Friday, November 11, 2016 Feast of Saint Martin-Veterans Day
Acts, Chapter 16, Verse 19
When her owners saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized
Paul and Silas and dragged them to the public square before the local
authorities.
The “her” in this verse is a slave who was
possessed by a spirit of divination: she had the power of fortune-telling. Paul
had commanded that the spirit release her in the name of Christ and she was now
worthless to her owners. Do you think things have changed; do we still have
owners of fortune tellers who are trying to suppress the truth? Consider the
state of our modern journalists and spinsters is their work closer to truth or
fortune telling?
SAINT MARTIN[1]
was born in the year 316 in Pannonia, or Hungary, of pagan parents, but he
received secret instructions in the Christian religion, and in his tenth year
was received into the number of the catechumens, that is, of those who are
preparing themselves to receive holy Baptism. At the age of fifteen he became a
soldier, being, as is probable, forced to do so by his father, to whom the
religion of the boy had become known. Out of love of God he not only kept
himself aloof from the excesses so common in this state of life, but he took advantage
of it to practice love for man, by dividing his pay among the poor. Being one
day solicited for alms by a beggar, and having nothing but his arms and his
cloak, he gave him half his cloak. The following night Christ appeared to him,
wearing that half of the cloak, and said to him: Martin, who is yet a
catechumen, has clothed Me with this garment. Moved by this comforting
apparition, he received holy Baptism, gave up the life of a soldier, and
betook himself to St. Hilary, Bishop of Poitiers, in France. As he was careful
for his own salvation, so also was he careful of the salvation of others,
particularly of his parents and relatives, for the sake of whose conversion he
undertook a journey to his native land. On his return he built, not far from Poitiers,
the first convent in France, into which he received twenty-four monks, with
whom he led a strict and virtuous life. His great faith made him like the
apostles in regard to miracles, and the fame thereof spread abroad to that
degree that, in spite of his refusals, he was chosen Bishop of Tours. This high
dignity made no change in his manner of living; rather it increased his
humility, his patience under the greatest persecutions, his zeal for the glory
of God, his love for his neighbor, and particularly for his enemies. After he
had in such manner ruled over his diocese for twenty-six years, being then over
eighty years old, the strength of life left him. He thereupon collected his
disciples about him, and said: Children, I am dying. They wept and mourned.
Moved by their tears, he in his prayers professed himself willing to labor
longer if it were God's will. But he had labored for heaven enough, and
God desired to place upon him the long-merited crown. With his eyes raised to
heaven, he prayed incessantly, allowing himself no relief. At his last moments
the enemy sought to confound him by a horrible apparition, but, full of
confidence in God, the saint cried out: What do you seek, cruel monster? In me
you will find nothing that is yours; and soon after his spirit gently sank to
rest. Would that we might learn from this saint truly to love God, and to care
not only for our own salvation, but for the welfare of our fellow-men in body
and soul! Then we, too, might have nothing to fear in death.
In honor of St. Martin
today would be a good day to go through our closets and cut our cloaks in half
to donate to the poor.
While serving in Germany
myself I have a fond memory of St. Martin Day in which my children participated
in the nightime St. Martins Day Parade in the small town of Gersbach, Germany.
On St. Martin's Day,
children in Flanders, the southern and north-western parts of
the Netherlands, and the Catholic areas of Germany and Austria still
participate in paper lantern processions. Often, a man dressed as St.
Martin rides on a horse in front of the procession. The children sing songs
about St. Martin and about their lanterns. The food traditionally eaten on the
day is goose, a rich bird. According to legend, Martin was reluctant to
become bishop, which is why he hid in a stable filled with geese. The noise
made by the geese betrayed his location to the people who were looking for him.
Veterans Day seeks to honor and give thanks to all the men and women who
have served and are serving in the US Armed Forces. Ceremonies are held across the country at Veterans Hospitals, cemeteries, and National Monuments. At 11:00 a.m. EST, the Veterans Day National Ceremony is held at Arlington National Cemetery. At this ceremony the President of the United States, or his assigned ambassador, places a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Veterans Day is observed on November 11th each year.
Veterans
Day Facts & Quotes
·
In 1954, President Dwight D.
Eisenhower issued a proclamation urging the nation to support the Veterans Day
effort in any way possible.
·
During World War II, over 16 million
men and women served in the military. The war resulted in over 400,000 deaths.
·
The War of Global Terrorism,
encompassing October 7, 2001 to May 29, 2012, has seen 54,820 casualties of
which 6,456 resulted in death.
·
This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.- Elmer Davis
Veterans
Day Top Events and Things to Do
·
Volunteer at a local VA facility.
·
Thank everyone you know who has
served in the armed forces.
·
Take flowers to the grave sites of
deceased military personnel.
·
Invite local veterans to a special
luncheon in their honor.
·
Make a donation of time or money to
a local Veterans organization.
COURAGE FOR THE MODERN WORLD 2017
Authored by Mr. Richard H. Havermale Jr.This book is the continuation of my first book based on more than 365 references in the Bible to fear, dread, and that in fact our God encourages us to "BE NOT AFRAID". To do this we must be in the presence of our Lord and talk to Him. I recommend you develop the habit of spending 10-15 minutes a day with our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel or if that is not available some other quiet place where you can be in the presence of our Lord. Read the daily entry and reflect on it asking our Lord and His mother to talk to your heart and reveal to you the will of the Father and then Do it. The layout of this book is to list and reflect on the books of the bible Sirach through Revelations. In the early part of September my search of the verses dealing with fear and being afraid was completed; so I asked the Lord what do I, do now. After some reflection I realize that the fruit of fear in the Lord is the Theological virtues of Faith, Hope and Love which ultimately results in Peace of the Lord. As a consequence the month of September will deal with Peace, October with Love and the month of November will be reflections on Faith and Hope. After Thanksgiving for the season of Advent and Christmas this work uses a multitude of references that reflect the Christmas season. There are many theologians who state that the eighth deadly sin is fear itself. It is fear and its natural animal reaction to fight or flight that is the root cause of our failings to create a Kingdom of God on earth. Saint John Paul II in his writings and talks also tells us to BE NOT AFRAID. In fear or anger we walk away from God. Our Lord, Jesus Christ taught us how to walk back toward God in His sermon on the mount through the Beatitudes. Each of the beatitudes is the antidote for the opposite deadly sins.
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