One of the ships I have deployed with is the USS San Jacinto. A Ticonderoga class guided-missile cruiser, she and the rest of her sisters are named for significant battles in US History. San Jacinto is an interesting choice to name a US warship, because the United States was not really involved in that battle. It was a struggle internal to Mexico during which the United States remained officially neutral. When she was built, however, Texas had long since become part of the country, making its history a part of our nation’s history. As part of the commemoration of the battle the wardroom put on a “reenactment” which was more comedy than reproduction, but was a lot of fun for everybody—especially the participants. This prayer was my contribution to the commemoration of our ship’s namesake battle. By the way, it isn’t misspelled. Before their independence they were “Texians.” It was only after they established their independence that they became Texans—the only state to have been an independent republic before joining the Union.
Find your why.
As all of you no doubt know by now, today marks the anniversary of the Battle of San Jacinto, for which our ship is named. For the benefit of those of you who missed the re-enactment today—and maybe even more so for those of you who did—the battle was fought between the Texian army led by General Sam Houston and the Mexican Army under the command of General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna.
It was the culminating third battle fought for Texas independence from Mexico. You’ve probably heard of one of the other two battles: weeks before the fight at San Jacinto, General Santa Anna had slaughtered the small garrison of Texians holding the Alamo. Ironically, when word got out of Santa Anna’s despotic mercilessness at the Alamo, volunteers began flocking to Houston’s army. The other battle was at Coleto, after which the surrendering Texians were slaughtered by the Mexican army. 445 prisoners of war were executed near Goliad in what became known as the Goliad Massacre.
Houston was heavily outnumbered by a professional, national army of battle-hardened veterans, so he withdrew, hoping to continue adding reinforcements until he had enough men and could find good ground on which to turn and fight the pursuing army.
The time came when Santa Anna left half of his army behind in an attempt to capture the freedom fighters before they could escape across the San Jacinto River. He didn’t expect the Texians to turn and fight. But they did.
Texian artillery opened up a barrage at 0430, and with a violent aggression pent up during their weeks of retreat, and burning with vengefulness for their comrades massacred at the Alamo and Goliad, the Texians launched a furious assault that put the Mexicans to flight within 20 minutes. Santa Anna would barely escape the battle, only to be caught the next day and forced to sign the agreement that guaranteed Texas independence.
One of the ironies of the Battle of San Jacinto is its name. Named for the river that flowed next to the battlefield, the river was named for a Christian saint. San Jacinto is Spanish for St. Hyacinth, who was from Caesarea in Cappadocia and was martyred for his faith in the early second century. He was 12 years old when he died of starvation, refusing to eat the only food his jailors would provide him because it had been sacrificed to idols.
Whether it’s freedom, or independence, or fidelity to God, or something else altogether, what separates a memorable life—a successful life—from others is that it is a life lived with meaning and with purpose. I don’t know why most of you joined the Navy, or why you do whatever it is that you do, but you better know. Search to find meaning in your life, because if you find your purpose—your “why”—then the how will simply be details. Then you will be surprised by how much you can accomplish.
LET US PRAY
Almighty God, You created the universe by the power of Your Word and imbued every aspect of it with meaning. You fill all things with Your vivifying Spirit, which means it is filled with purpose. Help us to discover our purpose, open our eyes to the meaning we possess as children of God, created in Your image and likeness. Then Help us to realize our potential by living for our intended purpose. For You, O God, are the enlightener of our spirits, minds, and bodies, and it is in Your name we pray.
AMEN
An Orthodox Priest Abroad 