A Reflection on Independence, Heritage, and Hope

Trish Gathers and Mother Mary Rose, Prioress General of the Carmelite Sisters of the Aged and Infirm.

As we approach Independence Day a time for both celebration and contemplation I find myself reflecting not only on our nation’s founding ideals but also on my personal lineage that connects me to them. I am a direct descendant of John Ross and George Ross, both signers of the Declaration of Independence. John Ross, my thirteenth great-grandfather, served as Vice President of Pennsylvania and was a close associate of Benjamin Franklin. I often wonder if he had a hand; however small - in those revolutionary experiments with electricity that changed the course of history.

This ancestral connection inspires more than pride; it stirs a deep sense of responsibility. It evokes a sense of duty. The values set forth in the Declaration; liberty, justice, and the pursuit of happiness are not static relics. They are living principles that must be protected, lived out, and passed on.

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