This can be a frustrating and anxious time for Christians in America. The final version of the HHS mandate was issued on Friday. The Supreme Court overturned DOMA and refused to rule on California’s Proposition 8. Here in Minnesota, wedding vendors are starting to advertise to same-sex couples as the date for the legalization of same-sex “marriage” approaches.
Last year, I prayed and fasted and wrote letters to the editor supporting a marriage amendment. I voted for pro-family candidates. I have discussed these issues on others’ blogs and on Facebook. It seems to have made no difference. I sometimes feel helpless.
There is one thing we can all do to celebrate this Independence Day, one thing that will make an eternal difference for true freedom. We can give ourselves completely to God.
We have had it easy in the USA for a long time. That era is past. We can cave, we can cry in self-pity, or we can change the world.
America doesn’t need more politicians. America doesn’t need more letters to the editor. America doesn’t need more parades or blog posts or debates.
America needs saints.
Our opponents don’t believe us when we say our stance for true marriage is based on love. They reject reason. They reject natural law. They reject the consensus of history. They reject Divine Law. It’s impossible to argue with people like that. We have no common ground.
I am not saying that if you have been working to publicly change people’s hearts and minds, you should stop. But I am saying that it’s not enough. On its own, it won’t work. We need something more radical.
We need a revolution. But this time, we need a revolution of hearts. We need people who are willing to give their lives to save this country–or, if they can’t save America, at least save individual Americans.
America needs saints.
I don’t know what the long-term future will bring. It will surely be difficult. There will be persecution. There may be martyrs. Are you willing to be one, if that’s what it takes?
When our descendants look back at the 21st century, let us leave them something to envy. May they wish they could have been here. May they call this the Great Age of American Saints.
Connie Rossini
By the way, if you are new to my blog, make sure you subscribe to get your free e-book, Five Lessons from the Carmelite Saints That Will Change Your Life. Or, if your prefer, you can buy it for $.99 for your Nook or Kindle. If you have subscribed through your WordPress dashboard and would like a pdf version, email me at crossini4774 at comcast dot net.
Contemplative Homeschool 
Today I believe people benefit more by hearing me speak the Word of God than by gazing upon my tombstone. God bless!
It took me a while to get that one. Yeah, if you’re already in Heaven, words usually speak louder than actions–unless you’re St. Therese, literally showering roses.
O wow. Your last paragraph has literally brought me to tears. “May they wish they could have been here.” How easy it is to read about martyrs and romanticize their circumstances. May this post encourage us to realize the grace and call of the here and now.
Yes, I read on Leila Miller’s blog the other day that we were made to live in this time. It’s hard to remember that. We were put in these circumstances to help us become saints! I’ve often romanticized the early years of the Church too. But I don’t really want persecution in the here and now. If this is to be an age of saints, WE must be the saints!
I have a question and maybe you can point me in the direction of an answer. I am a brand new Catholic convert from a non-denominational brand of Christianity. I’m a homeschooling mom of 3, if that helps understand my perspective. I’m curious to know how we learn when, if, and how to engage with those of massively opposing viewpoints on all these hot-button issues. Or to put it even more broadly, when to stand up and speak the truth and fight the battle, and when to slip quietly through the crowd because it’s not yet time. It’s obvious not all of us are meant to be politicians, bloggers, facebook and combox battlers, etc. But it’s hard to know, when a friend makes that pro-abortion facebook post for example, if you should point out the other side or just be quiet. When is it wise to be still and when is it fear of confrontation? Obviously fighting all battles is not possible. A mom should not neglect her kids to get into facebook battles she can’t finish when the attacks start coming. I know I’ve heard that just raising up the next generation and praying are important enough, but are they? I do not want to be ashamed of my faith, and I want my young boys to see that so they too will not be ashamed. But anyway, how do individuals go about learning how THEY are supposed to live out their faith and become the American saints you spoke of? If it’s too complicated to answer here, I understand, but if you have any direction to point me in or resources to look into, I’d appreciate it. Thanks!
Your vocation as wife and mother is no minor thing. That should always be your focus. Being faithful to that primary vocation is most likely the way God wills to sanctify you.
This is just my opinion, but I’d say it’s not necessary for you to speak out, unless all these conditions are met: someone brings up/argues in favor of the Culture of Death in your sons’ presence; your sons are old enough to understand what’s going on, and not to be harmed by any “adult” details that may come up in a conversation about it; you have the knowledge, the time, and the temper to present the truth well; either the original speaker or others present may be open enough to consider what you say. Don’t waste your time arguing with activists. A spiritual director once told me that if a person is most likely not open to the truth from what you know of him, it’s better to remain silent. Every time he hears the truth and rejects it, his culpability for sin increases. If any of these conditions aren’t met, I think you’re justified in graciously bowing out of the conversation.
As for Facebook, I linked to posts from others during our state marriage debate, because I know many people are ignorant of the harm same-sex “marriage” will cause. Some people who agreed “liked” the posts; everyone else was silent. Abortion is such an important issue, I personally wouldn’t let that one slip by on Facebook–but if you don’t feel up to the task of promoting life, you can always just post others’ links or get off Facebook altogether.
Pray about what God wants your focus of evangelization to be. For me, it’s spreading the message about holiness and prayer. I’m gradually trying to weed out most other internet activities, because I don’t have time for them and they’re distracting. If your kids are very young, it’s entirely legitimate for you to see them as your only mission field, especially when you’re homeschooling.
Thank you so much for taking the time for a thoughtful reply. It was quite helpful. I sometimes wonder if all the political “noise” and invitations to “battle”, while being on the one hand an opportunity to defend the faith, are on the other hand just that: noise that distracts us from seeking holiness. We are a military family–so I know an enemy often distracts with a loud show to the left, while sneaking in to destroy from the right. Why would this not apply to our spiritual battles as well?
As for Facebook personally, my husband and I share an account just to keep up with close friends and a few groups we are involved in. We have less than 30 “friends” and agreed to keep politics off our Facebook pages for the most part. We are both strongly anti-abortion so will occasionally link up to posts or support friends who are more vocal. I do have a couple very liberal friends on Facebook and one time I did try to clarify when one posted some mis-leading information about a subject I knew quite well. She took it well and we ended up agreeing to disagree, but some of her very liberal friends lined up to attack me and I just didn’t have the time or energy to dig for multiple references to counter every one of their counter-arguments, get into circular battles, etc. That was what really caused me to wonder how much, and how wise it is, to get involved in some e-arguments.
But back to your original post, one of the things I love about the Catholic faith is that it DOES have a variety of saints who give examples of many ways to live out the faith, from cloistered nuns to traveling orators. I think what you said about praying for how God wants US to do that in OUR time is right on. I will definitely work on that more and see where God wants me and my family to “shine our lights for Him” as I tell my young boys.
I don’t remember how I stumbled across your blog a few months ago, but I’m glad I did. Thanks for showing us that homeschool moms are allowed to be thoughtful and introspective!
Connie, this is an excellent article. Because of all the evil, not in spite of it, we may see some of the greatest saints in history emerge from this era. Yes, we need a “revolution of hearts”.
Thanks, Mary. I know we’re in this together!
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thank you for this call. My challenge is I really want to help in this fight to save our nation and do not know what to do. I have six children five of them are on there own now and our youngest is 16. I have been a stay at home mom and done some homeschooling. I started a food bank in our community and feel the Lord is calling me in another direction and working me out of the food bank. I want to become closer than ever to our Lord and bring others on the journey. I am looking into spiritual direction and need prayer. I have never been involved in politics as I feel really incapable of making a difference through that mode. One of the biggest struggles for me right now is I need to find a new spiritual director and the direction from God that he wants me to move in. Two more years and we will be empty nesters. How do I help save our country?
Big question. Maybe you could start by thinking about the saints you most admire. Why are you drawn to them? How did they serve God? Or think about the gifts God has given you. It was after writing letters to the editor that I felt God was calling me to do more with my writing and leave the rest to other people who have different talents. It helped crystallize the idea that I could be most effective doing what I was naturally good at. That really has given me focus and direction.