On Monday, May 25, our nation will pause its collective holiday activities to remember the reason that we are having a holiday.
Many civic celebrations will be festive and have visual spectacles such as parades. Many of our sports venues will ask spectators to pause in a moment of solemn silence. Nevertheless, it is in our military cemeteries that the most appropriate and sober remembrance of our military dead will take place.
Perhaps this year, along with the playing of “Taps”, we might pronounce the words of Pope Leo XIV which he used in delivering his Homily at the Palm Sunday Mass of March 29, 2026:
Brothers and sisters, this is our God: Jesus, King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war. He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them, saying: “Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood.”
–Isaiah 1:15, NABRE
Pope Francis challenged us to show greater care for the Earth, our common home. There is no armament of war which does not poison the Earth, or our atmosphere or our bodies of water.
…(T)he time has come for all of us to endeavor to heal our society and our planet, to lay the foundations for a more just and peaceful world, and to commit ourselves seriously to pursuing a good that is truly common.
Pope Francis, declaration for the World Day for Peace, January 1, 2023
When we pray for peace this Memorial Day, we Passionists will be remembering the lives of the many soldiers and civilians who died under the rain of bombs and bullets in past wars. We will pray with Saint Francis of Assisi, “Make me an instrument of your peace.”
Prayer for Fallen Military
All Powerful God,
We honor today those men and women—
Our sons and daughters,
Husbands and wives,
Fathers, brothers, sisters, mothers—
Who have laid down their life for their country.
Whether weary or emboldened, quiet or defiant,
Vulnerable or ready when You called them home,
Their sacrifice is too humbling for words
except these uttered in prayer.
Loving Lord, bless them forever in Your eternal peace.
Let the sounds of strife, the cries of battle,
the wounds of war be calmed for all eternity
in Your loving and endless grace.
Let these great warriors find rest at last,
Ever reminded that we who are left behind
Cherish their spirit, honor their commitment,
send them our love,
and will never forget the service that they gave.
Amen.
