A Sunday Thought About Memorial Day
Tomorrow the Memorial Day "observed" holiday arrives. It's one of those government concoctions, started decades ago, that takes a holiday like Memorial Day - which was always celebrated on May 31st - and crams it into a Monday so that we poor overworked Americans get a three-day weekend. Well, why complain? It's not like I couldn't use the time off.
Now that it's here, let's remember that barbecuing isn't the whole point of Memorial Day weekend, right? Make the effort to remember - and even more, say a prayer for - those who gave their lives in America's wars so that we could enjoy the fruits of liberty. You may also want to remember that it's virtually only us Catholics who even believe in praying for our dead (along with some Jews, far as I can tell). The rest of our Christian brethren think we're bonkers, since they've rejected Purgatory as some misguided man-made idea. They figure you either go straight to Heaven or straight to Hell when you die, so no reason to pray for anyone who's gone, since such prayers are a waste of time. Of course, we know better.
(Aside: There's a memorial in a local park to those in our community who died in World War I. Every time I walk by, I pray the "Lux Aeterna" - Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord... Sometimes I even remember to thank those who died.)
We used to sing "America the Beautiful" at Mass until our new pastor took over. I suspect he thinks that patriotic songs just don't belong in the liturgy, and maybe he's right. Lord knows he doesn't lack patriotism. But I do miss singing it anyway. So to help us all remember those who died for the rest of us Americans here's a version of "America the Beautiful" by Ray Charles that begins not with the usual first verse, but with the verse that starts:
It's perfect for Memorial Day. And this particular performance finds Ray at his best, singing in 1972 on the Dick Cavett show. Those of you who remember America at that time know that the Vietnam War had kicked the stuffing out of patriotism for many people. But here's Ray, singing this most uplifting of patriotic of songs, in the midst of that sad time. It's inspiring, I think.
Happy Memorial Day!
Now that it's here, let's remember that barbecuing isn't the whole point of Memorial Day weekend, right? Make the effort to remember - and even more, say a prayer for - those who gave their lives in America's wars so that we could enjoy the fruits of liberty. You may also want to remember that it's virtually only us Catholics who even believe in praying for our dead (along with some Jews, far as I can tell). The rest of our Christian brethren think we're bonkers, since they've rejected Purgatory as some misguided man-made idea. They figure you either go straight to Heaven or straight to Hell when you die, so no reason to pray for anyone who's gone, since such prayers are a waste of time. Of course, we know better.
(Aside: There's a memorial in a local park to those in our community who died in World War I. Every time I walk by, I pray the "Lux Aeterna" - Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord... Sometimes I even remember to thank those who died.)
We used to sing "America the Beautiful" at Mass until our new pastor took over. I suspect he thinks that patriotic songs just don't belong in the liturgy, and maybe he's right. Lord knows he doesn't lack patriotism. But I do miss singing it anyway. So to help us all remember those who died for the rest of us Americans here's a version of "America the Beautiful" by Ray Charles that begins not with the usual first verse, but with the verse that starts:
O beautiful, for heroes proved,
In liberating strife,
Who more than self, their country loved,
And mercy more than life...
It's perfect for Memorial Day. And this particular performance finds Ray at his best, singing in 1972 on the Dick Cavett show. Those of you who remember America at that time know that the Vietnam War had kicked the stuffing out of patriotism for many people. But here's Ray, singing this most uplifting of patriotic of songs, in the midst of that sad time. It's inspiring, I think.
Happy Memorial Day!
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