Here in the United States, we celebrate the national holiday of Memorial day. Wrote former president Bill Clinton in a memo on the White House Program for the National Moment of Remembrance,

“Memorial Day represents one day of national awareness and reverence, honoring those Americans who died while defending our Nation and its values. While we should honor these heroes every day for the profound contribution they have made to securing our Nation’s freedom, we should honor them especially on Memorial Day.”

Let us also remember those women and men who have pursued and died for peace, justice, and freedom. I think of people like Sister Dorothy Stang, a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur who was killed because of her work with and on behalf of the people of Brazil; and Daniel Pearl, an American journalist writing for the Wall Street Journal who strove to build “bridges between diverse cultures” and who was kidnapped and killed by terrorists. I am also reminded of my own nun, Sister John Clement Hungerman, IHM, a remarkable woman and educator.

On this day of remembering, please add  the names of others who have given their life and their death to the pursuit of peace, justice, and freedom … and then join us tonight for a litany of heroes and martyrs during our prayer podcast at 6 p.m. CST (your time zone).

A prayer for peace in honor of Memorial Day by Pope John Paul II …

Mary, Queen of Peace, we entrust our lives to you.

Shelter us from war, hatred and oppression.

Teach us to live in peace, to educate ourselves for peace.

Inspire us to act justly, to revere all God has made.

Root peace firmly in our hearts and in our world.

Amen.

For whom would you like to pray this day?