Pope John Paul II once said, “Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought.” As far as Catholic teachings go, freedom is a fundamental factor in all actions. A Catholic individual is obliged to not covet his neighbor’s belongings, yet he or she has the freedom to do so. The same individual is obliged to attend Church every Sunday and all Holy Days of Obligation, but still has the freedom to not do so. However, because we are created as free beings, we should not take advantage of this privilege and do as we desire. God wants us to do anything in our free-will to benefit Him here on earth. So what exactly is God asking us to do in our society? The answer is simple; we are called to be Catholic Citizens in our communities. We should follow the human laws laid down by the appropriate authorities, while still keeping in mind that God’s divine laws are unchanging and should be used as the foundations to lead the correct moral life. We should be the forces that influence members of each community to do what is appropriate in His eyes.

When God gave the Law of Moses, He was specific on what He wanted; asking us not to kill, to honor your mother and father, and respect the Sabbath day. When Jesus was here on earth, He summarized it into two simple laws, love one another as I have loved you, and love God above all other things. When you love God above all other things, it is hard to use His name in vain, worship anything or anyone else, and to not attend church. When you love your neighbor as much as you love yourself, you cannot kill them, commit adultery, or covet their belongings. Loving your neighbor does not just stop at obeying the commandments strictly; it is going beyond the commandments and loving your neighbor in even the smallest actions, like giving to those in need and comforting those who mourn. Personally, the smallest gestures are the ones that speak the loudest.

I try to be a Catholic Citizen everyday by helping my fellow brothers and sisters. Whether I know them or not, I try my best to comfort anyone I meet. For example, I take the responsibility to assure the simple needs of my friends, such as assistance on homework or expressing their feelings about some personal matter. As for strangers, my par-time job requires me to have a sense of sociability. I take that chance to show people that there are genuine hearts in modern society. I also enjoy helping organizations that support the poor and aid them in common needs, such as food and clothing.

Jesus said “blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Though, many people are afraid of being persecuted for their faith, I have had a different experience. Friends, strangers and coworkers have all appraised me for expressing my faith as a Catholic as if it were a casual topic in modern society. I take the “risk” of being persecuted only to express my love of God amongst anyone I encounter. Every day, I grow more proud to say that I serve God on the altar on Sundays or say that I am not able to attend an event due to Church. I have even noticed that many people are comforted when I say “I shall pray for you,” despite them not being Catholic or believers. Actually, I encourage many to join me in celebrating the Eucharist on the altar and join me in fasting on Fridays.

I tell you, do not be afraid to express yourself as a Catholic Citizen. Be proud because you can call yourself one. I have done many actions and changed many hearts thus far, always being a servant to God and a friend to any who come in my path. However, I know I have merely scratched the surface in what I can do for God here on earth. I have a long life ahead of me and I intend to serve as a Catholic Citizen every day of it.