Ezra[1] |
MONDAY May 29
MEMORIAL DAY
Ezra, Chapter 3, Verse 3
They set the altar on its foundations, for they lived in fear of the peoples of the lands, and
offered burnt offerings to the LORD on it, both morning and evening.
Today is Memorial Day
and we honor those who have paid the supreme sacrifice of devotion watching our
nation. Yet let us not forget that these men by their devotion have set this
nation aright and secured our religious liberties. Lord we ask that you help us
to set the altar of true faith and devotion on its foundation in this nation.
Pray today for the souls
of those taken in battle. In the communion of saints it is our duty; no our
honor to pray for the souls of those in our company who have died; especially
those who have passed through the valley of fear in the heat of battle.
One thing is certain:
There are no atheists in foxholes.
Memorial Day
Memorial Day, first
established in 1866 to honor Union soldiers of the Civil War, is now a day set
aside to remember all of the American soldiers who have died in war in
the subsequent 15 decades -- about 1.2 million in all. This number, while
representing a tremendous loss, pales in comparison to the number of
war-related deaths globally for the same time period. Estimates run from 60 to
85 million for the number of lives lost during World War II alone.[2]
While
I was stationed with the US Army in Mons, Belgium there is the legend of the Angels
of Mons, where it was reported the British soldiers were saved by heavenly
forces.
One
thing is certain: There are no atheists in foxholes.
To honor our fallen let us
stop what we are doing at 1500 hrs. (3 pm) and offer the Divine Mercy Prayer
for those who have fallen in service of our nation.
God of power and mercy,
you destroy war and put down earthly pride.
Banish violence from our midst and wipe away our tears,
that we may all deserve to be called your sons
and daughters.
Keep in your mercy those men and women
who have died in the cause of freedom
and bring them safely
into your kingdom of justice and peace.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen[3]
you destroy war and put down earthly pride.
Banish violence from our midst and wipe away our tears,
that we may all deserve to be called your sons
and daughters.
Keep in your mercy those men and women
who have died in the cause of freedom
and bring them safely
into your kingdom of justice and peace.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen[3]
Memorial Day Facts & Quotes[4]
·
There have been over 2.7 million US military
deaths since 1775.
·
The deadliest US War was the Civil War with
about 600,000 US deaths.
·
It is customary to fly a US flag at half-staff
till noon on Memorial Day.
·
U.S. Army accounts 158 installations around the
world. It includes over 132,000 miles of infrastructure for gas, water,
electric and sewer, and more than 1 billion square feet of office space.
·
It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.- George S. Patton
Memorial Day Top Events and
Things to Do
·
Attend a Memorial Day parade. One popular parade
is the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington DC.
·
All Americans are encouraged to pause for one
minute at 3:00 pm (local time). Think of the sacrifices made by U.S. soldiers
to provide freedom for all.
·
Visit the grave of a fallen soldier.
·
Have a picnic or go boating.
·
Donate to a charity
that serves veterans.
St. Joseph: Warrior of God[5]
Are we willing to
fight for the souls of our children even when the battles seem increasingly
difficult and unpractical in our eyes? Think what St. Joseph would he do if he
were alive today? The technology we bring into our home is just one example. In
what other scenarios do we need to stand strong? Warriors don’t fret or
complain because they understand there is a monumental battle at
hand; they are fighting against something bigger than themselves. Mary and
Joseph resisted the lure to complain when they had nowhere to sleep the night
of the birth of Jesus. How unpractical to take Mary into the middle of nowhere
precisely when she was about to go into labor; but that is exactly what Joseph
did!
·
Are you prepared to
fight for the souls of each and every member of your family?
·
Are you willing to
make spiritual sacrifices for them?
·
Are you poised to be
there for them in the toughest of times?
The Gift of Counsel[6]
The gift of counsel is
“to render the individual docile and receptive to the counsel of God regarding
one’s actions in view of sanctification and salvation.” Primarily, this gift
enables a person to judge individual acts as good and ought to be done, or as
evil and ought to be avoided. Aiding the virtue of prudence, the Holy Spirit
not only makes our heart docile to search for the truth (as taught by the
church) and to accept it, but also helps us to remember and learn from past
events. The counsel given pertains to one’s own personal sanctification and
ultimate supernatural end. Therefore, this gift prompts the person to ask
himself, “Is this act true to Christ and the teachings of this church? Does
this act lead to or strengthen holiness? Will this act lead to heaven?”
Therefore, the gift of counsel enlightens a person to know what must be done at
this particular time, place and circumstance; it also enlightens us to counsel
others who ask for advice and direction. To cultivate this gift, a person
should pray for the help of the Holy Spirit (in particular for the gifts of
knowledge and understanding). Also, continued study of sacred Scripture and the
teachings of the church, especially in the moral issues of the day, provide
fuel for this gift.
Daily Devotions/Prayers
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