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A Greater Love: Honoring Veterans through Faith, Sacrifice, and Service

Posted on November 05, 2024 in: Reflections

A Greater Love: Honoring Veterans through Faith, Sacrifice, and Service

As November brings us closer to Veterans Day, it offers a poignant reminder of the men and women who have answered the call to serve— a call that demanded courage, resilience, and sacrifice.

Veterans Day is more than just a date on the calendar; it 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.

In the lives of saints who also served, like Saint Martin of Tours, we find inspiration. Saint Martin’s journey from soldier to saint shows us that military service and faith can be intertwined in a beautiful mission— to protect, to serve, and to love as Christ did. His example reminds us that the dedication we see in our veterans is part of a larger story, a call to give generously and to love boldly, even in the face of hardship.

So, 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.

By Andrea DePaola

 

Prayer for Veterans
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.


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