One Nation Under God

Earlier this week, in the midst of freezing winds around the capital of the free world, second-term President Donald J. Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States, along with Catholic convert Vice President JD Vance. After an intense election cycle punctuated by an assassination attempt on President Trump's life, the traditional changing of the guard was met with joy by some and bitterness by others. It is possible that few other periods of American history have experienced such diametrically opposing views about the nature of what American life should be, without actually coming to war over the differences. Long since divided into two major political parties, at some point in our nation's evolution, those parties have seemingly become representative of ways of life: are we still fundamentally a religiously-based society with traditional Christian values governing our national heartbeat, or have we become completely secularized to ensure that all life choices are included? It is perhaps a difficult dichotomy and an unfair, forced-binary choice; yet, many see it that way.

Watching the swearing in ceremony of our new President and Vice President brought me great hope. As I explained the traditions of our national inauguration to my son as part of our homeschool day, he smiled at the culmination of the political process we've been following as a family. This is the President who tweeted the St. Michael prayer; who recognized the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Mother; and whose wife Melania is Catholic. This is the Vice President who converted to the Faith and speaks about a deep commitment to striving toward living it fully, with his wife and young children joining him onstage. Listening to the President's inauguration speech, my son recognized Trump's inclusion of God in his plans for the country. He smiled at the new President's words and whispered, "Mom! This is good!"

I share my son's enthusiasm and will make it a point to keep our new national leadership in our daily prayers. While we citizens have imparted a great deal of faith in our government, the simple act of prayer is most certainly doing something in a compelling way. How often do we think about the necessity of our prayers when it comes to our political leaders? We know that the movements of government, and the ripple effects of political choices that affect the health and welfare of not just our own citizens in America, but our neighbors near and far, are watched closely in heaven. Thinking of the Marian apparitions in particular, Our Lady of Fatima communicated her desire for us to pray and make sacrifices to bring about the conversion of Russia. If we were riveted to our livestream watching the Inauguration, think how much more closely the events of the day were being watched by Our Lord and Our Lady!

However hopeful I am about the potential for positive changes, I will be mindful of all those who are not celebrating the turning political tide. In my work as a psychologist, I hear from people from all walks of life, and have been hearing fear and pain from folks since the election results were finalized. Those who are liberal-leaning, or those who identify with what is termed the woke culture, are expressing anger and discontent at what they feel is a denial of their sense of self. The American landscape has been moving toward gender redefinition, secularization, and enshrinement of personal liberty as the norm; any changes to that are interpreted as personal threats that can undermine the stability of personal identity for many. While these ideologies aren't part of the Catholic faith, it's important to recognize the experiences and needs of those who don't (yet?) appreciate the fullness of the truth of who they are. Here, too, I see opportunities for prayer to bring about peace. I hope we are all good to one another. I hope for many gently-built bridges.

Let's embrace the next four years of change in American government as an opportunity for freedom of religion, recognition of truth, and greater experiences of beauty in our daily lives. If we encounter those in pain, let's choose opportunities to support others with prayer and compassion. May God bless our new leaders, all global citizens, and our world.