Justice, charity and prosperity go hand in hand
By Father Larry Kramer of St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church
Not many people are aware of this, but there is an historic Church connection to Veterans’ Day, marked this week on November 11. That day is the memorial of St. Martin of Tours, an early bishop who had left military life to become Christian, but who is nevertheless honored as a patron of soldiers. I have not researched this, but surely it was no coincidence that this day was chosen by the countries involved in World War I for the signing of the Armistice that formally ended that war. The three main countries at war were England, France and Germany—all Christian countries who would have been aware of St. Martin. 
St. Martin Street in Fort Wayne is a side street that bounds St. Peter’s Catholic Church. A beautiful stained glass window in that church facing that street shows a young St. Martin on horseback in military regalia using his officer’s sword to divide his military cloak to share with a beggar on a freezing cold day. Martin went on to become a deacon, a priest and a bishop who was noted for his outstanding efforts to help the poor.
Sadly history shows that the victorious nations in that war dishonored the occasion by crushing the defeated country’s economy, engendering a bitterness that led to the Second World War. The rail car selected as the location for the signing of that armistice was part of the Orient Express that frequently carried the crowned heads of Europe across that continent. Ironically, the same car was chosen by Hitler for the signing of France’s surrender to Germany at the beginning of that second horrendous war.
But, when World War II was over, instead of crushing the defeated nations, our country and its allies helped Germany and Japan rebuild their economies. While comedians joked that the best thing for a nation to do was declare war on the U.S. and surrender in order to become prosperous, the fact remains that the work of St. Martin continued as leaders realized that if anyone is to succeed, everyone must succeed. Justice, charity and prosperity go hand in hand.