Did you know that the congressional act that established Veterans’ Day in 1926 stipulated that the recurring anniversary of this date be commemorated with thanks-giving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace? Think about that for just a moment.
For Catholics, this is also the Memorial of St. Martin de Tours, who, having fulfilled his military duties, said, I have served as a soldier; now, let me serve Christ. St. Martin de Tours could live a life of service in the name of peace, Christ’s peace, precisely because he had known conflict; after leaving the army, his life was a full and active mission, serving Christ by serving others, and thereby perpetuating peace.
For Catholics, this is also the Memorial of St. Martin de Tours, who, having fulfilled his military duties, said, I have served as a soldier; now, let me serve Christ. St. Martin de Tours could live a life of service in the name of peace, Christ’s peace, precisely because he had known conflict; after leaving the army, his life was a full and active mission, serving Christ by serving others, and thereby perpetuating peace.
What better way to celebrate our ardent longing for peace this Veterans’ Day 2016 than to actively practice peace ourselves, each and every one of us, whether we be veterans of the armed forces or simply ordinary citizens, demonstrating our strength in Christ by going forth joyfully in the fulfillment of our own vocations, channeling all our generosity and kindness and love into our ongoing service, doing the work of Christ, praying for all, and working always thereby to perpetuate peace…
Image source 1: Dove of peace
Image source 2: St.
Martin de Tours shares his cloak with a beggar, who (he later sees in a dream)
was Christ himself. (Wall carving, Chapelle de St. Martin, St. Nicolas des Champs, Paris, France)
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