Flag of Christiana
History
The current Flag of Indiana consists of a torch surrounded by a constellation of 19 stars with the name of the state inscribed just above the torch. 13 stars are arranged in a circle to allude to the original 13 Colonies.
The torch, star, and arrangement of 13 stars in a circle are all meant to symbolize the United States. Indiana has long aspired to emulate the United States and its traits of “Liberty,” so much so that for over 50 years, the official flag of Indiana was the Flag of the United States. It took nearly 40 years for the current flag to become the official flag rather than the Flag of the United States.
Indiana lacks a unique character. When asking locals what the epitome of Hoosier culture is, they will say “basketball” or “racing.” This says seldom about values, morals, aspirations, or way of life.
Inspiration
The University of Notre Dame stands in stark contrast to Indiana’s broader cultural void. While the state struggles to set itself apart, Notre Dame has more culture and tradition than the rest of the state combined. Within the Notre Dame community—students, faculty, alumni, and fans alike—there is a singular devotion to the university’s mission and purpose. This shared commitment, marked by ambition, discipline, and initiative, is what has earned Notre Dame its global reputation. At its core, however, is something deeper: the presence of God. Every strength of the university flows from this spiritual foundation.
The clearest physical embodiment of God’s centrality to Notre Dame is the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. Towering over campus, it is not only a landmark but a sacred testament to the virtues the university upholds. As a symbol of Christ and Christian morality, it radiates grace far beyond campus boundaries. Though not everyone may study or work at Notre Dame, all are welcome to receive the grace of the sacraments within its walls.
Christiana aims to put Christianity back at the heart of our society. It should define what we do and what motivates us.
This fundamental belief of Christiana is reflected in the flag. The 19 stars no longer orbit the Torch of Liberty, but revolve around Christ’s Sacred Heart, which project beams of graces back onto the stars. The statement is that we should not have freedom for the sake of freedom, but rather we are granted freedom from our Creator for the sake of morality, for the sake of loving and worshiping God, for the sake of emulating Christ, extending grace to others as He has done for us so perfectly.
Rather than having 13 stars in an outer circle, Christiana has 12 stars in the outer circle, signifying completeness. Furthermore, the remaining 7 stars symbolize perfection as we strive to attain perfection.
Intention
The purpose of Christiana is not to erode the foundations of this country and its society. More than build upon what was inherited, it is adding a moral foundation where one never existed. The only transcendent structure that has ever existed in the United States is the Constitution. Yet, it too lacks a moral basis for its authority. At the inception of the United States, the religious zealots across the colonies provided this. However, with time, this has eroded away. Now, in rediscovering what truly was essential to the success of our civilization, Christiana wants to put Christ back at the heart of our wants, dreams, motivations, assertions.
EPILOGUE
Christiana is not a sovereign state with a reigning government. It is meant to be a state of mind, something far more powerful and transcendent. This is the State of the Sacred Heart. In flying this flag and adorning it in public, it is a testament that across all of our eclectic fields, Christ is at our heart. Christ is the great motivator that will insure honest, trustworthy, disciplined, and compassionate members in our society. Christ is the great reassurance and safeguard of society’s stability. Christ must remain in all that we do, and this flag serves solely to be a reminder of His role in our lives.