[Greek] ἀναμιμνῄσκω (anamimnēskō), [Latin] reminiscere, [Latin] recordare, [Latin] admonere, [Latin] rememorari, [French] exhorter, [French] souvenir: to remind, to call to mind, to remember, to cause to remember, to recollect, to reminisce; Mk.11:21, Mk.14:72, 1Cor.4:17, 2Cor.7:15, 2Tim.1:6, Heb.10:32
Memorial Day: On this day we remember, honor, and mourn those fallen military heroes.
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means to remind oneself, to recall to memory, to make mention of, and to remember.
Plato’s Menexenus 246a: “And now we have related many of the noble deeds done by the men who are laying here, and all the others who have died in defense of their city.”
Sophocles’ Oedipus Tyrannus 1133: “But I will bring clear recognition to his ignorance.”
Plato’s Phaedo 72e: “If our learning is another form of recollection, then we must have necessarily have learned in some previous time what we remember.”
Euripides’ Alcestis 1045: “Do not remind me of my troubles.”
Antiphon’s First Tetralogy 2.4.11: “Just as on a dead man’s behalf, I remind you of his right to vengeance.”
Demosthenes’ On the Crown 18.213: “They came forward and made their speech, full of eulogy of Phillip, and recalled everything you had ever done in antagonism to Thebes.”
Old Testament: This term means to remember, to recall, to call to mind, to record, to mention, to make a memorial, to retain in memory, and to be mindful of. There are many Old Testament scriptural references. The ancient notion of memory comes from the idea of pricking, piercing, or penetrating memories. The sayings of the wise are like goads. The king had on his staff a recorder or historian. This minister’s task was to record events as they occurred, especially if they relate to the King. The Jewish people repeatedly offered memorial offerings and recalled (re-memorialized) the Passover event.
Old Testament foreshadowing of the Eucharist: The book of Malachi is the final book in the Old Testament. The prophet Malachi, who lived about 400 years before Christ, speaks of a future time when God will be worshipped by Gentiles worldwide throughout the world in every place (and time zone). This sacrifice will be a perfect oblation (offering or sacrifice), not marked by blemishes like those presently offered by the Old Testament priests in Jerusalem.
“From the rising of the sun to its setting, My name is great among nations (Gentiles); incense offerings are made to My name and a pure offering; For My name is great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts” Mal.1:11
New Testament: This term means to remember, to cause to remember, and to remind. Peter recalls that the tree, which Jesus had cursed, has withered. Upon denying Jesus three times, Peter remembered Jesus’s words about the cock crowing twice. Peter then broke down and wept. Paul sends Timothy to remind the Corinthians of his (Paul’s) ways in Christ. Titus remembers the obedience of the Corinthians as they received him. Paul reminds Timothy to be stirred into flame with the gift that he has received by the imposition of Paul’s hands. Paul reminds the Hebrew Christians that they had endured great suffering in days past.
Scripture:
“And immediately a cock crowed a second time. Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had said to him, ‘Before the cock crows twice you will deny me three times.’ He broke down and wept.” Mk.14:72
Peter remembers and realizes that he has betrayed Jesus. It is somewhat ironic that Jesus would choose Peter, weak and unsure of himself, as the leader of the disciples.
“Remember the days past when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a great contest of suffering.” Heb.10:32
The readers of Hebrews are cautioned not to throw away their confidence in God during struggles and afflictions. One needs endurance to do the will of God.
“For this reason, I remind you to stir in the flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands.” 2Tim.1:6
Timothy receives grace from the imposition of Paul’s hands. Timothy received an apostolic office from Paul.
Catholic perspective on the Mass: The Mass is the re-presentation (remembrance) of the once-only sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. The offered bread and wine is changed by the priest (through the help of the Holy Spirit) into the Body and Blood of Christ.
Etymology: The related Greek noun is anamnesis, which means a recollection or remembrance of something. The Greek prefix ana- means again. The Greek prefix a- means without. The Greek noun amnesis means forgetfulness. The Greek noun mnesis means memory. The Latin verb reminiscere means to remember. The Latin verb admonere means to warn against. The Latin verb rememori means to remember again. The related Latin verb subvenire means to come (-venire) to mind from below (sub-). A souvenir is a remembrance or memory.
Conclusion:
Record, recording, admonish, admonishment, reminisce, memory, memorial, souvenir
Socrates reminds us that learning is a recollection of what we have remembered. It looks like there has always been an universal human tradition of honoring the dead.
The Hebrews repeatedly recalled and commemorated the Passover event. Malachi provides a prophecy of a pure sacrifice made among the nations (Mal.1:11). This becomes the Mass which is the re-presentation of Jesus’ once and only sacrifice at Calvary (which is re-presented over and over again). The Mass is celebrated in each world’s time zones.
Jesus institutes the Last Supper for His disciples. He instructs them (and us) to repeatedly eat His Body and drink His Blood again and again.
Update: This Memorial Day we recall the sacrifices of our servicemen. We also remember their noble deeds in the defense of freedom.