The Rev. John Ubel of the Cathedral of St. Paul, National Shrine of the Apostle Paul in St. Paul, mused about a line from Roman astrologer/poet Marcus Manilius’ First-Century classic "Astronomica" and its relevancy today in the July 12 church bulletin.

In his piece, Ubel referred to the oft-quoted, “The end depends upon the beginning,” or, in Latin, Finisque ab origine pendet.

“Has anyone been thinking about the state of our country lately?” Ubel wrote. “Me too. We must return to the foundational principles that were enumerated at the very beginning of our nation if we are to remain true to our roots.”

The Rev. John Ubel | http://www.cathedralsaintpaul.org/

Manilius’ quote and a mid 19th-Century piece written by British ministers Andrew Reed and James Matheson served as a jumping-off point for Ubel’s homily on how in order for the country to be at its greatest, it must be and do good.

“If we aspire to be a great nation, we must first strive to be good,” Ubel wrote. “Morally upright as a people, we espoused our founders’ principles: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We must provide safety and secure basic human rights, while respecting one another. This is a challenge in a pluralistic society. Today, with such stark differences, it seems an insurmountable task.”

Ubel stressed that education is necessary for the beginning to have an effect on the end. He said that the recent Supreme Court decision in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue opens a path for various forms of tax credit scholarship programs that have been implemented in other states, which is good news for religious private schools.

While sticking on the subject of education, Ubel wondered if schools are doing enough to instill patriotism or a sense of civil responsibility in students today. He said “cancel culture” is doomed from the get-go.