As we gather this Memorial Day, we do so with hearts full of gratitude and reverence. This National Day of Remembrance calls us to honor the men and women who gave their lives in service of our country. While many observe the holiday with flags, parades, and family gatherings, we as people of faith are also called to approach this day with a spiritual lens – lifting up prayers of thanksgiving, interceding for those who mourn, and remembering that peace is a sacred calling. We remember not only the sacrifice, but also the hope and longing for a world where such sacrifices are no longer necessary.

Spiritually, Memorial Day reminds us of Jesus’ own words: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s own life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). This verse not only honors those who have fallen but also points us to the deep connection between service, sacrifice and love. In prayer, we ask God to grant eternal rest to the fallen, comfort to the grieving, and wisdom to our leaders so that the peace we long for might become more than a dream. Our worship on Memorial Day becomes an act of remembrance with reverence and a commitment to working in the ways of peace and justice.

As we reflect, may this Memorial Day renew in us a sense of purpose – not only to remember the past, but also to live faithfully in the present. Let us be bearers of Christ’s peace, people who strive to build a more compassionate and just world. In doing so, we honor those who have died by committing ourselves to the kind of world where all lives are cherished and protected. May our prayers rise like incense, and may our lives reflect the values we hold dear.

Take time and offer this prayer on Memorial Day.

Gracious God, we lift our hearts in gratitude for those who gave their lives in service and in hope of a world healed by your love. Grant us the courage to be peacemakers in our time. May your peace reign in our hearts, in our nation, and in all the world. Amen!

Safe and happy Memorial Day weekend to all!

With you a Christian. For you a priest.

Father Carl Morello
Pastor
Ascension and St. Edmund Parish
St. Catherine of Siena – St. Lucy and St. Giles Parish