My offering myself as a war chaplain to the Provincial has had a wonderful effect on me. I long to go and shed my blood for Jesus, and, if He wills it, to die a martyr of charity. The thought that at any moment I may be called to the Front, perhaps to die, has roused a great desire to do all I can while I have life. I feel great strength to make any sacrifice and little difficulty in doing so. I may not have long now to prove my love for Jesus.
COMMENT: Fr Doyle wrote these words on November 10 1914. As it happened he had to wait almost exactly a year before being called up as chaplain, and he had almost three years of life left. Fr Doyle had a great desire to do all he could for God and man while he had life, and he crammed much into his remaining years of life. Once again he gives an example we can all learn something from.
The Lord heard the wish of Father Doyle, and he died a martyr of charity on the battlefield. How many souls did he usher to Heaven? How many wounded, fearful soldiers were comforted and strengthened for their journey into eternity? The wounded, the broken in spirit, in mind, in body…can they be counted, those whom Chaplain Doyle treated as his very sons? Father Doyle was, in the finest sense, a healer of souls, of bodies, of minds, and hearts in their most needy hours.