Dear Family of God,

Happy 250th birthday of our nation!

Do you know when and why we included “One nation under God” in our pledge of allegiance? In 1863, President Lincoln uses “under God” at the Gettysburg Address, “This nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom.”

In 1942 US Congress officially adopted the Pledge without “under God,” then in 1951 the Knights of Columbus begin the campaign to add “under God,” in order to highlight the profound difference between United States, whose political system is founded on the theistic proposition that all men are “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights,” and the atheistic premises of Soviet Marxism.

During the Flag Day of June 14, 1954, the words “under God” were added by the 83rd United States Congress and signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. This addition was made in response to the Communist threat of the times, created the 31-word pledge recited today.

The phrase “under God” answers one of the most important questions any community can ask: Where do our rights come from? From state or from God? If from God, then the state has no right to take rights from the people. This resonates with Catholic social teaching, particularly the principle of Human Dignity rooted in the Image of God (Gen. 1:27). The Catechism confirms that human dignity is not granted by governments—it is inherent to each person as a creature made in the image of God (CCC1700-1706).

The truth is that God has absolute power over us. To say, “one nation under God” is to confess, even in civic form, that no earthly power is absolute. Jesus teaches us in our readings this weekend to depend on the Father as He is dependent on Him. The wisdom of humility enables us to recognize the truth, especially on our strengths and limitations, and our dependence on the Lord. When we are humble, we can easily call upon him to come to our aid for truly “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” (Psalm 33:12)

May God bless all of us and may God bless the United States of America.

Yours in Christ through Mary Immaculate.

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