Fr Doyle wrote the following in his diary on 21 December 1913, 114 years ago today. It relates to a recent trip to the cinema – it’s not clear what date he went to the cinema, but presumably it was the same day or at most a few days beforehand. At the end of the performance of “Quo Vadis?” the words of our Lord seemed to go through my soul. …
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December 21, 2024
21 December: A day I always like because the turning point of the year and from this on the evenings will be longer, the mornings brighter and, best of all, the sun hotter. I can quite understand now why the missioners when preaching to the Eskimos tell them that Hell is the devil and all of a cold place, otherwise every man Jack would just be longing to get there …
December 21, 2024
During the last three nights of the retreat I slept on the floor without feeling any inconvenience after, though I woke very often on account of the pain. This is the first time I have slept this way on more than one successive night. COMMENT: Fr Doyle was just one of the many holy men and women – including saints – who slept on the floor at night. For example, …
December 20, 2024
Fr Doyle wrote the following letter to his sister from the trenches on 19th December 1916, 108 years ago today. It gives some insight into the hardship of his life, the humour and humanity with which he greeted these hardships, and his constant supernatural outlook. I want to have a little chat with you but you must promise to keep to yourself what I write to you. Did I ever …
December 19, 2024
“I have called upon Thee in the day of my trouble” (Psalm 85. 7). Jesus is our comforter. What burden is there which He cannot lighten? What cross that He cannot make sweet? Be our troubles what they may, if only we will call on Jesus and implore His aid, we shall find our sufferings lessened and the rough ways smoothed for our bleeding feet. COMMENT: Fr Doyle knew what …
December 18, 2024
A want of will is the chief obstacle to our becoming saints. We are not holy because we do not really wish to become so. We would indeed gladly possess the virtues of the saints – their humility and patience, their love of suffering, their penance and zeal. But we are unwilling to embrace all that goes to make a saint and to enter on the narrow path which leads …
December 17, 2024
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 …
December 16, 2024
Avoid worry, anxiety, uneasiness about anything. “The devil’s boiling pot” expresses this state of mind; one trouble ended, another crops up to take its place; the soul never at rest; there is no peace, no calm, and also no real holiness. COMMENT: The saints always tended to be at peace, even in the midst of very real turmoil and suffering. Consider the martyrs like St Thomas More and St Laurence …
December 16, 2024
I cannot say i am quite in love with camp life, which in many respects is quite repellent. But even in these disagreeable things there is a joy and secret pleasure, since it means all the more merit, and let us hope, a richer harvest if souls. My eyes have been opened still more to the awful godlessness of the world and the need, the immense need, there is for …
December 15, 2024
On this day in 1917, Major General Hickie paid another tribute to Fr Doyle. Writing to his father, Hugh Doyle, General Hickie said: I could not say too much about your son. He was loved and reverenced by us all; his gallantry, self-sacrifice, and devotion to duty were all so well known and recognised. I think that he was the most wonderful character that I have ever known.
December 15, 2024