Service and Sacrifice

Monday, November 11 marks the 106th Anniversary of Armistice Day, the end of World War I. Now known as “Veterans Day”, it is a moment to remember those who served to preserve freedom, and take the time to give thanks to God for their service and the sacrifice of their lives. We are thankful also to our brothers and sisters who serve today to protect us and enable us to enjoy the many blessings we have as a nation. Our grateful prayers can be inspired by the story in today’s Gospel of the widow who gave everything she had to honor God.

During the early days of the Second Battle of Ypres a young Canadian artillery officer, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, was killed on 2 May, 1915. He was serving in the same Canadian artillery unit as a friend of his, the Canadian military doctor and artillery commander Major John McCrae. As the brigade doctor, John McCrae was asked to conduct the burial service for Alexis because the chaplain had been called away somewhere else on duty that evening. It is believed that later that evening, after the burial, John began the draft for his now famous poem “In Flanders Fields”. The poet calls us to use the gift of faith to keep alive the memory of those who made the supreme sacrifice:

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

November is the month of the Holy Souls. Let us never forget to pray for the souls in Purgatory: may they swiftly make their way to the Kingdom of Heaven.

Yours in Christ,