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Views from the Choir Loft

American License

Fr. David Friel · July 4, 2013

ODAY, WE AMERICANS CELEBRATE our independence as a sovereign nation—our freedom from British rule. So often in American society, we speak of “freedom” when we are really talking about “license.” The two things ought never to be conflated, though they frequently are.

When people talk about freedom, they often mean the ability to do whatever they want whenever they want. But that is not freedom; that is license. That is what so many adolescents want: to break free from the oppressive rule of their parents and society’s expectations. License goes hand-in-hand with immaturity.

So what is “freedom” actually? It’s not freedom from rules or from our parents or from King George III. Freedom is the ability to do the good—the unhindered ability to do that which will make us truly happy. Almighty God has given us freedom so that we might become happy—not in some passing, temporal way, but in a deep & abiding & eternal way.

Our Mother the Church has a duty to help us live our lives in such a way that we will be doing the will of God, and therefore have the chance to be truly blessed. Indeed, God has created us to be free—not free to do anything, but to do the good. Sin, on the other hand, is the ultimate state of bondage. It does not make us happy, but miserable; it does not set us free, but rather enslaves us. For these reasons, it is incumbent upon every Christian to reject sin not only in our personal lives, but also in the social order, motivated always by true love of neighbor.

As we celebrate the founding of our homeland, let us embrace the exhortation of St. Paul: “For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1).

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Fr. David Friel

Ordained in 2011, Father Friel served as Parochial Vicar at Saint Anselm Church in Northeast Philly before earning a doctorate in liturgical theology at The Catholic University of America. He presently serves as Vocation Director for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and teaches liturgy at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    Hymn by Cardinal Newman
    During the season of Septuagesima, we will be using this hymn by Cardinal Newman, which employs both Latin and English. (Readers probably know that Cardinal Newman was one of the world's experts when it comes to Lingua Latina.) The final verse contains a beautiful soprano descant. Father Louis Bouyer—famous theologian, close friend of Pope Paul VI, and architect of post-conciliar reforms—wrote thus vis-à-vis the elimination of Septuagesima: “I prefer to say nothing, or very little, about the new calendar, the handiwork of a trio of maniacs who suppressed (with no good reason) Septuagesima and the Octave of Pentecost and who scattered three quarters of the Saints higgledy-piddledy, all based on notions of their own devising!”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Introit • Candlemas (2 February)
    “Candlemas” • Our choir sang on February 2nd, and here's a live recording of the beautiful INTROIT: Suscépimus Deus. We had very little time to rehearse, but I think it has some very nice moments. I promise that by the 8th Sunday after Pentecost it will be perfect! (That Introit is repeated on the 8th Sunday after Pentecost.) We still need to improve, but we're definitely on the right track!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Simplified Antiphons • “Candlemas”
    Anyone who desires simplified antiphons (“psalm tone versions”) for 2 February, the Feast of the Purification—which is also known as “Candlemas” or the Feast of the Presentation—may freely download them. The texts of the antiphons are quite beautiful. From “Lumen Ad Revelatiónem Géntium” you can hear a live excerpt (Mp3). I'm not a fan of chant in octaves, but we had such limited time to rehearse, it seemed the best choice. After all, everyone should have an opportunity to learn “Lumen Ad Revelatiónem Géntium,” which summarizes Candlemas.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

It is frightful even to think there are children, victims of abortion, who will never see the light of day.

— Pope Francis (13 January 2014)

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