Today we celebrate Memorial Day, which is a national holiday always observed on the last Monday of the month of May, honoring the men and women who died serving our country in the military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War. Waterloo, New York has been declared the birthplace of Memorial Day, which it has been celebrating since May 1866. In the United States, Memorial Day is seen by many as the start of the season of summer. Today, in a special way, we honor the men and women who currently serve in the military, those who have served, and those who have given their lives for their country.
Besides being Memorial Day, today also is the feast day of one of my favorite saints: the Venerable Bede. I think I first was drawn to him by his very unique name. Since the word “venerable” became a part of his name, he was given a great deal of respect and honor. He is actually that only native of Great Britain to be named as a Doctor of the Church, which was bestowed on him by Pope Leo XIII in 1899. Bede, a Benedictine monk, was a well-known author, teacher, linguist, and scholar. His famous work, The Ecclesiastical History of the English People, which I read as a freshman in college in the year long course of the history of Western Civilization, gained him the distinction of being known as the Father of English History.
In the Gospel today, we hear Jesus tell his disciples: In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” The life and work of Venerable Bede speak to the way he placed his faith and trust in Jesus, his Lord and Savior. May we place our faith and trust in him as well.
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