CNA Staff, May 25, 2020 / 09:54 am
As Catholics celebrate Memorial Day this year, they should keep in mind not only the sacrifice of the men and women who gave their lives in service to the country, but also Christ's sacrifice, which is at the heart of our faith, said Bishop David O'Connell of Trenton.
In a message to the faithful of his diocese, O'Connell noted that Memorial Day is often celebrated with cookouts, swimming, and parades, as well as visits to military cemeteries to honor veterans who have died in service to the country. He called on Catholics to remember the memory and sacrifices of those who have fallen.
"Memorial Day honors those brave women and men who proudly wore the uniform of our armed forces and made the ultimate sacrifices that have become the lifeblood of our republic," he said. "It is entirely fitting that we remember them with gratitude and pride."
The faithful can also see in the sacrifice of fallen veterans a reminder of the sacrifice of Christ, and a call to lay down their own lives in service to others, O'Connell said.