Brief Excerpt from Patriotism and Nationalism by Rafael Gambra Ciudad

Patriotism is a natural sentiment, deeply rooted in the human spirit, which springs, in a certain way, from the divine precept to honor and love one’s parents, the most readily and spontaneously observed of all commandments. If it does not exceed its true nature, patriotism is also a fulfillment of the precept to love one’s neighbor, that is, those who surround us, those who are nearest to us; a way of feeling oneself in communion with others, a sentiment opposed to individualism, one that enables us to live within a collective tradition and to love the common faith that permeates and gives it life. Natural affection for one’s fatherland is, in itself, an instinctive and, because it is born of love, unifying sentiment; in every case, an open sentiment which, unlike irrational and closed passions, cannot give rise to negative attitudes or hatred.

Translation by the editor. Originally published as “Patriotismo y Nacionalismo” in Cristiandad, no. 160 (1950), and later reprinted in Eso Que Llaman Estado (Madrid: Ediciones Montejurra, 1958), p. 178.