As we continue our observance of Armed Forces Day, I offer this version of the Armed Forces Medley:
Today (Saturday, 16 May) is Armed Forces Day, 2026.
President Harry S Truman led the effort to establish a single holiday for citizens to come together and thank our military members for their patriotic service in support of our country.
On 31 August 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force Days. The single-day celebration stemmed from the unification of the Armed Forces under one department - the U.S. Department of Defense.
As we observe this day, we salute the members of our communities who are currently serving and have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
United Service Organizations: When is Armed Forces Day?
"I hope to die young, but as late in life as possible." That quote from a Greek philosopher was a favorite of the legendary broadcaster and anchorman Ernie Anastos, who passed away a few weeks ago at age 82. Ernie spent more than 40 years delivering the news on New York's airwaves, but he also remained connected to The Christophers since befriending our former director, Father John Catoir, in the 1980s. The Christopher motto - "It's better to light one candle than to curse the darkness" - resonated with Ernie, whose approach to life was always a positive one.
During a Christopher Closeup interview in 2017, Ernie recalled his formative years: "I grew up in a home where we were taught to feel good about life [by] my mom, my dad, and particularly my grandfather, who was one of the first ordained Greek Orthodox priests in America. . . . He would walk out the door, and he would have some fruit in his hand to go visit someone in the hospital. He would go to a neighbor's house, and he would talk to people. . . . He brought people together. I remember in our home - because my grandparents lived with us - there would be meetings where he would bring in people from the Catholic faith, Jewish faith. He would be open to making sure we all understood that we came from the same source and that we were brothers and sisters and that we would love one another and respect one another. I learned that from him."
It was in his grandfather's extensive collection of books where Ernie first read the aforementioned quote by the Greek philosopher: That idea, Ernie said, reflects "the spirit and the affirmation of life. It's wanting to make sure that you never feel bored, that you always realize the magic and the newness . . . that we have in front of us, to be able to explore and become everything that we possibly could be, and to learn from others."
As much as Ernie tried to inject positivity into his work, the sad truth is that the news is often dark. How did he keep from becoming cynical when faced with those situations? Ernie responded, "The good Lord has given us life. . . . We can turn it into something beautiful or something ugly. With my experience working in the news all these years, I've seen the injustices. I've seen the unfairness. I've seen the pain. . . . I remember being on the air September 11th. I didn't stop for months. . . . Even to this day, we've had so many current events, unfortunately, that have happened, where you say to yourself, what's wrong? How come we can't come together?. . . . ..What can we do to try and make this a better world? I think we all have that opportunity. We just have to find a way."
Ernie attributed his longevity in the TV news business back to his immigrant grandparents, noting, "I can relate to all of those different age groups, especially now, since I've been married many years. My wife and I have raised two beautiful children and now we have grandchildren. . . . [I can relate to] people of all ages, of all ethnicities, of all races. I feel like I've been blessed to have that in my life."
The people who got to know Ernie Anastos, either personally or on our TV screens, were also blessed to have him in our lives. Though we wish he could have had more years on this earth, we are grateful that his youthful attitude stayed with him all his days.
This essay is a recent "Light One Candle"
column by Tony Rossi, Director of Communications, The Christophers; it is one of a series of
weekly columns that deal with a variety of topics and current
events.
Background information:
The Christophers
"Saint Joseph cared for the family that the Lord entrusted to him. Guardianship means being attentive to others, respecting their choices, and caring for them. St. Joseph shows us that presence and guardianship are inseparable dimensions: we can only care for others by being present, and we are only present when we assume responsibility for the other." - Pope Leo XIV
As we continue our celebration of the Ascension, I offer this version of "Do Not Stand and Stare in Wonder":
Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. The assigned readings are Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:17-23, and Matthew 28:16-20. The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 47 (Psalm 47:2-3, 6-9).
For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:
YouTube: Spirit & Psalm 2025 – Ascension – Psalm
Today's Gospel reading is as follows:
Reflection on these readings and on this celebration:
Crossroads Initiative: Ascension of Christ & the New Evangelization
uCatholic: The Solemnity Of The Ascension
Aleteia: Philip Kosloski: Jesus ascends and the devil descends on the Ascension (8 MAY 24)
"It was such a relief when my spiritual mentor told me, 'A balanced life is a myth.'
"Maybe you know this myth well. It tells us that life can be neatly divided into compartments, and that we can give the right amount of energy, attention, and productivity to each one. Nothing falls behind. Nothing becomes chaotic. Nothing is strained. Nothing spills over. Nothing costs too much.
"If one is looking for balance, do not read the Gospel."
In a recent commentary, Father Joe Newman, OSFS, reflected on the importance of faithfully loving and living God-s will in this moment/
To access Fr. Newman's complete post, please visit:
De Sales Weekly: Provincial Reflection: Balanced? (a4 MAY 26)
"God's blessings flow continuously, but unless we make ourselves into a vessel for them, they will flow elsewhere. Prayer is the act of turning ourselves into a vehicle for the Divine. Prayer changes the world because it changes us." - Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
As we celebrate Mother's Day (Happy Mother's Day to all mothers, grandmothers, godmothers, and others who serve in the role of a mother!), I offer this presentation of "Sing of Mary" to offer Mother's Day greetings to our Blessed Mother, Mary
Today the Church celebrates the Sixth Sunday of Easter. The assigned readings are Acts 8:5-8, 14-17; 1 Peter 3:15-18; and John 14:15-21. The Responsorial Psalm is from Psalm 66 (Psalm 66:1-7, 16, 20).
For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:
YouTube: Respond & Acclaim 2026 - Easter 6 - Psalm
The Gospel reading is as follows:
Jesus said to his disciples: "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father,
and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows him. But you know him, because he remains with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live and you will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him."
Reflections related to these readings:
Community in Mission: Lessons of Love - A Homily for the 6th Sunday of Easter (9 MAY 26)
Benedictine College: This Sunday, Your Baptism Is for Others, Not Just You (7 MAY 26)
Word on Fire: Five Signs of the Holy Spirit (Cycle A * Easter * 6th Week)
The Pilot: Echoes: Scott Hahn: Alive in the Spirit (8 MAY 26)
The Quiet Corner: Monasticism in Transition: A 900-Year Legacy Faces a New Horizon (8 MAY 26)
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