The hymn you chose couldn’t be more appropriate. Written in Britain during WWI.
Jerry
I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above,
Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love;
The love that asks no question, the love that stands the test,
That lays upon the altar the dearest and the best;
The love that never falters, the love that pays the price,
The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.
I heard my country calling, away across the sea,
Across the waste of waters she calls and calls to me.
Her sword is girded at her side, her helmet on her head,
And round her feet are lying the dying and the dead.
I hear the noise of battle, the thunder of her guns,
I haste to thee my mother, a son among thy sons.
And there’s another country, I’ve heard of long ago,
Most dear to them that love her, most great to them that know;
We may not count her armies, we may not see her King;
Her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering;
And soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase,
And her ways are ways of gentleness, and all her paths are peace.
This was so beautiful. I did not know these two (except for the bit of blogging that Marc did so I felt I got to know a bit about the frilly-shirted, illustrious lad) but they were clearly full of love for the Lord and their lives showed the fruit of this conviction that was in their hearts. Faithful servants to the end … father loving his family and spending quality time with them and son laying his life down for this great man. Wow.
I’ve been on a mission to help this family overcome the homeless situation by soliciting donation assistance to their cause via Bank America through my internet contacts. I recieved the following email today from someone who is working on the possibility of a brand new home for the family.
I will forward to her all the contact information. Say a prayer that this works out, be it God’s will, it will.
Reading Message
To: Rachel #137756
From: Jo #35152
Subject: Prayer request Family in Need Tragic Loss
Sent: 04-Jul-2008 01:00:35 PM EST
——————————————————————————–
Rachel,
You definitely have my prayers!
On a different note, I volunteer for Make A Wish and recently received an e-mail about the Extreme Home Makeover Show. The show was solicting applicants. I can’t imagine a more deserving family. I will contact the Show and see if they are interested in this family.
From something I blogged a coulp eof years ago ~
There is a Mexican saying that we die three deaths: the first when our bodies die, the second when our bodies are lowered into the earth out of sight, and the third when our loved ones forget us. The Greeks have a saying which is repeated at every memorial service beginning at the funeral and continuing as long as anyone alive remembers the fallen one: May his/her memory be eternal. Eonia I Mnimi, memory Eternal…
Let us this day hang the lamp of illumination and spiritual radiance before the sepulchres of our ancestors, and dead loved ones. Let us even hang it reverently before the tombs of our enemies, if we have them, and beseech the Almighty to let forgiveness flow down the riverbeds of time and mortality to bathe us now and forevermore.
II Maccabees 12:43-46: “And making a gathering, he [Judas] sent twelve thousand drachms of silver to Jerusalem for sacrifice to be offered for the sins of the dead, thinking well and religiously concerning the resurrection, (For if he had not hoped that they that were slain should rise again, it would have seemed superfluous and vain to pray for the dead,) And because he considered that they who had fallen asleep with godliness, had great grace laid up for them. It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins.”
Like many others words fail me. (unlike Thom I do not have the gift to gab)
They were such beautiful men. Like Hannah said “you know mom dad and Marc met God and Mary and didn’t want to come back but thats ok because they are with God.” words from a 7 year old. who would have known.
Life is short so forget that tv show or computer and play and love your kids and tell you husband or wife of the love you have for them, because you never know when God will need them.
Thank you franscicans of the Immaculate for the honor you sent them home with.
Ave Maria!
We can be both sad and happy. We miss them terribly, but we know that they are still with us and are happy in heaven. We hope to see them again. When that happens every tear will be wiped away and our happiness will never be taken away again.
I’M STILL IN DISBELIEF AFTER WATCHING THR EXTREME MAKEOVER SHOW THIS PAST SUNDAY NIGHT. IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT GOD GIVES US NOTHING THAT WE CAN’T HANDLE BUT AND THIS IS A BIG BUT, HOW CAN ANY FAMILY HANDLE SO MUCH TRAGEDY IN ONE YEAR’S TIME ? I’M OVERWHELMED BY THE STAMINA, COURAGE & FAITH THAT CAROL AND HER FAMILY HAVE SHOWN. IT HAS GOT TO BE SO DIFFICULT TRYING TO COPE AND MISSING THE LOVE OF HER LIFE (THOM)AND HER BLESSED SON, MARC. GOD KEEP THEM IN HIS CARE & KEEP THEM TOGETHER IN A MORE STRONGER WAY. THEY HAVE A BEAUTIFUL NEW HOME, THANKS TO TY, AND I PRAY THAT THIS NEW BEGINNING WILL ENRICH ALL OF THEIR LIVES WITH THE GOOD MEMORIES OF THEIR PAST LIVES.
I used to think for years that it was sort of insulting to tell someone that God doesn’t give them what they cannot handle. I felt like some people’s crosses were indeed far more than anyone could ever carry … I recall a family when I was growing up who went on vacation and a tractor trailer truck jack-knifed the median killing all three children but not killing the parents. Like the Girards, the pain must be unbearable … truly unbearable. However, as I’ve gotten older I think the point is that one CANNOT carry this cross on his/her own … they need help carrying the cross. Help from Christ and help from everyone else (the Simons of Cyrene). It is indeed too much for just Carol and her children to bear on their own. They are so blessed to be surrounded by Godly friends and to not be too proud to get on their knees each day to ask for daily strength. We must keep praying.
Mary Victrix 
That was so beautiful! You had us all in tears Father! Rest in Peace, Knights of Lepanto, guardians of the family, and soldiers of Christ.
Thanks Father
The hymn you chose couldn’t be more appropriate. Written in Britain during WWI.
Jerry
I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above,
Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love;
The love that asks no question, the love that stands the test,
That lays upon the altar the dearest and the best;
The love that never falters, the love that pays the price,
The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.
I heard my country calling, away across the sea,
Across the waste of waters she calls and calls to me.
Her sword is girded at her side, her helmet on her head,
And round her feet are lying the dying and the dead.
I hear the noise of battle, the thunder of her guns,
I haste to thee my mother, a son among thy sons.
And there’s another country, I’ve heard of long ago,
Most dear to them that love her, most great to them that know;
We may not count her armies, we may not see her King;
Her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering;
And soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase,
And her ways are ways of gentleness, and all her paths are peace.
Words do fail. But emoitions don’t.
This was so beautiful. I did not know these two (except for the bit of blogging that Marc did so I felt I got to know a bit about the frilly-shirted, illustrious lad) but they were clearly full of love for the Lord and their lives showed the fruit of this conviction that was in their hearts. Faithful servants to the end … father loving his family and spending quality time with them and son laying his life down for this great man. Wow.
Thank you, Father, for such a wonderful, moving portrayal of Thom and Marc.
May their souls be at peace and enjoying the eternal beatitude of their new home.
Beautiful lyrics to the hymn, too.
Father:
I’ve been on a mission to help this family overcome the homeless situation by soliciting donation assistance to their cause via Bank America through my internet contacts. I recieved the following email today from someone who is working on the possibility of a brand new home for the family.
I will forward to her all the contact information. Say a prayer that this works out, be it God’s will, it will.
Reading Message
To: Rachel #137756
From: Jo #35152
Subject: Prayer request Family in Need Tragic Loss
Sent: 04-Jul-2008 01:00:35 PM EST
——————————————————————————–
Rachel,
You definitely have my prayers!
On a different note, I volunteer for Make A Wish and recently received an e-mail about the Extreme Home Makeover Show. The show was solicting applicants. I can’t imagine a more deserving family. I will contact the Show and see if they are interested in this family.
Take care,
Jo
Pingback: We will miss you Thom and Marc Girard! | Air Maria
Memory eternal, dear brothers.
From something I blogged a coulp eof years ago ~
There is a Mexican saying that we die three deaths: the first when our bodies die, the second when our bodies are lowered into the earth out of sight, and the third when our loved ones forget us. The Greeks have a saying which is repeated at every memorial service beginning at the funeral and continuing as long as anyone alive remembers the fallen one: May his/her memory be eternal. Eonia I Mnimi, memory Eternal…
Let us this day hang the lamp of illumination and spiritual radiance before the sepulchres of our ancestors, and dead loved ones. Let us even hang it reverently before the tombs of our enemies, if we have them, and beseech the Almighty to let forgiveness flow down the riverbeds of time and mortality to bathe us now and forevermore.
II Maccabees 12:43-46: “And making a gathering, he [Judas] sent twelve thousand drachms of silver to Jerusalem for sacrifice to be offered for the sins of the dead, thinking well and religiously concerning the resurrection, (For if he had not hoped that they that were slain should rise again, it would have seemed superfluous and vain to pray for the dead,) And because he considered that they who had fallen asleep with godliness, had great grace laid up for them. It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins.”
Pax Christi,
Deborah
I am speachless..that was beautiful…that was there life…and they lived it till the end….That was amazing really turely amazing…
Like many others words fail me. (unlike Thom I do not have the gift to gab)
They were such beautiful men. Like Hannah said “you know mom dad and Marc met God and Mary and didn’t want to come back but thats ok because they are with God.” words from a 7 year old. who would have known.
Life is short so forget that tv show or computer and play and love your kids and tell you husband or wife of the love you have for them, because you never know when God will need them.
Thank you franscicans of the Immaculate for the honor you sent them home with.
Ave Maria!
Pingback: Encampment Interview (Udate: Interview with Thom Girard) « Mary Victrix
that was a beautiful movie, whoever did it, did a very good job.
Pingback: Laying Our knights to Rest « Mary Victrix
i have to be happy that thoes kights diead cause there alive in heavin so thay did’t diy but we are verey sad 😦 but we have to be happy 🙂
It’s already been a month Marc…miss you so much! 😦
Hanna,
Ave Maria!
We can be both sad and happy. We miss them terribly, but we know that they are still with us and are happy in heaven. We hope to see them again. When that happens every tear will be wiped away and our happiness will never be taken away again.
Ave Maria
Grace and peace to you through Mary.
I never met these two wonderful people but I saw them on Extreme Makeover Home Edition on Sunday and I cried my eyes out. This is very sad.
I’M STILL IN DISBELIEF AFTER WATCHING THR EXTREME MAKEOVER SHOW THIS PAST SUNDAY NIGHT. IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT GOD GIVES US NOTHING THAT WE CAN’T HANDLE BUT AND THIS IS A BIG BUT, HOW CAN ANY FAMILY HANDLE SO MUCH TRAGEDY IN ONE YEAR’S TIME ? I’M OVERWHELMED BY THE STAMINA, COURAGE & FAITH THAT CAROL AND HER FAMILY HAVE SHOWN. IT HAS GOT TO BE SO DIFFICULT TRYING TO COPE AND MISSING THE LOVE OF HER LIFE (THOM)AND HER BLESSED SON, MARC. GOD KEEP THEM IN HIS CARE & KEEP THEM TOGETHER IN A MORE STRONGER WAY. THEY HAVE A BEAUTIFUL NEW HOME, THANKS TO TY, AND I PRAY THAT THIS NEW BEGINNING WILL ENRICH ALL OF THEIR LIVES WITH THE GOOD MEMORIES OF THEIR PAST LIVES.
Marcia –
I used to think for years that it was sort of insulting to tell someone that God doesn’t give them what they cannot handle. I felt like some people’s crosses were indeed far more than anyone could ever carry … I recall a family when I was growing up who went on vacation and a tractor trailer truck jack-knifed the median killing all three children but not killing the parents. Like the Girards, the pain must be unbearable … truly unbearable. However, as I’ve gotten older I think the point is that one CANNOT carry this cross on his/her own … they need help carrying the cross. Help from Christ and help from everyone else (the Simons of Cyrene). It is indeed too much for just Carol and her children to bear on their own. They are so blessed to be surrounded by Godly friends and to not be too proud to get on their knees each day to ask for daily strength. We must keep praying.
Pingback: The Anthem of Lepanto « Mary Victrix