Veterans Day is a sacred invitation to pause, to honor, and to reflect deeply on the lives of those who chose duty over self, who placed neighbor and nation above their own comforts, safety, and often, above their own dreams.
In our Catholic faith, we hold dear the teaching that every human life has inherent dignity and worth. This principle resonates profoundly as we remember our veterans, whose service echoes the Gospel call to lay down one’s life for others.
Christ’s words in John’s Gospel, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13), find real, flesh-and-blood witness in the lives of our veterans. Each act of service, each tour of duty, and each sacrifice they’ve made embodies this spirit of self-giving love.
The truth is, many veterans return from service carrying more than the physical marks of battle. They bear the invisible wounds— the memories of what they have seen, the weight of experiences that forever changed them. As Catholics, we are called to be a compassionate presence for them. Our faith community can be a source of healing, a place where they find understanding, solace, and a listening ear. This Veterans Day, let our prayers go beyond gratitude; let them be pleas for comfort, for peace of mind, and for healing for those who have given so much.
On this Veterans Day, let us not only thank veterans in our words but honor them with our actions. Let us pray for peace in a world still wounded by conflict and commit ourselves to care for our veterans and their families. May our respect for them be visible, lasting, and our prayers accompany them now, just as their courage accompanied us when we needed it most.
--Andrea DePaola
O God of Mercy and Love,
We thank You for the men and women
who have served in our armed forces,
who have sacrificed so much
to protect and defend our country.
Bless them, Lord, with peace and healing,
and let Your presence be with them
as they carry the weight of their service.
Grant them strength for each day,
and may we, as a grateful nation,
honor their courage. Amen.
Image source 1: https://thecwv.org/
Image source 2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_War_Veterans
Quotation source
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