Category Archives: Soldiers

Epic Saints: Wild, Wonderful and Weird Stories of God’s Heroes by Shaun McAfee – Review by Steven R. McEvoy

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I enjoy writing book reviews of books that I have read and then posting them on my website.  However, I didn’t feel comfortable writing a book review for this book since I am one of the contributors to it.  I did read the book and really enjoyed it and would recommend it to my readers.  For the review, I turned to my friend, Steven R. McEvoy and obtained his permission to post the review that he had written and originally appeared on his website:  www.bookreviewsandmore.ca  .  Steven does a great job of reviewing books and you should check out his website.  Here is his review of Epic Saints.

Epic Saints 
Wild, Wonderful, and Weird Stories of God’s Heroes

by
Shaun McAfee 


TAN Books
ISBN 9781505115123
ASIN B083Y67LD7

I love books like this one. I love reading about saints and am currently reading books from 4 different series about saints. But what a book like this does is introduce me to a few new saints, it gives me some more information and examples from saints that I am more familiar with. This was an EPIC READ that I could hardly put down. It is mostly eBook about specific saints and But there is also a lot of great information about the process of saint making, and the canon and calendar of saints. But the volume is not just the work of Shaun McAfee there are several contributors. Those contributors are:

Alex R. Hey
Sarah Spittler
Jessica Mcafee
Theresa Zoe Williams
Brooke Gregory
Deacon Marty Mcindoe
Shaun Mcafee
Laura Hensley
Mike Panlilio
Maggie Van Sciver

The essays interspersed through the biographies are:

Have Saints Always Been Canonized The Same Way?
What Is The General Roman Calendar?
Can These Stories Be Allegorical?
Are We Really Expected To Believe These Stories?
Why Are Some Saints Not On The Calendar?
What Is The Process For Canonization?
What Should We Do With Saint Narratives That Contain Errors Or Inconsistencies?
Why Are Some Canonized Quickly While Others Have Been In The Process For Centuries?
Can I Become A Saint?

And on top of that are profiles of 74 saints. Shaun and the other contributors do an amazing job or highlighting so many saints in such a short space. There are almost a dozen saints I need to go find further readings on. And my son is already looking forward to my rereading this book with him. 

In this volume there are a few tales about dragons. Saints pulling practical jokes and pranks. A bilocating death and many, many more stories of saints, of Martyrs and holy men and women. 

Though I will be honest with you, the pieces in this volume are so well written you might have a hard time picking a favorite. And you will definitely want to read more on at least some of the saints. An excellent read that I highly recommend. 

D-Day 75th Anniversary – by Deacon Marty McIndoe

Death and Dying, Godly Patriotism, Peace and Justice, Scripture, Service, Soldiers

D-Day 75th Anniversary – by Deacon Marty McIndoe

On this 75th anniversary of D-Day I felt I should write about it.  I have shared some of this before, but I think that it is needed now.  War is a terrible thing.  It brings out the worst in humanity.  It also brings out the best.  World War II was a terrible and destructive war but it also showed that humanity can, and will, stand up against tyranny and evil.  Jesus told us that “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).  This was lived out every day of World War II and one of the greatest examples of this is the D-Day invasion of Normandy, France beginning on June 6, 1944.  The Allied forces lost almost 10,000 soldiers during that invasion.  It was the beginning of the end of the Nazi terrorism and the pure evil that they had spread.  If any war could be considered necessary, this one certainly could.  Freedom fought back against tyranny and goodness fought back against evil.  The darkness of the Nazi regime was overcome by the light of the Allied forces.  Proudly, the United States stood tall in bringing forth the light.

D- Day has affected us all in many ways.  I realized how much it affected me when my wife and I traveled to France and visited the beaches of Normandy where D-Day happened.  My birth father was one of the many soldiers who landed at the beaches of Normandy and lived through that to continue to fight the Nazis in Europe.  I certainly am proud of him for that.  While standing on the beach there and hearing our guide tell us of the large loss of so many soldiers there, my wife turned to me and said, “Just think about this; if your father had been killed here that day, you would never had been born”.  It was a most sobering experience.  I thought about those almost ten thousand men who lost their lives on those beaches and mourned for them and then mourned for all those children that they were never able to bring forth.  My father had two brothers in that war.  One of them, Carl was killed while trying to free Italy from the Nazis.  He was only eighteen years old.  He is still buried in Italy.  His other brother, Milo, lost his leg while fighting the Nazis.  My father suffered from “Shell shock” which is what we now call Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).   War is terrible and does terrible things to people, yet our soldiers go out in to the midst of this hell, willing to give all for the sake of freedom.

Europe is free today because of the fighting of the Allied Forces.  When we were in Normandy we saw the honor and respect and gratitude the French people have for Americans.  There are so many memorials there showing this.  We also saw it in Rome where there are a number of plaques and monuments honoring American forces for setting them free.  We, as Americans, should be very proud of what our soldiers did in WWII.  We should continue to be proud of them for all of the many wars and conflicts that have occurred since then and before then.  I pray that someday war may cease, but until then a strong military is needed.  We need to support our soldiers.  I am a Vietnam War Era veteran.  It was a hard time to be an Army soldier then.  The Vietnam War was very unpopular and unfortunately people took it out on the soldiers.  Fortunately, this no longer seems to be the case.

As I said, we need to support our soldiers.  We can do this in so many ways.  We can always thank them for their service when we see them.  We can pick up their food or bar tab.  I have done this so many times and find it so uplifting, some of the best money I ever spent.  We can work with and support soldier and veteran’s groups.  I work with and support a local group, Boots on the Ground of Long Island.  It is definitely one of the best around.  Since I am a Roman Catholic deacon, I also offer spiritual counseling to some veterans who are suffering from PTSD.  They have seen and done things in the war that no one should ever see or do.  They carry this home with them and it affects them tremendously.  Sometimes all they need (besides professional counseling) is a friend to share lunch or a beer with and to lend an ear and caring mind.  Our soldiers do so much for us; we need to do for them.

Lastly, as strange as it might sound, we need to celebrate our soldiers.  Going to Veteran’s Day, Memorial Day and Fourth of July parades is one way of doing this.  Recognizing their accomplishments is also so important.  Take time to visit a soldier’s museum or monument.  Say a prayer for them.  Just today I saw a video from CBS News showing a 97 year old veteran of D-Day, who parachutes out of plane to the field where he landed on D-Day.  Check it out here (short commercial before) https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tom-rice-d-day-anniversary-97-year-old-paratrooper-jump-2019-06-05/ .  This is quite a way to celebrate.  Remember, we are called to thank and celebrate the men and women who did so much for us.  God bless America.

Armed Forces Day: Honoring Our Soldiers – by Deacon Marty McIndoe

Godly Patriotism, Peace and Justice, Prayer, Service, Soldiers

War is an absolutely terrible thing and should be avoided whenever possible.  Unfortunately it isn’t always possible to avoid.  Freedom is a very special gift that needs to be upheld.  Often the only way to do this is to fight for it and to have a strong military to defend it.  The United States has been so instrumental in winning freedom and protecting freedom, not only within its own boundaries, but also in foreign lands.  It has been a strong military that allows that.  Technology certainly plays an important role in a strong military but at the heart of our strength is the individual soldier.  Armed Forces Day is a day for us to stop and honor those who are serving our country in the five different branches of the Armed Forces.  We are honoring our own brothers and sisters, sons and daughters and neighbors.  These are people who have volunteered to serve their country (us) and to fight and even perhaps to die for us.  They most certainly follow Jesus’ words where He said, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”

We have three special days every year to celebrate our soldiers.  This Saturday, May 18th is Armed Forces Day.  On this day we honor all who presently serve our country within the five branches of the Military; The Army, The Air Force, the Navy, the Marine Corp and the Coast Guard.  At the end of this month we will have Memorial Day when we honor all those soldiers who have given their life for their country.  In November we have Veteran’s Day.  That is the day that we honor all who have served their country.  I am very proud to be a United States Vietnam War Era Veteran.  I enlisted back in 1969, right after finishing college.  For me, it was a way for me to show my love for the country that has given me so much.  It was an honor to serve, even though it was an unpopular war.  I work with a number of young war veterans (from the Middle Eastern wars) who suffer from PTSD, but all of them tell me that it was an honor for them to serve their country.  This week we should honor all those who currently serve.

Armed Forces Day was first announced on August 21, 1949 to declare one day to celebrate all of the five branches of the military.  This stemmed from the unification of all military branches under one agency, the Department of Defense.  In a speech announcing the creation of the day, President Truman “praised the work of the military services at home and across the seas.” He said, “It is vital to the security of the nation and to the establishment of a desirable peace.”  The first official Armed Forces Day took place on May 20, 1950, and was themed “Teamed for Defense.” In honor of the special day, B-36 Bombers flew over state capitals, a march was led by more than 10,000 veterans and troops in Washington, D.C., and over 33,000 people participated in a New York City parade.  In 1961, John F. Kennedy declared Armed Forces Day a national holiday. It’s celebrated on the third Saturday of every May.

An excerpt taken from an article written in the New York Post on May 17, 1952, sums up Armed Forces Day’s utmost importance, “It is our most earnest hope that those who are in positions of peril, that those who have made exceptional sacrifices, yes, and those who are afflicted with plain drudgery and boredom, may somehow know that we hold them in exceptional esteem. Perhaps if we are a little more conscious of our debt of honored affection they may be a little more aware of how much we think of them.”    In 1963 President John F. Kennedy said, “Our Servicemen and women are serving throughout the world as guardians of peace–many of them away from their homes, their friends and their families. They are visible evidence of our determination to meet any threat to the peace with measured strength and high resolve. They are also evidence of a harsh but inescapable truth–that the survival of freedom requires great cost and commitment, and great personal sacrifice.”

On Armed Forces Day 2018, President Donald Trump said, “On Armed Forces Day, we pay tribute to the extraordinary men and women who serve our Nation with valor and distinction in all branches of the military.  This annual observance honors their steadfast service in preserving our Nation’s peace, preserving our freedom, and defending our founding principles.  Throughout our history, in times of war and peace, our service members have served with bravery, skill, and unwavering devotion to duty.  There is no fighting force that rivals that of the United States military.  The precious liberties all Americans enjoy are possible because, every day and without exception, our Armed Forces relentlessly and tirelessly carry out the critical mission of protecting our country, our freedoms, and our way of life.”  He continued, “On this day, and every day, we owe a debt of gratitude to our service members stationed at home and those deployed around the world.  All across America, we enjoy the blessings of liberty because our Nation’s finest men and women willingly accept the call to service.  We proudly salute our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen, and recognize the families who serve alongside them for their courage and commitment.”

What is a good way to honor them?  That certainly varies from individual to individual.  For me, whenever I see a soldier in uniform I thank them for their service.  Whenever possible I try to do little things like pick up their check in a restaurant or offer to sit down with them and have a coffee or a beer together.  I go out of my way (it took a while for my wife to get used to this) to go and try to talk to a soldier.  All of this usually brings a smile from the soldier, and certainly makes me feel good.  I also try to go to our local airport to welcome home soldiers when I know one is scheduled to come in.  I support and work with a local Long Island group called Boots on the Ground who sends out care packages oversees to the soldiers.  One of my ministries is to meet with soldiers who are suffering from PTSD.   I make sure that they go to a trained therapist, but I also meet with them for coffee and breakfast and lunch and spend time talking with them.  There are so many out there who are hurting and even contemplating suicide.  You would be surprised how just spending a little time with them, can help them (and it makes me feel good).  I also pray every day for our soldiers.  I believe strongly in the power of prayer.  This is something everyone can do.

So this Saturday and all next week (and basically every day after), let us honor our soldiers and thank God for them and ask Him to protect them.  God is good.

Catholic Prayers for our soldiers:

Priest (or leader): Let us pray for our brothers and sisters as they go forth with courage and determination to face the forces of violence, weapons of destruction and hearts filled with hate. 

RESPONSE: THROUGH THE DARKNESS BRING US TO THE LIGHT. 

Deacon or Reader:
For our Commander-In-Chief, President N.N., and our political and military leaders that they may tirelessly seek peaceful settlements to international disputes; we pray to the Lord:

That the Lord may preserve the members of our Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard and Air Force from all harm; we pray to the Lord:

That even in war, we may keep clearly before us the defense of all human rights, especially the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; we pray to the Lord:

That the families, relatives and friends of our military members may be strengthened in this time of concern and anxiety; we pray to the Lord:

That the Lord may help families with men and women in the armed forces to cope with daily challenges in the absence of their loved ones; we pray to the Lord:

That our homeland will be preserved from violence and terrorism; we pray to the Lord:

That the nations of the world will seek to work together in harmony and peace; we pray to the Lord:

That the hearts of all men and women will be moved to pursue true peace and justice; we pray to the Lord:

That violence may be overcome by peace; that weapons of destruction be transformed into tools of justice, and hate give way to true charity; we pray to the Lord:

That grateful for and inspired by those veterans who have given their lives for our country we may bravely face the challenges ahead; we pray to the Lord:


Priest (or leader): Lord God, Almighty Father,
creator of mankind and author of peace,
as we are ever mindful of the cost paid for the liberty we possess,
we ask you to bless the members of our armed forces.
Give them courage, hope and strength.
May they ever experience your firm support, gentle love and compassionate healing.
Be their power and protector, leading them from darkness to light.
To you be all glory, honor and praise, now and forever.

Amen.