There will be a regional launch of the book “The Rock From Which You Were Hewn” on Saturday 21st December at 3pm in Benedictus Books on North Main Street, Cork. The book is edited by Patrick Kenny and Fr John Hogan of the Father Willie Doyle Association, and features 44 chapters on holy Irish men and women, including all Irish candidates for canonisation, including, of course, Fr Willie. The book …
Ireland
December 16, 2024
The greatest thirst of Jesus on the Cross was his thirst for souls. He saw then the graces and inspirations He would give me to save souls for Him. In what way shall I correspond and console my Saviour? The thought has been very much in my mind during this week that Jesus asks from me the sacrifice of all the pleasures of the world — such as summer …
November 6, 2024
I cannot deny that I love Jesus, love Him passionately, love Him with every fibre of my heart. He knows it, too, since He has asked me to do many things for Him, which have cost me more than I should like to say, yet which with His grace were sweet and easy in a sense. He knows that my longing, at least, even if the strength and courage are …
October 3, 2024
There will be a talk and exhibition of some of Fr Willie’s personal items in Clonfert Family Centre, Brackernagh, Ballinasloe, County Galway on Sunday October 13th at 3pm. All welcome! If you would like to organise an event for your own parish, prayer group or conference please let us know!
September 26, 2024
There are two patron saints to whom I have a tremendous devotion: a sheet of paper and a lead pencil. Mark down at least once a day everything you do and every time you do it. It will not make you proud to see all you do; but it will humble you by showing you all you don’t do. COMMENT: Fr Doyle was extremely methodological in his spiritual life. He kept …
August 21, 2024
My loving Jesus, on this the morning of my Ordination to the priesthood, I wish to place in Your Sacred Heart, in gratitude for all that You have done for me, the resolution from this day forward to go straight to holiness. My earnest wish and firm resolve is to strive with might and main to become a saint. COMMENT: These words were written 117 years ago today, on July …
July 28, 2024
As a child I was convinced that one day God would give me the grace of martyrdom. When quite small I read and re-read every martyr’s life in the twelve volumes of Butler’s Lives of the Saints, and longed and prayed to be a martyr, and I have often done so ever since. As years went on, the desire grew in intensity, and even now the sufferings of the martyrs, …
July 1, 2024
Sunday and Monday last were days of wonderful grace for me, as if the Hunter of souls had run His quarry down and so surrounded it with the coils of His love that all escape was impossible. Alas! Does he not well know how that foolish hare will break loose and escape again so soon, spoiling all the plans of the patient Hunter. Still Jesus cannot pass close to the …
June 20, 2024
This year, for the first time, a special pilgrimage to Knock in honour of Fr Willie Doyle will take place on Sunday 11th August, presided over by Bishop Tom Deenihan, Bishop of Meath. Knock Shrine, Ireland’s International Eucharistic and Marian Shrine, has kindly granted permission for this official pilgrimage to take place each year on the second Sunday of August. The Association would like to invite Fr Willie’s devotees to …
May 22, 2024
I was struck today by the fact that St Patrick was above all a man of continuous prayer and felt inspired to ask him to help me to do what Jesus wants and be faithful, at any cost, to do the 100,000 aspirations. COMMENT: Fr Willie wrote these words on St Patrick’s Day 1917. He is referring here to Patrick’s reference in his Confessions to his constant prayer; Patrick tells …
March 17, 2024