Category: Saint of the Day

“All Gave Some, Some Gave All”

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

May 25 – 26, 2024

Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20

¹⁶ Meanwhile the eleven disciples set out for Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had arranged to meet them. ¹⁷ When they saw Him they fell down before Him, though some hesitated. ¹⁸ Jesus came up and spoke to them. He said, ‘All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to Me. ¹⁹ Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations; baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you. And look, I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.’

Technically, the Easter season ends today.  Now, the Trinity is a hard topic to talk about, so I wanted to do some research.  I have the perfect book on the subject, but I couldn’t find it.  I searched for five or six days, and I just couldn’t find it.  The book I was searching for is “The Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma” by Father Ludwig Ott.  In that book, there is a chapter on the Trinity.   So, I thought that maybe Lori took it to brush up on some things, but I forgot to ask her to bring it back to the church.  It dawned on me too late that I could have borrowed Liz’s copy of the book.  So, I’ll preach on it next year. 

I do have some thoughts about Memorial Day weekend.  During this weekend of sales, I am sure you can get some great deals on mattresses and cars.  There might even be a good deal at My Pillow; I don’t know . . . You’ll have to check their website.   But this weekend, we commemorate those who have fallen in service to our country.  We pray for their souls and the families they left behind.  Have you ever seen the movie, “Taking Chance”?  It’s about a Marine who was killed in action (KIA) overseas and the process of bringing him home for burial.   My friends said, “Oh, you should see it!  We cried!”  I said, “That’s my 9-to-5 job. That was part of my day job when I worked for Uncle Sam.”  Oh.  

Usually, when a priest dies, his coffin is carried to the grave by his brother priests.  While I was still serving, I hung around some very bad places; it was the nature of the business I was in.  I had an agreement with my commanders that if I got whacked while serving in their unit, I would be carried to my grave by my fellow soldiers.  I would have, and have, done it for them, and they would do it for me.  I still wish it to be that way, but I retired, so that won’t happen.

We all know someone who was killed.  I knew a very special soldier who was one of Darby’s Rangers.  President Reagan called them the “Boys of Pointe du Hoc.”  On June 6, 1944, these elite soldiers scaled the cliffs at Normandy to silence the guns during an invasion in World War II.  These soldiers were the toughest of the tough.  This one man who served in that unit was not the man I knew but another.  He was the radioman or the RTO.  Now, of all the jobs in the Army, that’s the one you don’t want because you’re the one who gets killed first.  The enemy knows that the radio guy is the one who calls in the bad stuff on them, and that’s the first one they go for.  Nancy’s brother was a radioman in Vietnam, and he was killed.  Bill Peak was a radioman, but he was lucky.  But that man climbed the cliffs at Normandy.  His unit went all the way to Germany and opened the gates of Buchenwald.  He survived the war.  Nonetheless, 20 years later, on June 6, 1964, that soldier took out his service weapon and committed suicide.  Sometimes, it takes soldiers a long time to die of their wounds.  General Pershing said, “The tombstones silently speak more than words could ever say. 

Father’s Reflections . . . I have seen two of my doctors this week and got good reports from both.  One of the doctors I’ve been seeing for a couple of decades asked me, “When are you going to retire?”  I said, “I think my retirement letter will probably be my obituary.”   

How will you apply this message to your life?  ________________________________________

You can read all of Father Fitzgibbons’ sermons by going to AnnunciationCatholicAlbemarle.com, clicking on “Blog” then “Categories” and then “Sermon Notes.”  On a cell phone: click on “Blog” and then “Menu.”  Scroll to the bottom and click on “Categories.”  Sermon Notes are also available on the Church’s Facebook page at OLA.Catholic.Church.  Click on “Groups” and then “Sermon Notes.”

---