Father Emil Kapuan, who served as a U.S. Army chaplain during the Korean War, celebrates Mass in the field. Fr. Kapuan later died in a Korean P.O.W. camp and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery there.  U.S. Government photo.

The annual observance of Veterans Day in the United States on November 11th  has it roots in the the armistice that ended World War I hostilities in 1918. The armistice between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.  President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed thereafter that November 11 be observed as “Armistice Day.”  In 1954, Congress passed legislation that  renamed the federal holiday “Veterans Day,” in recognition of the service of veterans of all U.S. Wars.

Help us, dear God, to see Your face in every Veteran we encounter. Guide us as we imagine new ways to support Veterans and their families. Bring healing and peace to all who have been wounded physically, mentally and spiritually during wartime. Help us bring Your saving grace to heal the invisible wounds of war. We ask this in Jesus’ holy name. Amen.

Archbishop Charles Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. has written a number of columns recently on a variety of recent events.  The Archbishop’s columns can be found at CatholicPhilly.com.  Here are a sample:

Reaction concerning the anti-Catholic e-mails released this week by WikiLeaks.

Personal comments concerning the upcoming Presidential election.

Jesse Dean is a recently discharged soldier who had a rough upbringing, but because of his wife, found God and now is totally devoted to his faith.

He and wife move to Philadelphia so he can take a new job as an outreach leader at an old church whose membership has been declining. As everything is going well and as he starts connecting to the community, he discovers there’s an abortion clinic directly across the street from the church.

He goes to the pastor and to several others in the church and tries to get their help to no avail. One day something tragic and personal happens to him while he’s going about his everyday routine. He comes to the point that he begins to take action himself. He gets involved but the more involved he gets, the more resistance he gets from those in church and community. His wife, who thinks his actions will get him fired or land him in jail, also comes against him.

Finally, it comes down to him having to make a choice: is he going to take the easy way out and back off, which is what everyone wants him to do, or will he face a major confrontation which will require him to put everything on the line…not just his job, but his freedom and marriage as well.

This film encourages people to stand up for what they know is right, particularly as it pertains to taking God’s truths into society to address social issues. It addresses the spirit of retreat as it pertains to engaging the culture that has developed within the Church.

Rated PG-13.  See it at the Riverview Plaza, 1400 S Christopher Columbus Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19147

The Catholic bishops of the United States are pleased to offer once again to the Catholic faithful Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship (en Español), their  teaching document on the political responsibility of Catholics. This statement represents the bishops’  guidance for Catholics in the exercise of their rights and duties as participants in our democracy. The bishops’ urge our pastors, lay and religious faithful, and all people of good will to use this statement to help form their consciences; to teach those entrusted to their care; to contribute to civil and respectful public dialogue; and to shape political choices in the coming election in light of Catholic teaching. The statement lifts up our dual heritage as both faithful Catholics and American citizens with rights and duties as participants in the civil order.

Just a reminder that during the month of October, the Month of the Holy Rosary, we will be praying the Rosary before Sunday Mass at 9:40am.

Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, Pray for Us.

O God of love, compassion, and healing,
look on us, people of many different faiths and traditions,
who gather today at this site,
the scene of incredible violence and pain.