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
WWI
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
Photo of an Irish soldier taken by Fr Browne We have no more reports from Fr Doyle until August 5th, and we shall take up his narrative once again on that date. What we do know about these days is that Fr Doyle and his men had a few days rest before facing the trauma of battle once again. This might be an appropriate place to give the following excerpt …
August 2, 2010
1st August Feast of St Alphonsus Liguori, Doctor of the Church We continue today with Fr Doyle’s narrative of events in the days leading up to his death. Today’s account is somewhat shorter than that of other days. Even if the events of this day are less dramatic than what is to come, we can still glimpse some of the suffering Fr Doyle and the men had to endure, as …
August 1, 2010
July 31st The feast of St Ignatius Loyola, Founder of the Jesuits. We continue Fr Doyle’s account of July 31, 1917 directly after he left off yesterday. Again what is most noticeable is Fr Doyle’s good humour and cheerfulness, even in the midst of this awful war. It was 1.30 a.m. when our first halting place was reached, and as we march again at three, little time was wasted getting …
July 31, 2010
"When one has put in a long day of hard work…the prospect of a stiff march is not too pleasant". From the last letter of Fr Doyle to his father describing the events of 93 years ago today: For the past week we have been moving steadily up to the Front once more to face the hardships and horrors of another big push, which report says is to be the …
July 29, 2010
On August 12 1917 Fr Doyle sent his last letter home to his father. It was a long account of his involvement in the early stages of the Battle of Passchendaele. 5 days later he was hit by a German shell while rescuing a wounded soldier and was killed instantly. His account of the battle commences on July 30 and we shall follow his account in his own words …
July 28, 2010
From a letter from Fr Doyle to his father, 25 July 1917: We shall have desperate fighting soon but I have not the least fear, on the contrary a great joy in the thought that I shall be able to make a real offering of my life to God, even if He does not think that poor life worth taking. God accepted the offering of Fr Doyle’s life three weeks …
July 23, 2010
The Seven Works of Mercy, 1504, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam The reformation of one’s life must be the work of every day. I should take each rule and duty, think how Jesus acted, or would have done, and contrast my conduct with His. COMMENT: Fr Doyle’s words today are direct and relevant for us all. The daily reformation Fr Doyle recommends must be immensely practical. We do not reform our lives in …
July 17, 2010
A soldier helping a casualty at the Battle of the Somme From the Gospel of the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time: As they were going along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, …
June 27, 2010