November 20, 2024

By Father William Muench
NCC columnist

November has two wonderful holidays each year – both involved gratitude. We all love Thanksgiving and getting the family together, thanking God for so much, thanking God for the family, thanking God for each other. This day is a unique opportunity to focus on gratitude, though we really should be making every day Thanksgiving Day – spreading gratitude everywhere and offering gratitude for being part of this family.

However, today, I would like to remember Veterans Day. This a day gratitude also – a day to celebrate in gratitude the dedication of so many men and women throughout the years who have been willing to serve this nation in the military. We honor and offer our gratitude for their sacrifice to protect our country and each one of us by their willingness to service. In a special way, this day honors those men and women who lived lives of service to our country. It is an important time to pause in prayer.

I must share with you an experience I had a while ago, when I spent a day visiting the United States Cemetery in Anzio, Italy. I was there with a retired Navy Chaplain and another priest friend who had served in the military before entering the priesthood. I must admit, it was a rather solemn day as we walked around this huge cemetery. It was certainly impossible to imagine that so many had died here. There were acres and acres of white crosses – innumerable men and women who died in that invasion of Italy – a place just a little south of Rome – in 1944. It was rather difficult to pray; the sight was so awesome. It stays with me as an image of the many, many veterans that are remembered on this Veterans Day.

I would also like to take some time here to pay my respect and honor for the many priests who have served – and continue to serve – as chaplains in the various military service. So many of the chaplains during the years of this country also ministered during war time, and many lost their lives. Here I would like to remember in a special way a priest friend, a Navy chaplain, who died this past year, Father Joseph Sestito. Father Joe served during the time of the war in Vietnam. He retired as a Navy captain. But he was always Father Joseph to his people, his military parishioners.

Let me close this by inviting you all to join me in praying for peace – peace for our country, peace for our world. I am one of those who has hope – hope that there will be a time when our young people will not have to march into war. Many say “impossible.” I believe that I must pray and hope

Jesus challenges us in the Beatitudes that “Blessed are the peace makers, for they will be called children of God.” I believe that we really should do something in our own small way to bring peace to our particular communities. I am certain that it will make a difference.

Jesus taught us the two Great Commandments. He calls upon us to “Love God with our whole heart, our whole mind. And to Love our neighbor as ourselves.” This means bringing harmony and peace to all those we meet. Pope Paul VI once called upon us all to “Give Peace a Chance.”