Ride for the Brand

©2013 Victor R. Claveau, MJ

My first trip to Wyoming was about 23 years ago. I travelled from southern California to attend a Catholic conference in Jackson Hole.

The first time I viewed the majestic Grand Teton Mountains literally took my breath away. I remember thinking, “Wow, God really kissed this country!”

It was in the middle of October and the first snows of winter had already blanketed the ground. Wrapped in a blanket, I sat on the bank of the Snake River, trying to take in the splendor of the scene before me. A bull moose was grazing about 100 yards away and a lone bull elk was struggling to cross the river. The sky was that beautiful dark blue that seems to exist only in this part of the country.

I made up my mind, then and there, that I would one day live in Wyoming.

Life intervened and it was not until seven months ago that I was finally able to fulfill my dream.  I now relish every day. I am able to sit on my front porch with a good cup of coffee to watch the sun rise over the eastern mountains. There is a trout pond about 75 yards in front of my home and a river just beyond that. White tailed deer graze next to my window as I write this.  A large group of Pronghorn antelope are grazing on the other side of the river. To my left, are about 45 head of Angus cows also eating their fill, and seven horses just passed by as they meandered out to their pasture.  Sound idyllic? Well, it is. I love Wyoming and feel like a kid again.

Wyoming is rugged country, and the people here are a breed apart. The Code of the West is alive and well. In fact, it is the Code of the State of Wyoming. Go to https://statesymbolsusa.org/wyoming/code/code-west to learn more.

Wyoming is a place where a man’s word is his bond and agreements sealed with a handshake and not necessarily with a written contract.

I was recently on Catholic radio to offer folks some insight on the Church’s position on voting in the upcoming presidential election. In doing so, I spoke about the Code of the West. The code espouses ten principles:

1. Live each day with courage;
2. Take pride in your work;
3. Always finish what you start;
4. Do what has to be done;
5. Be tough, but fair;
6. When you make a promise, keep it;
7. Ride for the brand;
8. Talk less, say more;
9. Remember that some things are not for sale;
10. Know where to draw the line.

The seventh principle “Ride for the Brand” is singularly apropos during this election season. The brand was use by ranchers to put their claim on the cattle. It was a way for the rancher to say, “These are mine, keep your hands off.”

There is a story about an old Indian chief who was at death’s door. At the aged chieftain’s bedside, a Catholic priest began the conversation by saying:

“Pretty sick, Chief?”

The old Chief merely grunted.

“Going to die?” asked the priest. “Uh-huh,” the Indian grunted.

“Got your horses all branded?” the priest went on. “Uh-huh,” the Chief answered.

“You branded for Jesus? Jesus won’t know you if you’re not,” said the priest.

That was talking the old warrior’s language, the language of the plains. After Father explained what he meant, the chief asked to be baptized and died shortly thereafter, a Catholic Christian.

A brand is a mark of ownership. Branding is usually done on the thick hide of an animal, by burning with a hot iron.

If we want to belong to Jesus, we too must be branded. Obviously, we do not brand people on their flesh, but God does brand them on their souls. Whenever a person receives the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation or Holy Orders, he receives upon his soul, as it were, the brand of God. He receives a mark that cannot ever be removed, under any circumstances. This mark or sign is one of the effects of the three sacraments just mentioned. They stamp a brand or seal upon the soul and set that soul aside as a special member of God’s family.

In Baptism, a person receives grace necessary to live as a child of God. Confirmation makes him/her a warrior of Christ, and gives special aid to battle the adversaries of Christ. The Holy Eucharist feeds the soul. From the Sacrament of Reconciliation the soul is healed and strengthened. From the sacrament of Holy Orders, men receive the strength they need to carry out the duties of the priesthood. By the Anointing of the Sick, those who are ill or dying are strengthened to bear the difficulties, and if necessary, to ready themselves for the journey home to Christ. By Matrimony, husband and wife receive a blessing, which binds them together as one.

These sacraments are the way that God reaches down to us to strengthen us. They are His way of saying, “Take my hand and we will walk together.”

Baptized Christians have been branded for Christ and His brand cannot be removed. May we live in Him and for Him.

God branded me, and I “Ride for the Brand.”

Riding for the brand means that we cannot facilitate the election of anyone who supports the intrinsic evils of abortion, euthanasia, cloning, same-sex “marriage”, etc.

The ninth principle is, “Remember that some things are not for sale.”

This principle reminded me of my father’s wisdom when he offered this sage advice, “No one can take your honor from you, but you can give it away in a split-second. Never prostitute yourself for anything.”

We dishonor ourselves, and God, if we vote for any candidate who supports evil.

As a matter of fact, any Catholic who understands the Church’s teaching on the intrinsic evil of abortion and votes for Obama, or any other candidate who supports abortion, when there is a pro-life alternative on the ballot, separates themselves from Christ, His Church, and forfeits salvation. Absolution for this mortal sin can only be received by repentance and penance through sacramental confession.  

Don’t put your soul in jeopardy, ride for the brand. Vote pro-life.