Memorial Day Minutes: 'Servants of the Security and Freedom of Nations'

The Church established thirty-five military ordinariates in as many countries specifically for the pastoral care of those who serve in the armed forces as "servants of the security and freedom of nations" (CCC 2310). Nine of those thirty-five entities, including the Military Archdiocese for Military Services USA, were established by the great Pope John Paul II. Because Rome sees the spiritual edification of soldiers as mission essential, so should we all.

WASHINGTON, DC (Catholics in the Military) - The Church established thirty-five military ordinariates in as many countries specifically for the pastoral care of those who serve in the armed forces as "servants of the security and freedom of nations" (CCC 2310). Nine of those thirty-five entities, including the Military Archdiocese for Military Services USA, were established by the great Pope John Paul II. Because Rome sees the spiritual edification of soldiers as mission essential, so should we all. The following is CatholicMil's "Top Ten" quotes that reveal the mind and heart of the Church regarding honorable military service, terrorism, this present war, the united sacrifices of military families, and the vocational generosity of soldiers: 10. As my Grandmother often said to me, "war is hell." She knew as she had a husband and son that fought in both world wars, had nephews and a grandson go off to faraway places. She prayed, worried, and suffered because of war. Nonetheless, she knew, like so many of us do, that without the sacrifices of themselves and their loved ones, there would be no enduring freedom.
---Fr. John Corapi 9. Well-organized terrorist groups can count on huge financial resources and develop wide-ranging strategies, striking innocent people who have nothing to do with the aims pursued by the terrorists.  When terrorist organizations use their own followers as weapons to be launched against defenseless and unsuspecting people they show clearly the death-wish that feeds them. Terrorism springs from hatred, and it generates isolation, mistrust and closure. .. Terrorism is built on contempt for human life. For this reason, not only does it commit intolerable crimes, but because it resorts to terror as a political and military means it is itself a true crime against humanity... The terrorist claim to be acting on behalf of the poor is a patent falsehood. Those who kill by acts of terrorism actually despair of humanity, of life, of the future. In their view, everything is to be hated and destroyed. ..Terrorism exploits not just people, it exploits God: it ends by making him an idol to be used for one's own purposes. 
---Pope John Paul II, World Day of Peace, 2002   8. Those who are sworn to serve their country in the armed forces are servants of the security and freedom of nations. If they carry out their duty honorably, they truly contribute to the common good of the nation and the maintenance of peace. 
--- Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2310 7. One of the most common underlying misconceptions and fallacious presuppositions is that there is no evil in the world, that no one will hurt you if you just don't hurt them. Wrong! There is evil in the world, there has been since darkness entered into Eden, and there will be until Jesus comes again in glory. There is good and there is evil; there is truth and there are lies; there is life and there is death. Being neutral is a myth. Sitting on a fence is an accident waiting to happen. In the end you will be "for me or against me," as Jesus says.
---Fr. John Corapi 6. ".. be content with your pay"
---Luke 3:14; part of St. John the Baptist's proclamation to soldiers seeking Christ's salvation 5. A little lifting up of the heart suffices; a little remembrance of God, an interior act of adoration, even though made on the march and with sword in hand, are prayers which, short though they may be, are nevertheless very pleasing to God, and far from making a soldier lose his courage on the most dangerous occasions, bolster it. Let him then think of God as much as possible so that he will gradually become accustomed to this little but holy exercise; no one will notice it and nothing is easier than to repeat often during the day these little acts of interior adoration. Recommend to him, please, that he think of God as often as he can in the way I have explained here: it is a most fitting and necessary practice for a soldier daily in danger of his life and even of his salvation. I hope God will assist him and his family whom I greet.... 
--- Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection, 11 October 1688 4. The true soldier fights not because he hates what stands in front of him, but because he loves what stands behind him.
--- G.K. Chesterton, the apostle of Common Sense 3. The great French Lacordaire once said the vocation of a soldier is next in dignity to the priesthood, not only because it commissioned him to defend justice on the field of battle and order on the field of peace, but also because it called him to the spirit and intention of sacrifice.
---Servant of God Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, Wartime Prayer Book 2. .In the present circumstances, how can we speak of justice and forgiveness as the source and condition of peace? We can and we must, no matter how difficult this may be; a difficulty which comes from thinking that justice and forgiveness are irreconcilable. But forgiveness is the opposite of resentment and revenge, not of justice. In fact, true peace is "the work of justice" (Is 32: 17). True peace therefore is the fruit of justice. ... Forgiveness is in no way opposed to justice, as if to forgive meant to overlook the need to right the wrong done. It is rather the fullness of justice, leading to that tranquility of order which is much more than a fragile and temporary cessation of hostilities, involving as it does the deepest healing of the wounds which fester in human hearts. Justice and forgiveness are both essential to such healing.  ---Pope John Paul II's "No Peace Without Justice, No Justice Without Forgiveness", World Day of Peace 2002 1. Peace is not simply the absence of war. Peace is the presence of justice. The irony of human affairs is that sometimes evil is so pressing and so destructive that the innocent can't be defended except through the cost of blood and lives. And that brings us to our conversation tonight. Virtuous military leaders are vital in defending a free people because securing the peace and the conduct of war are morally loaded enterprises. This is also why the military profession is not simply necessary or useful, but honorable. It's why your vocation as future military officers matters. It's why your lives matter - to serve God by serving other people in the vocation He calls you to. ---Archbishop Charles Chaput, Address to Air Force Academy Cadets, March 9, 2009-----©CatholicMil.org, Catholics in the Military 2010. All rights reserved. This article is used with permission.Mrs. Judy McCloskey is founder of CatholicMil.org, Catholics in the Military, petitioner for the Cause of Fr. Vincent R. Capodanno, LT, CHC, USNR.

---

A wonderful, faithful ministry which serves personnel, chaplains and families of those in the US ministry. This article is used with permission of Catholics in the Military.