First Sunday after Christmas: The Feast of the Holy Family On St. Stephen’s Day the men were engaged in a football match, when the Germans saw them, sent over a lovely shot at long range, which carried away the goal post — the umpire gave a ‘foul’ — and bursting in the middle of the men, killed three and wounded seven. The wounded were bandaged up and hurried off …
WWI
December 26, 2010
The following excerpt from O’Rahilly’s biography of Fr Doyle recalls Christmas Eve and Midnight Mass in 1916… Christmas itself Fr. Doyle had the good luck of spending in billets. He got permission from General Hickie to have Midnight Mass for his men in the Convent. The chapel was a fine large one, as in pre-war times over three hundredboarders and orphans were resident in the Convent; and by opening …
December 24, 2010
Soldiers cooking Christmas dinner at the front Fr Doyle wrote the following letter to his sister from the trenches on 19th December 1916, 94 years ago today. It gives some insight into the hardship of his life, the humour and humanity with which he greeted these hardships, and the sheer depth of his sanctity. Any other comment would be superfluous. I want to have a little chat with you but …
December 19, 2010
I just stumbled across the following reference to Fr Doyle in World War 1 discussion forum. It comes from a book entitled The Cross on the Sword: Catholic Chaplains in the Armed Forces by Johnstone, Hagerty and Walmsley: Fr Fitzmaurice had received the MC for service at Messines Ridge in 1917, and was mentioned in despatches; he was also recommended for the French Legion d’Honneur for ‘constant bravery and endurance’, …
December 14, 2010
Death of St Francis Xavier Xavier’s hour has come, the hour of his eternal reward and never-ending bliss. In a little hut, open on all sides to the biting blast, the great Apostle lies dying. Far from home and all that makes this life pleasant, far from the quiet of his own religious house, alone upon this barren isle, our Saint will yield his soul to God. What joy fills …
December 3, 2010
A rare sighting of a bottlenose dolphin breaching at Killiney Bay in front of a snow-covered Dalkey Island, near Fr Doyle's family home. Photograph: John Fahy, The Irish Times From a few more of his letters despatched at this time we can fill in some details and conditions of his life during the first two months of 1917. The cold was intense. Fr. Doyle’s references thereto are suggestive and eloquent: …
December 2, 2010
"I am with you always, even unto the end of the world" Remember the devil is a bad spiritual director, and you may always recognise his apparently good suggestions by the disturbances they cause in the soul. Our Lord would never urge you to turn away from a path which is leading you nearer to Himself, nor frighten you with the prospect of future unbearable trials. If they do …
November 20, 2010
Holiness and perfection depend on yourself, not on the actions of others. COMMENT: How easy it is for us to blame others, or the circumstances of our lives, for our own lack of holiness. Yes, we may live or work with annoying and frustrating people, but there is always a choice on our part to control our annoyance or frustration. Fr Doyle’s life and example shows us one way of …
November 16, 2010
Soldiers from the 16th Irish Division. Fr Doyle was appointed chaplain 95 years ago today Received my appointment from the War Office as chaplain to the 16th Division. Fiat voluntas tua. What the future has in store I know not but I have given Jesus all to dispose of as He sees best. My heart is full of gratitude to Him for giving me this chance of being really …
November 15, 2010
From the Tabernacle Jesus seems to say, “Stay with Me for it is towards evening and the day is now far spent”. This should urge me to come to visit Him often. If my resurrection is a real one and is to produce fruit, it must be external, so that all may see I am not the same man, that my life is changed in Christ. COMMENT: Fr Doyle …
November 11, 2010