On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, 1918, World War I officially came to an end.
This day came to be known worldwide as Armistice Day, and later on, would evolve into Veterans Day here in the United States—a chance to take a moment and thank all those who have dedicated themselves to the protection and service of our country.
Long before World War I, however, November 11th was already a kind of “veteran’s day” in the Church. That’s because it is the feast day of St. Martin of Tours, a veteran-saint who is now one of the patrons of the military.
St. Martin, a Roman soldier, famously gave part of his cloak to a beggar, then had a dream in which he saw Christ Himself wearing the cloak. Martin later became a priest and then Bishop of Tours.
A watercolor by Léo Schnug depicting St. Martin’s act of charity
This saint is actually officially honored in the U.S. military. Two Corps within the U.S. Army have an “Order of St. Martin” which rewards excellence in service. One is the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps—St. Martin’s identity as a soldier and a minister make him an apt patron of chaplains.
The other is the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps. Quartermasters are in charge of food and supplies, and perhaps St. Martin is their inspiration because he “supplied” a beggar with his needs.
So on this day, let us honor and celebrate the legacy of St. Martin and the service of all veterans. Join us prayer!
St. Martin, courageous soldier of Christ
and dedicated servant of your fellow-men,
please watch over and strengthen all our veterans.
We especially ask your protection for those
who are struggling with the visible and invisible
wounds of war, who have lost friends in battle,
or who feel isolated and alone.
Please help us as civilians to honor, love, and support them.
Watch over all those still in service,
especially those in harm’s way,
and may God grant eternal rest to all those
who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
Amen.
Here at The Catholic Company, we count many veterans among our family members and friends—and we know that our customers do too! To honor them all, we are excited to announce the launch of “Warrior Joe,” our new coffee brand created especially with veterans in mind. With designs for each branch of the military, you can show the soldier, Marine, sailor, or airman in your life how much you appreciate their service. Visit Warrior Joe and pick out a bag or two today!
