Home World Read the Manliest Christmas Card Ever, Courtesy of General Patton

Read the Manliest Christmas Card Ever, Courtesy of General Patton

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no data, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Christmas season brings together family and friends to share memories of seasons past and discuss the true meaning of the holiday.

One little-known moment in America’s history is worth sharing with friends this Christmas season…

During a decisive point during the Battle of the Bulge, General George S. Patton’s Third Army became bogged down in its drive to relieve the legendary 101st Airborne Division trapped at Bastogne, Belgium. 

The besieged Americans has just successfully defended the vital crossroads town from a German force that outnumbered them by nine-to-one but frigid winter conditions had grounded the Allied air force, neutralizing their advantage in the air and leaving Americans at severe risk.

With little hope of survival left Patton turned to his faith and requested Rev. Msgr. James Hugh O’Neill, chaplain of the Third Army, compose what became known as the “Weather Prayer.” 

Here’s what it said:

“Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness, to restrain these immoderate rains with which we have had to contend. Grant us fair weather for Battle. Graciously hearken to us as soldiers who call Thee that, armed with Thy power, we may advance from victory to victory, and crush the oppression and wickedness of our enemies, and establish Thy justice among men and nations. Amen.” 

On the reverse side of the prayer card distributed to every GI under his command, Patton wrote:

“To each officer and soldier in the Third United States Army, I wish a Merry Christmas. I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty, and skill in battle. We march in our might to complete victory. May God’s blessings rest upon each of you on this Christmas Day. — G.S. Patton, Jr., Lieutenant General, Commanding, Third United States Army.”

A Christmas miracle brought clear skies the next day and American ground attack aircraft decimated the Nazis’ armored spearheads and the rest was history…

6 COMMENTS

  1. How fitting that on Christmas we acknowledge the power and might of our Lord and Savior. He has shown Mercy to us so many times when we called on him. At Christmas we have a wonderful opportunity to speak to Him again to thank Him for all his gifts to us and to ask for mercy and guidance for the coming year.

  2. This is a prayer worth repeating in these evil times of sin and confusion. We need to get back to God and pray for forgiveness and mercy and willing to repent. God will help us as He helped them back then, but we have got to ask and stand firm with God and his Commandments. God is merciful and loves us all, but we need to show God, we love him back by being His loving children and by such, grateful for the blessings He bestowed upon this Country over two hundred years ago. God and our prayers are the only thing that is going to save this Country.

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