Holy Days or Just Holidays?

No, I do not do much to celebrate any civic holidays. Yes, I appreciate the freedoms we still have in this nation (and those who fought for those freedoms) but that does not mean that if I choose not to have a barbecue that I am a traitor to the country. My calendar is the Church calendar, and the proper Holy Days always take precedent over any civic holiday.

This is also why I do not give much recognition to "other" civic days (even mother's and father's day). That is not to say that these days are necessarily bad, but that they cannot be more important to us than the liturgical observances of the Church. The Catholic Church has never given much weight to civic days because the things of Christ come before the things of the world.

One of the most grave consequences of civic days invading the Church is that it causes many Catholics to get out of balance. For example: which can you pinpoint on a calendar faster: President's Day or Christ the King? How about: Veterans' Day or St. George Day? Or, another question: which do you celebrate more: July 4th or Good Friday? Or, which would offend you more, if someone forgot Flag Day or if someone forgot All Saints Day? You will put more effort into what you care about more ("where your treasure is, there will your heart be also").

Please, no one go out and tell others "Fr. Seraiah said not to observe the traditions of our American forefathers". I do, however, want you to ask yourselves about whether you are balanced. Did you fix a special meal for a labor day picnic, but do nothing more for Sacred Heart than eat meat? If the celebrations of our nation matter at all (and they do matter) then the celebrations of the Church should far exceed them.

Here is a challenge: the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin (a Holy Day of Obligation) is coming up in a couple months (August 15th), and it lands on a Friday this year, so you can have meat. What an opportunity to have a barbecue! A party where you invite family and friends over and play games would be perfectly fitting. You even have more than enough time to plan for it. These, and the many other feasts of the Church calendar, are the things that we should be celebrating the most. They are not just for this life, but are a part of our eternal salvation.