I came across a sentence in a mag recently that stunned me. The author is a highly regarded theologian of the Orthodox Church and so his words were sure to make me notice his words all the more. In a passing remark that opened his article, he said that the government of the United States, as is true of all other governments, will surely pass away some day. That hit me hard. For some reason, perhaps on account of a strong patriotism infused in me from my youth, I never entertained the thought that the USA might ever not exist. The American Experiment, as it has been called, has been a successful political enterprise with such a long history that I had thought it pretty well imperishable, something akin to the Catholic Church’s charism of indefectibility (meaning that the Church, as promised by her Founder, can never be annihilated). Might there come a day when the United States of America will be a thing of the past? No. I could not accept that. Even though I know that all things in this world must end, yet I protested that this should befall my country before the end of time itself!

This negative reflex of mine, this shock to my patriotic sensitivity upon reading that statement, is something to meditate upon further. Are we so far gone? And why am I so sure that America is imperishable?

There are at least some signs that we may indeed be headed towards our end. Take, for example, our low birth rate. Thanks to abortion, contraception and sterilization we are not reproducing ourselves in sufficient numbers to sustain our population and thus our identity in this land. The economic picture is dire (the national debt is now reported as some 115 trillion, a sum I am assured cannot be repaid, to say nothing of the growing crisis caused by fewer and fewer jobs, foreign imports and outsourced industry and technology). Then there is the progressive dissolution of the traditional family structure (high divorce rate, single parent children, gay unions). I should not fail to note also the erosion of practical religion, meaning here ‘church-going.’ I need not catalogue more reasons to convince you that our country is headed in a downward spin towards its doom. Is it reversible?

Sometimes I ask myself whether I should continue the practice of the public recitation of the rosary after our Masses for God’s “mercy on our country” (as I frequently introduce it). I began that practice as soon as I had heard that BO was running for President of the US. I was sure that with him we were headed for moral trouble. Since his election I have continued with the rosary,  hoping that Our Lady will make good use of it to help our poor USA. Does our Grotto rosary make a difference?

I wonder what effect such a small contribution of prayer could have against the looming,  portending evils that we must surely face as a consequence of our misdeeds. I know we’re not supposed to give up our prayers. We’re supposed to remain steadfast. Trusting in God means persisting in doing what is good no matter how grim the appearance of things. I know we need to be trustful. Perhaps, if it please heaven, the small donation of our daily rosaries may win the Lord’s mercy and we may be spared from ruination. And so I will continue to fight rather than quit. Are you with me?

These reflections are offered on a holiday weekend. Labor Day is supposed to celebrate the success of our country’s achievement in being formed of a people who work to support themselves effectively and so contribute to the strength of their nation. A lot of jobless people will be observing the holiday this year. Perhaps we would do well to reflect on what may be the reasons for that. Without good spiritual health we have nothing to celebrate.

We will continue then to pray with hope that the Holy Virgin will be pleased with our humble rosary efforts to obtain through Her from God the remedies for our many troubles.

Fr Perrone