Today we celebrate two things: Veteran's Day, honoring the men and women who have served in the military, and the feast of St. Martin of Tours—who himself was a soldier before becoming a priest and bishop.
Martin grew up in a military family in the ancient Roman empire, his father was a Roman military officer. His family worshipped the gods of ancient Rome, but as a young boy, Martin began to learn about Jesus. At the age of 15, Martin joined the Roman military. One night, when he was stationed at a Roman outpost in France, Martin encountered a beggar suffering from the cold, shivering in the streets.
Recalling the compassion that Jesus had toward the poor, Martin tore his cloak in half and gave it to the beggar. That night, Martin dreamed of Jesus dressed in the half-cloak, “Look, Martin, has clothed me with his own cloak.”
This dream of Jesus set Martin on a path to dedicate his life to serving Jesus. At the age of 23 he was baptized as a Catholic. He became a priest dedicated to prayer, simplicity, and self-discipline, and later a bishop who dedicated himself to spreading the Gospel in remote areas where the false gods were still being worshipped. He became so holy—so much like Jesus—that God gave him the gift to perform healing miracles. On one occasion, he prayed over a young man who had died, and the young man was miraculously restored to life.
Today we celebrate Veteran’s Day—the anniversary of the ending of the major hostilities of World War I—on the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour in 1918. It’s interesting isn’t it? That the first World War ended on the feast Day of St. Martin—the veteran saint who after his military service pursued the peace of Christ—a saint whose life was filled with countless acts of charity.
Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel urge us to live this spirit of charity and peace. Just like Martin who clothed the beggar, we are called to pay attention to the needs of those around us, and to help them, if we can, even if it costs us something. Like Martin, who gave up half his cloak to clothe the beggar, the Lord often asks us to give what we have to help others.
And like Martin who after his military service went to serve the Church as a priest and bishop, God calls each of us to serve the mission of the Gospel. Martin helped people who didn’t believe in Jesus to believe and to follow Him. And he asks us to do the same—to help others learn about Jesus and His Church, to believe in Him and love Him who beckons us to follow him and serve Him, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
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For the purification of Holy Church, and for all Bishops and clergy, that they may always lead us in fidelity to the saving Gospel of Christ.
In gratitude for the service of our veterans—whom we honor in a special way this week; for blessings upon them and upon our nation, and for all veterans who suffer the physical and psychological effects of war. May we prudently and wisely use and guard the freedoms for which our veterans labored and suffered. Let us pray to the Lord.
May God bless the people of our nation, our leaders, and all who dwell in our land with peace, protection, faith, hope, and love. Let us pray to the Lord.
That the sick and the poor may know the compassion and charity of the Church and the closeness of God in their afflictions, and for the safety of those who serve and protect us. Let us pray to the Lord.
For the healing of all those afflicted with physical, mental, emotional illness, for those in hospitals, nursing homes, hospice care, those struggling with addictions, for those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today.
For all veterans who gave their life for our liberty, and for the repose of the souls of all of our beloved dead, family, friends—the souls of the dead for whom we pray in a special way during this month of November, deceased bishops, priests, deacons and religious, and for all the souls in purgatory.
O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.
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