Our Catholic Faith and the Military

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"Peace I give to you. My peace I leave with you."

Yet sometimes we find ourselves in the midst of military conflicts. Are they just wars? The answer to that question is increasingly difficult to answer.

At the present time, we find ourselves in the midst of another conflict that threatens to encompass the globe. How do we respond as Catholics?

First, there is prayer. In so many apparitions, Our Blessed Mother has asked us constantly to pray for peace.  On this page you will find a few prayers for peace to Our Mother and to the Saints.

We can respond in charity to the Catholic members of the military and the families they have left behind.

• Write to those who are serving overseas. We will provide links to resources.
• Visit their families to offer comfort.
• Ask if they are in need of material goods or services during their time of separation.
• Pray for the intercession of specific Saints who have come to the aid of those in the military service, and to those who were military martyrs.

Please explore the resources we have listed below. As always, we welcome your comments and additional resources.

Vexilla Regis

Devotions And Intercessions For All Affected By War        Days before his death at 43, the famed British convert completed work on his last book. It is not a novel, but a prayer book for those suffering anxiety due to the death or wounding of a loved one in war. McCaffrey Publishing has brought it back into print for the new century, which promises, alas, to be at least as tragic as the 20th.

Features & contents (partial listing)

• for the dead
• for the dying and wounded...
• ...and for those who tend them
• for prisoners
• the timid and anxious
• for widows, orphans, hungry & homeless
• for our enemies
• devotions for friends
• for our allies
• penitential prayer
• special classes of persons
• in times of special distress
• for Christians dying w/o the aid of a priest
• to Our Lady
• suggestions for intentions on the Rosary
• Stations of the Cross arranged as an Intercession
• numbers of Psalms for special occasions
• The Te Deum and Miserere
• Commemorations of Saints

Prayer to Saint Michael

Patron of Military Services

Saint Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray, and do thou, or Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, cast into hell satan and all evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

CHRISTI MATRI ON PRAYERS TO MARY

FOR PEACE

Encyclical of Pope Paul VI

Read Here

Catholic Prayer Book For The Marine Corps

This World War II-era prayer book was acquired  from a used book dealer. It could have fit easily into a shirt pocket. There is a scribbled note inside the front cover, obviously written by a young Marine. It reads: "Friday, Confession, 1630-1900."

Cardinal Farley was archbishop of New York at the time, and his imprimatur appears, of course. So do all the familiar prayers and basic instructions, and naturally, the text of the old Mass is here, in Latin and English. Contents include:

• Morning, Evening and Daily Prayers
• Acts of Faith, Hope, Charity and Contrition
• Prayer for All in Trouble
• Prayers for the Dead; for the Dying
• A Rule of Life (one page summary)
• Instructions for A Good Confession
• The Last Gospel; Prayers after Mass
• Prayers after Confession; for Communion
• Benediction and the Divine Praises
• Three Great Hymns; key Litanies
• The Rosary; Way of the Cross
• The Sacraments, 10 Commandments, Commandments of the Church
• Prayers for: Fellow Soldiers, Unbelievers, Those at Sea
• Short Way to Truth (explains the Faith to non-believers in one page)
• Prayers for: Purity, Victory, Peace, Our Enemies, a Good Death

St Therese the Little Flower

Angel of the Trenches

Dear St. Therese, Little Flower of Carmel, child of God and friend of defenders, servicemen fought in WWI and WWII wearing your medal and carrying your image. You miraculously appeared to those on the frontlines in Normandy, your home province. The witness of frontline soldiers furthered the cause for your canonization realized in 1925, and you were endearingly invoked as "The Angel of the Trenches". 

Defend our homeland today as you did your own. Once again, be now the ever-present "Angel of the Trenches" to those who serve on the frontlines. In return, as the faithful veterans of WWII attribute the fall of Nazi Germany to your intercessions, may we give glory to God for your intercession in the defeat of terrorism. Never cease to intercede for us until peace, justice, mercy and forgiveness reign in all hearts, beginning with mine, and in all nations, beginning with America. St. Therese, Angel of the Trenches, pray for us! Amen.

St. Nicholas of Tolentino

Patron of Sailors and Seafarers

Heavenly Father, in imitation of Christ your son our Lord, St. Nicholas of Tolentino miraculously calmed the raging oceans and saved a shipboard crew from being lost at sea. Through his intercession, grant protection of all those serving in the sea services. May their hope be firmly anchored in the promises of Christ, and may they always seek and find the Light of Christ, their true compass and guide.

St. Brendan, Patron Saint of Sailors

St. Brendan, holy mariner, fittingly called "God's Voyager," who zealously spread the gospel through long and arduous voyages, intercede for us with the "God of the Waves", that we too may cherish the gospel of salvation. Grant that through thy intercession we may be led safely through all perils of the sea till we are led to the land of eternal life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer to

Our Lady of Victory

O Victorious Lady,
Thou who has ever such  powerful influence with  Thy Divine Son, in conquering the hardest    of hearts, intercede for those for whom we pray, that their hearts being softened by the ways of Divine Grace, they may return to the unity of the true Faith, through Christ, our Lord.  Amen

St. Joseph of Cupertino, Patron of Paratroopers, Aviators and Airborne

Lord God, Father of all, you granted St. Joseph of Cupertino a humble awareness of his limitations, of his inability to possess knowledge, save that which You revealed to him through the glory of your creation and the mysteries of our redemption. You blessed this saint with love, and gifted him with ecstacies, levitations, and miracles. Through his intercession, may we rise above the things of this world, and reach the higher ground where angels and saints praise you for all eternity in our true homeland. St. Joseph of Cupertino, patron saint of paratroopers, aviators, and all airborne services, pray for us! Amen.

The Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA is the umbrella under which the Roman Catholic Church assures that those dedicated to defending their country have immediate access to spiritual and pastoral services and support. Our Archdiocese serves without territorial boundaries, present throughout the free world.

Over 300,000 Catholic young men and women are in the U.S. military. Priest-chaplains regularly describe these young people as sincere, devoted to their country, and full of questions about their religion.

To support these young people and the renewal of their faith, the Archdiocese for the Military Services has begun planning for a program geared to the faith formation of this community.

With so many young, faithful Catholic men in our military, the harvest is potentially rich for vocations to both the priesthood and the military chaplaincy.

Holy Medals and Crucifixes for the Military

Sometimes a little touchstone can make you feel closer to a loved one, even when that person is thousands of miles away. If you are looking for a gift for a member of a military family, perhaps one of the specialized military medals might bring a little comfort into the life of someone who waits at home for a safe return. Have one blessed and send it as a gift to someone who serves.

We have listed a few that you might like and ask that if you decide to purchase one, please do it through this site to help us continue to bring more resources to you.

The Power of the Rosary for Peace

A moving exploration of the benefits of the Holy Rosary for peace in our world by Pauline nun

Sr. Kathryn James Hermes, FSP

The Military Council of Catholic Women

The Military Council of Catholic Women acts through its members to support, empower and educate all Catholic women in spirituality, leadership and service. With the guidance of the holy spirit, MCCW-USA coordinates ministries to meet the needs  of women within the military community.

Taking The High Ground

A one-of-a-kind collection of inspiring stories is written specifically by men and women in all branches of the United States armed forces. From the Revolutionary War to Desert Storm, Christians in uniform tell how God touched their lives in special ways.

Colonel Jeff O'Leary has served more than 20 years in the United States Air Force. He holds several medals and honors and has commanded three organizations. He currently serves on military duty at the pentagon. In addition to military service and public speaking, Colonel O'Leary is the founder and director of Mission of Joy, a non-profit organization dedicated to easing the plight of orphans in India.

The primary objective of the Catholic War Veterans is to make the
nation aware of the struggle and needs of many veterans,
their widows and children. It is also the responsibility of the Catholic War Veterans to help protect, preserve and defend the Constitution of the United States and the laws of our government. We must constantly remember, that as Catholics, we are bound to serve God.

Thank you, soldier.com is a web site created to give you an opportunity to tell members of our Armed Forces, "Thank You." You can leave a message of thanks and support for all members of the military or you can tell a special story about your favorite military person and what makes him/her special to you.

Thank You, Father.com!

Show your appreciation to the dedicated priests who have served the Church well, ministering to you, your family and loved ones with courage and faithfulness. Let him and others know!

Here are some links to special Rosary Meditations for Peace in Our World.

No Time to Pray the Rosary?

Nonsense!

It takes just 16 minutes to pray the full Rosary.

You took the time to look at this site.

Take the time to Pray for Peace!

Here are some ideas and resources to help you get started today.

Father Pat's Pledge a Rosary for Peace Site

Join others in pledging to pray the rosary daily for peace in our world.

The Rosary Army

Get a Free Rosary or Learn how to make one.

Download daily prayers onto your MP3 for Free

• Always keep a rosary in your pocket or purse where your fingers will find it and be inclined to use it.

• Forgot your rosary? Most of us have ten fingers that work well.

• Standing on line in the bank, the grocery store, in an elevator? Pray a decade.

• Are you at the gym? Out on a walk? Pray the rosary as you go. Organize some friends to pray with you as you walk.

• My husband and I pray the rosary nightly while we walk our dog.

• Keep a rosary under your pillow.  A wonderful way to fall back asleep if you suffer from insomnia. Counting Ave's is much better than counting sheep or taking a sleeping aid.

• Play a CD of the rosary while you do your housework.

• Download the Virtual Rosary to your computer.

The Rosary for Peace in Our Day

The Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace

Reflection available on the Vatican website

The Worldwide Rosary Crusade

A site that promotes the building a global rosary chain on the 13th of each month in honor of our Blessed Mother's requests to pray the rosary for peace. Awareness of the power given to mankind through the use of the rosary. Proliferate the use of this powerful weapon against evil.

Free Pray As You Go Posters!

Click on Image to Download

More Online Rosary Resources

Animated Rosary Online with Chant

WordBytes Good News Ministries Rosary

In this Cyber-Rosary, when it's time to pray on a rosary bead, place your mouse curser over the bead and (if you're not using WebTV) it will change from blue to gold.

Rosary with Images of a Chapel

A Shepherd In Combat Boots

This book tells the moving story of Father Emil Kapaun, a chaplain from Kansas who served during the Korean War. He was captured by the North Koreans and died in prison at the age of 35. His cause for sainthood has been opened in his diocese.

Fulton Sheen's Wartime Prayerbook

A wartime prayer book written for dangerous days like ours - made to fit in pocket or purse

Our parents before us understood that strife is rarely far from even the best of us, and they girded themselves for warfare, actual and spiritual.

Among the wisest of men who shepherded them was Archbishop Fulton Sheen, who won their hearts with his warm, engaging broadcast personality ... but in secret he put on the armor of God.

Thank you for visiting our Catholic Military Page.

We invite you to send names of those serving in the military and their families so our readers can pray for them. First name and last initial only.