This Sunday is the 4th of July. The United States is 245 years old this Sunday, and if I say so myself, even in her worst days, she is still a great country. Why should you pray for this nation? Because as Catholics, we are duty-bound to pray for our country and its leaders. Another reason? Because the United States has been consecrated to the Blessed Virgin Mother. The consecration of a nation to the Blessed Virgin Mary is a rededication of that nation's common life, not to profit, prestige, war, or power, but to the tender mercy of the Mother of God. How can it not be great? We have the Queen of Heaven as our protectress! Quite frankly, looking at the nation's history and its near destruction so many times, there must be divine intervention somewhere in there! If you haven't done so, please turn to Our Mother and recite the Most Holy Rosary with passion. Our Lady asked us to pray the rosary for peace. What better time than on a Sunday, on the birthday of a nation dedicated to our Lady?