November 17
In the opening days of the Battle of the Bulge the advancing German forces overran the 106th Infantry Division and took more than seven thousand prisoners. Chaplain Paul Cavanaugh was among this group of unfortunate men who found themselves herded onto trains without heat or food in bitter winter conditions. For days they suffered from extreme cold and hunger as they traveled farther and farther east. They were finally discharged from the train to a prison camp at a place called Bad Orb, Germany. Forced into makeshift barracks, they found little improvement in their living conditions. Food was scarce, heat nonexistent, and the guards brutal.
In this desolate situation Chaplain Cavanaugh and the men of the 106th observed Christmas Eve 1944. Under these conditions they came closer to the actual poverty of the Nativity scene than could possibly be experienced in an actual church. As the men huddled together to fight the cold, the chaplain spoke a few words that he later thought might have been the “best Christmas sermon he would ever give.” He talked to them about the blessed night in another faraway place long before, when God demonstrated for all time his love for mankind. He assured his fellow soldiers that this love continued for each one of them individually, in spite of their misery and isolation. He told them that God’s love was present even there in the frozen barracks of a prisoner-of-war camp.478
The chaplain prayed, “Lord, grant peace to the world… Grant that the peace which Christ, who is called the Prince of Peace, came to bring us may be established all over the world.” In the deep silence lasting through the night after this impromptu service, Paul Cavanaugh felt at long last that all was “still and calm and peaceful” over this modern nativity scene.479
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
November 18
Charles Ziers was the new man in a veteran crew. He looked to the old-timers for support in his first action. His sergeant told him, “Ziers, just keep your eyes and ears open and do as I have shown you and you’ll come out on top.”480 These were the last words spoken to him by the sergeant. Ziers’ Sherman tank was part of the leading element in an attack on enemy hilltop positions holding up the division advance toward Cologne. Incoming fire was heavy. Suddenly there was a brilliant flash and explosion, and everything went dark.
Not knowing at first if he was dead or alive, Ziers slowly began to smell gasoline and gun powder. He realized that his tank was on fire and that his fellow crewmen were either dead or gone. He knew that he had to get out of the tank before it exploded, but the barrel of the main gun was blocking his hatch. Bleeding and in pain, the trapped soldier “prayed like never before.”481 Ziers passed out again briefly, and, when his head cleared, suddenly knew he was going to get out of that tank. He said, “Thank you Lord,” and started looking for the way. He finally saw it:
There was a narrow passage of about 2 ft. leading across to the driver’s compartment. If I could fit through that tiny space I would be home free. After many attempts I finally took off all of my clothes… with still no success. The smoke got thicker and I became more desperate. Finally I found a bucket of grease under my seat and smeared it all around the hole. Still no luck. I smeared the rest of the grease all over my body and then somehow with the Grace of God, I was free.482
This story has such an obvious spiritual meaning that it is practically a sermon by itself: if you find yourself in a tight spot, “Pray like never before.” God will show you a way. Unfortunately, we often have to come to our wit’s end to reaffirm this truth for ourselves. We should always remember that God is waiting for us to bring our problems and our crises to him.
You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you.
November 19
Archbishop Francis Spellman’s classic
Yes, it was another Soldier, One Who had vision and a mission beyond the grave, a Soldier Who died for something good to save His fellow men…
He is a warrior “Heaven-flung and heart fleshed.” He too is wearing a helmet, “the helmet of salvation.” He is armed with “the sword of the spirit against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in high places.” He too is a Pilot to all who go down to the sea in ships, to all who take wings and fly through the air, to all who walk human pathways.
This Soldier said: “He that shall lose his life for my sake shall find it.”… All men were His brothers and to them He gave a new commandment, that they love one another. He was a Captain who bivouacked with his men, sharing privations and hardships.
The other Soldier returns to tell me that Love never sacrifices in vain. He bids me look with shining eyes towards the day when men, “shall turn their swords into ploughshares and their spears into sickles.”483
The greatest Soldier has also been called the Prince of Peace. His message of love and forgiveness opened the sure path to God and ultimate peace for every human being. We may not see peace on Earth until the end days, but on the personal level, it is available in our lives every day. Our Lord and Savior waits for our response.
He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
November 20
