Gashwin has the burgeoning of good analysis going on, and I'm sure he'll have even more insightful things to say about the Pope's address at the White House. So I'll leave the analysis to him and others. But I especially appreciate the drawing of parallels between what the Holy Father said about the cost of Freedom and the latter playing of the Battle Hymn of Republic and the 5th verse:
In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,While God is marching on.
Speaking of the Pontiff's prose, he always manages to do it and
Rocco has pulled it off again with the text of the Papal Address.
Relevant text to the 5
th verse
aforementioned:
Freedom is not only a gift, but also a summons to personal responsibility. Americans know this from experience – almost every town in this country has its monuments honoring those who sacrificed their lives in defense of freedom, both at home and abroad. The preservation of freedom calls for the cultivation of virtue, self-discipline, sacrifice for the common good and a sense of responsibility towards the less fortunate. It also demands the courage to engage in civic life and to bring one’s deepest beliefs and values to reasoned public debate. In a word, freedom is ever new. It is a challenge held out to each generation, and it must constantly be won over for the cause of good (cf. Spe Salvi, 24).
How ever more appropriate a hymn, played today to perhaps remind America of her Manifest Destiny to be a beacon of freedom and light unto the World proclaiming God's "Truth, Justice, and Liberty for all." - Have I mentioned that despite being a bleeding heart liberal,
I really like this Pope.
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