Trinity Height to host Patriotic Rosary on July 4

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
June 22, 2006

When people think of the Fourth of July, they usually equate it with celebrations consisting of picnics and fireworks. For the fourth consecutive year, Trinity Heights in Sioux City will host a Patriotic Rosary for people looking to mark this holiday in a prayerful way.

Larry Walsh, a member of the spiritual committee at Trinity Heights, noted that the rosary would be held at 7:30 p.m., July 4. It is open to people of all faiths. Past years have drawn a crowd of about 200 people.

"We will be praying the rosary, using the Sorrowful Mysteries to ask the intercession of our Blessed Mother to come upon this nation and change the hearts of the people that seem to have forgotten the origins of this nation and what we are truly about," said Walsh. "The nation has strayed so far from our connection with our creator over the last 230 years."

He pointed out that in documents from the nation's forefathers and in famous quotations of the country's early years there was a constant reference to God. Today, however, the use of the name of God has been greatly restricted in political discussions, public schools and many other venues of public discussion.

"The ones that established this nation felt that all of these things needed to be in the hands of the creator," said Walsh. "We need to be petitioning our creator for his continued blessings for this nation has been exceedingly blessed over these last 230 years."

During the rosary, the prayers will be dedicated to a particular element of the government. The 50 Hail Mary's will be dedicated to the 50 states as well as the people of those states.

"We will be praying for people on the national and local levels who regulate our lives, hoping they will do so under the guidance of our creator as did our forefathers," said Walsh.

He encouraged people to come out to pray before they go out to celebrate the holiday with fireworks.

While the suppression of God's name and guidance has gotten worse in recent years, it has been a struggle for many years now.

He quoted Abraham Lincoln who stated, "We've forgotten God. We've forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace - multiplied, enriched and strengthened us and we have vainly imagined in the deceitfulness of our hearts that all of these things were produced by some superior wisdom of our own."

Walsh said the Civil War had been a horrific purification process "because while we complain about the 2,500 who have died in Iraq - in that conflict there were 622,000 deaths between the north and south. It's stunning."

Between the decades of the rosary, statements and reflections from John Adams, General Robert E. Lee, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and others will serve as a reminder of the nation's blessings.

The Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree Garrigan Assembly will provide an honor guard for the occasion. They will also present a reading centered on the nation's flag.

"We will also sing songs and will say a prayer together for the healing of this nation," noted Walsh. "We are inviting all people to attend. You don't have to be Catholic to pray for a change in the direction of this nation."

Prayer will also be offered for peace in the city, nation and world.

A reception will follow the Patriotic Rosary.