Fr Doyle's last written words The picture above is a copy of the last written words (that we know of) from Fr Doyle. They were written 93 years ago today. They read as follows: I have told you all my escapes, dearest Father, because I think what I have written will give you the same confidence which I feel, that my old arm chair up in Heaven is not ready …
Life
August 13, 2010
Blessed Karl Leisner August 12: Feast of Blessed Karl Leisner We will return to some reflections on the life of Fr Doyle in a few days time when we approach the anniversary of his death. Incidentally, there is some dispute about the date of Fr Doyle’s death; some sources give it is August 16, others on August 17. I have also encountered some sources listing it as August 15, but …
August 12, 2010
Unexploded shells from World War 1 Today we have the last of Fr Doyle’s narratives from his letters home to his father, less than a week before his death. In this entry in his letter we see his close brush with death in the form of a shell landing very close to him Close beside us I had found the remains of a dug-out which had been blown in the …
August 10, 2010
Ecce Home: Behold the Man We return today to Fr Doyle’s narrative, and get some glimpse of the horror of war, and the comfort that the presence of a priest can bring to the dying. Of particular note is his reference to Pontius Pilate presenting Jesus to the crowd after the scourging with the words: “Ecce homo” (Behold the Man)… A sad morning as casualties were heavy and many men …
August 10, 2010
Continuing our narrative today, it is hard not to be struck by the extraordinary good humour of Fr Doyle. The “cathedral” to which he refers was, of course, just another dug out or shell hole somewhere in a battlefield. His final comment about being glad not to be asked to say the rosary with bombs falling around him is classic Irish wit. It is important to remember that these letters …
August 8, 2010
A German gas attack seen from the air Today’s account gives us some small insight into the horrors of the war, especially when it involved the use of poisoned gas. Of note also is the way in which Fr Doyle accepts spending extra days at the front to cover for a priest who never showed up to relieve him. He doesn’t grumble or complain, and in fact is glad he …
August 7, 2010
World War 1 aid station The events of August 6 1917 in Fr Doyle’s own words. In particular today we note Fr Doyle’s devotion to the Mass. The following morning, though the Colonel and other officers pressed me very much to remain with them on the ground that I would be more comfortable, I felt I could do better work at the advanced dressing-station, or rather aid-post, and went and …
August 6, 2010
The blog Idle Speculations has some details about military chaplains in World War 1, including some details about Fr Doyle, as well as some interesting photographs of other chaplains during this period. It is well worth checking out. http://idlespeculations-terryprest.blogspot.com/2010/08/todays-memorials.html
August 5, 2010
A flooded shell hole We once again resume Fr Doyle’s narrative of the events at the Battle of Passchendaele. This is his account of the events of August 5, 1917. In a particular way, his confidence in God’s providence is evident today. All day I have been busy hearing the men’s confessions, and giving batch after batch Holy Communion. A consolation surely to see them crowding to the Sacraments, but …
August 5, 2010
St John Vianney August 4 Feast of St John Marie Vianney, Patron of parish priests. Fr Doyle had a great devotion to the then Blessed John Vianney, and visited Ars in 1907. From O’Rahilly’s biography: In spite of missing a train, and after an adventurous journey on a very primitive steam-tram, he found himself in the spot hallowed by the Curé of Ars. Fr. Doyle insisted on seeing everything the …
August 4, 2010