I Remember D-Day

 

Things meshed during mass today, words, thoughts and events.

The Bible Study group early this morning was on the Gospel of John, near the end.  The focus of that Protestant group and some of their thoughts echoed the words of this morning’s Catholic mass Gospel and sermon.  I’m not sure it is through any deliberate efforts at unity of faiths, as our new pope called for, but it is happening nonetheless.  The Gospel guys spoke of things Jesus wanted to do, and there from the cross He gave His mother to the apostle, John.  One of the study group men said it was it was on Jesus’ “bucket list” of things He had to do before dying.  But I experienced those final words differently.  The entire Gospel of John is called “The Gospel of Love”, and that focus painted my way of understanding what Jesus said.  Rather than things Jesus wanted to accomplish for Himself before dying, like a bucket list, I saw it as the final part of His total giving of Self, agape love.”  Yes, he willingly gave up His human life, but just before that He had one last thing He found hardest to let go of --- His human love of His mother.  He had once told His apostles that to follow Him they’d have to let go of father and mother, sister and brother, but with His final words He demonstrated how hard that commitment was, to let go of everything you want for yourself, and totally love, by totally giving of yourself. 

I recently read St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila’s words on “The Dark Night of the Soul.”  Those are words detailing what they describe as contemplative prayer, a total emptying of “self”.  It is a prayer where they neither seek nor experience, in the human senses, anything.  It’s hard to understand, because with human bodies how can you not “sense” things?  The point I took away from the words I read was that we don’t initiate contemplative prayer, God does, and we don’t tell God what to do or when.  But God, in His Love, communes Love to us.  It is the height of prayer.

I’ve been praying a Novena for the Poor Souls in Purgatory.  The nine days of prayer include some words describing Purgatory, as the Catholic Church describes it, and it includes unique words supposedly conveyed by some souls presently in Purgatory.  Those people say that they died and entered a final judgement.  They spoke of seeing the face of Jesus but because of their earthly sins and attachments, they needed to be purified of them in Purgatory.  But, and most notably, they state that having seen the face of Jesus and not been allowed to stay in His presence is a pain beyond words; no fire is as painful.  In seeing the face of Jesus, they saw “Love,” and so regretted anything they did on earth which was now keeping them from that Love.  “If you only knew, ….” They state.   

Today is June 6, historically known as D-Day.  It was the day troops from many countries joined to invade France and rid it of Nazi occupation.  It was the start of the end of World War II.  I was surprised when the Bible Study group leader read a letter that was given by General George Washington on that D-Day morning, to the troops, many of whom would soon die.  The General’s letter included that “we do this mission, and offer up our lives, for love of God and neighbor.”  The words basically described, to me, a total giving of self.  I’m reasonably sure most of those soldiers still had earthly attachments, even as they went willingly to their deaths and went to, and perhaps still are in, Purgatory.  There’s many scenes in the movie Saving Private Ryan which show a dying soldier, and as he lay dying he cries out: “momma, momma,” as his last words.  Before their death these soldiers still wanted mother, but before His death Jesus willingly let her go.  That was a total gift of Self.

All these thoughts came to me at mass this morning, where no one mentioned D-Day.  We forgot that day, and what they did.  The Normandy, France graveyard of troops who died that day is vast; my father once told me he was one of the ones who helped bury them.  And today no one remembers or prays for them.

That’s why I continue to offer the Novena Prayer for the Poor Souls in Purgatory.  It’s an act of love, of giving of myself for my neighbor, whose name I may not know, but will remember.  I pray for the soldiers who died that day, on both sides of the battle.  That is what Love does.

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And after mass, during a time of adoration, I prayed from my Liturgy of the Hours prayer book.  This is the hymn which began today’s Morning Prayer:

Lord, whose love to humble service
Bore the weight of human need,
Who did on the cross, forsaken,
Show us mercy’s perfect deed:

We, your servants, bring the worship
Not of voice alone, but heart;
Consecrating to Your purpose
Every gift which You impart.

As we worship, grant us vision,
Till Your love’s revealing light,
Till the height and depth and greatness
Dawns upon our human sight;
Making known the needs and burdens
Your compassion bids us bear,
Stirring us to faithful service,
Your abundant life to share.

Called from worship into service
Forth in Your great name we go,
To the child, the youth, the aged,
Love in living deeds to show.

Hope and health, goodwill and comfort,
Counsel, aid, and peace we give,
That Your children Lord, in freedom,
May Your mercy know, and live.