in their health plans.  This attempt was also defeated in a 5-4 Supreme Court decision in 2014.  There are other situations that threaten our freedom.  As Catholics, we need to stand up against immorality and injustice wherever we see it.  Freedom is not free.  We must remain vigilant.  Freedom of religion is more than the right to worship.  It means the right to practice our faith in the public arena.  St. Stanislaus would approve.

June 22—Sts. John Fisher and Thomas More, Martyrs

Both St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More were martyred by King Henry VIII of England in the 16^th century because they refused to acknowledge Henry as the head of the Church of England.  Fisher previously had been Henry’s tutor, but supported Catherine of Aragon, the king’s wife when Henry appealed to Rome to annul their marriage.  Rome refused to annul the valid marriage and Henry asserted control over the Catholic Church in England, divorced Catherine, and married Anne Boleyn.  Fisher was beheaded for treason the day before the feast of the Vigil of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, whom he had invoked in his defense of Catherine.

More authored the book Utopia as well as being Speaker of the House of Commons.  More was elevated to the position of chancellor, which is like a prime minister.  However, he resigned due to the king’s declaration of supremacy over the Church in England in place of the pope.  When More was on the scaffold to be beheaded for treason, he said that he died “the king’s good servant, but God’s first.”

Both St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More chose to oppose the unjust encroachment of the state on the Church’s prerogatives and on Church doctrine.  Henry had his church declare his marriage to Catherine annulled.  Henry had Parliament declare him the Supreme Head of the Church in England.  Further, Henry closed many monasteries and confiscated their lands.  All these actions were possible because of a people who allowed the state to take over the Church.  They valued the “liberties" of the government over the liberties of faith and religion.

We live in a similar time.  But we have the opportunity to speak up.  June 21 is the first day of the Fortnight for Freedom called for by the U.S. bishops.  It is a two-week period of prayer and action to address many current challenges to religious liberty, including the August 1, 2013 deadline for religious organizations to comply with the HHS mandate, Supreme Court rulings that could attempt to redefine marriage in June, and religious liberty concerns in areas such as immigration and humanitarian services.  St. Thomas More is the patron of statesmen and politicians.  We petition his intercession for just laws and the guarantee of the first amendment right to freedom of religion.