Bulletins

November 10, 2013

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The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. In 1918 that formula heralded the end of the Great War, what we now call World War I. Eight years later the U.S. Congress called for the establishment of Veterans Day, nothing that

...the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals and the resumption by the people of the United States of peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again be severed, and [that]

it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations.

Ninety five years later we can only admire the simple sincerity of broken hearts which hoped for peaceful relations born of good will and mutual understanding.

But from where do good will and mutual understanding spring? From the successfully waged battle to comprehend the beauty of creation and the dignity of human nature, from victory over sin and evil.

For many centuries before the twentieth, November 11 has been the Feast Day of St. Martin of Tours, one of the greatest saints of France. He served in the cavalry of the Roman army in the mid fourth century. After receiving baptism he declared that he could not take up arms for Rome but volunteered to go into battle unarmed. He became a monk and was consecrated a bishop on the 4th of July. He is for good reason a patron of the men and women of the Archdiocese of the Military Services, who find inspiration in the St. Martin’s prayer:

Lord, if your people still have need of my services, I will not avoid the toil. Your will be done. I have fought the good fight long enough. Yet if you bid me continue to hold the battle line in defense of your camp, I will never beg to be excused from failing strength. I will do the work you entrust to me. While you command, I will fight beneath your banner.

God bless all those who have been willing to die for the sake of the peace of Virginia and these United States. And may God reward their chaplains and everyone else has offered up their lives for the sake of the salvation of souls.

Yours in Christ through Mary,

Fr. Christopher J. Pollard