06/14/2026
Flag Day is a celebration of the American flag that occurs each year on the anniversary of the flag’s official adoption, June 14.
Part of an article by Ex Corde, "𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐒: 𝐖𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐏𝐄𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐅𝐋𝐀𝐆 𝐃𝐀𝐘" written by Tom Hoopes, tells us "displaying flags in Catholic churches became popular in America when churches wanted to honor those who were serving during World War II. “At that time, many bishops and pastors provided a book of remembrance near the American flag, requesting prayers for loved ones,” said the bishops.
That gets at the real reason we love and honor the flag.
We know that America is imperfect, and always has been. We love the flag because it represents not the imperfect lived reality of the nation but the high ideals of a country built on natural law — and the people who lived and died to perfect it the way it is lived.
And despite shortcomings, we have another reason to celebrate in America. “One must pay tribute to those nations whose systems permit the largest possible number of the citizens to take part in public life in a climate of genuine freedom,” says the Catechism. Isn’t that a description of America?
Favorite church hymns express the right kind of patriotism, “Faith of Our Fathers” was written to celebrate the British martyrs who died at the hand of their own government, but it is as stirringly patriotic as St. Thomas More, who was “𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠’𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐆𝐨𝐝’𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭.”
“God of Our Fathers” is an American hymn with an oblique reference to the flag (“the starry band”) that the U.S. bishops have used during the fortnight for Freedom.
Last, the hymn “Immaculate Mary” prays “Bless, dearest Lady, the land of our birth.”
Think of that prayer when you see an American flag. Both mean the same thing."
