In the Words of the Chaplains
As thousands of Americans enlisted, Catholic priests also answered their country’s call, tending to the spiritual and emotional well-being of the soldiers. In their letters, they describe how religion helped the men to deal with the horrors of war.
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“In the afternoon I witnessed a remarkable sight. About two hundred Americans in Parish under the auspices of the K. of C. visited the American cemetery at Suresnes where our boys—at least those who died in Parish and the surrounding country—are buried. Many of those killed at Chateau Thierry and other battles have been interred there… The French people have behaved magnificently in the matter of the attention of these graves….i wish our American mothers might know of this fact as I am sure it will prove a great consolation to them to know that the graves are not neglected.” – Fr. Martin Fahy, November 3, 1918
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“Now that the nation has taken up the cause of the allies and entered into the struggle for justice and liberty, when action means so much it is certainly splendid to see our greatest prelate take up the cause of the safeguarding of the religion and the morals of the thousands of our Catholic boys over here….I was afraid that we were going to be neglected over here. Your priests had done their little bit but after all it was only a little. We had heard of the splendid work being accomplished back in the States. But what about our boys over here who were to be the first to die, who were already in the trenches, who knew not where to find a priest to go to confession, who would be carried back to the first-aid station, and then sent quickly to the evacuation hospitals and then to the base hospital. Many die along that route but along that whole route and even at the base hospital there would be no priest who speaks his language to give the last rites to the dying boy. That will be changed now.” Fr. John Brady, US Navy, May 6, 1918
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“In our journey through European countries, our progress was like a march of triumph….Your Eminence would be very proud of our great and magnificent army, which is over half Catholic. On Sundays, the great churches of France, which are everywhere, are crowded with our officers and soldiers. It is very edifying.” -- Rev. Vincent J. Toole, Chaplain 324 Field Artillery, France, July 7, 1918
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“At present, I am maintaining a sort of spiritual first aid post near an advanced dressing station. Men and officers recognize my chaplain’s flag and stop to confess on the way up to the lines. The medical officer at our advanced dressing station is a Catholic and informs me through an orderly whenever he has a critical case….The faith of the men is splendid. Every one has a rosary…” – Chaplain Walter A. Beaudette, October 2, 1918, AEF France
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“Before my arrival no Chaplain had been stationed here and only once did a Catholic Chaplain visit the Camp. Many of the soldiers had not seen a priest for seven months. I arrived at the camp on a Friday and immediately posted notices that Confessions would be heard Sat. evening. That night men stood in line for 4 hours waiting their turn. I had the same experience in each of the other camps. I am saying Mass every Sunday at the Y.M.C.A. hut. What our boys desire above all things is an opportunity to go to the sacraments.” -- Chaplain William J. Bergin, CSV, St. Jean de Monts, France, November 4, 1918
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“While trying to do what we can for the bodily comfort of the men we are not neglecting their spiritual well-being. Owing to the presence of a number of priests in camp we have been able to have a large number of Masses and all well attended. On Christmas we had in this building nine masses. Five priests heard confessions all Tuesday afternoon and evening until midnight. At three A.M. men who were going out on detail and who could not be present at Mass began to arrive for Communion, simply dropping out of line as they passed the building, receiving Communion and then hurrying away again.” -- Chaplain C. Paul Bethel, Brest, France, December 27, 1918
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“Since we left Neufchateau I have been working very hard doing my best for my dear beloved boys. But the long walks undertaken to reach them; the long ‘seances’ in the confessional; the early Masses to avoid the aeroplane bombardment, all this has been well rewarded by the vivid faith, the piety, and the good behavior of these my boys….My dear Monsignor, for the last three months I have been living, eating, sleeping with them; with them in the firing line and with them in the rear I was and am always and these boys and every one of them, both Catholic and Protestant, respect me and are ready to do anything for me. They all appreciate very much what I am doing for them and I can assure you, although I am very tired, I have many consolations in my work and I feel I can never do enough for my boys.” -- Chaplain Osias Boucher, May 4, 1918
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“I would like to be able to tell their mothers that I feel like taking off my hat every time I see those boys. About sixty of them go to confession every week. These are the boys, of whom most especially proud—fighting well life’s battle, that they may serve well God and Country….The greatest consolation to the Catholic chaplain over here is the respect that the Catholic soldier has for Holy Mass and the sacraments. Right here, in a strange land, away from home and country, is the acid test of the true church and its influence upon the hearts of men. Thanks to that grand old church and their Catholic mothers, Catholic boys here are coming up to that test.” -- Chaplain John M. Brady, AEF France, October 31, 1918
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“For the past two weeks it has been a veritable hell, full of horror, sufferings and death. I visited all the boys in my line the day we made the “hop over” and gave them all absolution. This not only to my Regiment but also to about ten other outfits. It was a great day for us and we pushed further on about twelve miles, --at present on the enemy side of a certain river. I’m writing this in a German dugout. Of course the whole week have been terrible but God and His Blessed Mother have been very good to me. I’ve been through gas, shrapnel, snipers, etc., and have not received a scratch. Also attended about five hundred wounded men, including about a hundred Germans. About five thousand prisoners were brought back through our lines. One of the hardest jobs is burying the dead. Very often my orderly and I had to shoulder pick and shovel and dig the graves….I am sure God has blessed our work and assisted us at all times.” -- Chaplain Alban Callagee, C.P., 129th Infantry, AEF, France, October 13, 1918
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“I have been at the front under machine gun and shell fire for over a month—during the Argonne drive. I have had many very close calls—even my chapel outfit was shelled and destroyed—but I am still sound of mind and limb….The troops are giving an edifying example—all the Catholic boys in the Regiment went to the Sacraments two days before we went ‘over the top.’ I went over the top with them and I saw every wounded man on the battlefield and at the various first aid stations before they were evacuated so that none were neglected.” -- Chaplain Thomas F. Coakley, 47th Infantry, 4th Division, SEF, October 30, 1918
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“The boys are responding in a glorious manner. The rumble of the cannon on the front line has been better than a mission for many of them so every night I hear from fifty to a hundred and sometimes more confessions.” -- Chaplain Charles C. Conaty, France, June 4, 1918