Thursday, November 11, 2010

Happy Veterans Day


Prayer on Veterans Day 

"Dear Lord Jesus Christ, 
those whom we honor today are examples 
of your words: 
"Greater love than this no one has: 
that he lay down his life for his friends." 

They gave up their lives in the defense of freedom 
for their loved ones and their country. 

Teach me to appreciate the virtue of patriotism -- 
a true and Christian love of country. 
Let me love my country, not to follow it blindly but to make it 
the land of goodness that it should be. 
Let my patriotism be such that it will not exclude 
the other nations of the world, 
but include them in a powerful love of country 
that has room for all others too." 

St. Joseph People's Prayer Book

It is Providential that Veterans' Day would fall on the Feast of St. Martin of Tours -- a soldier and priest -- whose life exemplified the characteristic of sacrifice, duty, honor and love for others.  Through his intercession, O Lord, grant strength to all our Veterans and eternal rest to those who have died. Amen.

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