This weekend our Diocese celebrates a great blessing from God: the ordination to the priesthood of Fr. Patrick Ryan. He is originally from St. John and Paul Parish in Coventry, Rhode Island. In addition, he will be assigned here at our parish as an Associate Pastor while I am away completing studies. Having a newly ordained priest here at our parish is a great blessing and honor (not to mention I am very excited to have the help!). The last time our parish had an associate priest was with Fr. Joe. I am grateful to Bishop Henning for entrusting us with Fr. Ryan. He will return to Rome to complete his studies later in the summer.
This week I have my first set of final examinations for my first three courses. So far, the classes have been going well. I have already learned a lot of material in four weeks. Hopefully, the exams go well. I return next weekend, July 1st and 2nd to help Fr. Ryan get situated and started in the parish.
We also celebrate the Fourth of July this week. On that day we remember the founding of our country. We also remember our duties and responsibilities to our nation. In the Declaration of Independence we read: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” In my classes on Canon Law, I am learning about Natural Law. Natural Law contains the foundational principles from which all law has its basis and its force. In this line from the Declaration we find a portion of Natural Law theory.
Founding our laws, ethics, and principles on the natural law ensures that we can flourish and find happiness. As social creatures, human beings find happiness and flourishment in community. As rational creatures with an immortal soul we find our ultimate happiness in God with the communion of saints in heaven. Not only is it a coherent understanding of life, it also provides the pathway to happiness. Natural law provides the principles that legislators use in order to ensure its citizens can accomplish these goals. You would be welcome to join me in learning more about our countries founding principles and learn about the natural law. The Thomistic Institute has a video on it on YouTube, and there are plenty of books to find (we read John Finnis, Natural Law and Natural Rights).