B
Benincasa
Guest
Some readers here may be familiar with Fr William Doyle SJ, a remarkable Irish Jesuit preacher, spiritual director, retreat master and World War I military chaplain who was killed by a German shell while trying to rescue some wounded soldiers in August 1917.
When he died he left behind detailed notes on his spiritual life which were never meant for public consumption. However, his superiors thankfully chose not to comply with his wish, and much of his work ended up in an incredible biography written by his friend Professor Alfred O’Rahilly in the early 1920’s.
This book was a remarkable success, and was soon published in all of the major European languages, running to 5 different editions. There was a major push for Fr Doyle’s beatification in the early-mid 20th Century which has unfortunately died somewhat in recent decades. However, from personal experience I can tell you that Fr Doyle is a very powerful intercessor!!
The Spiritual Exercises had a remarkable impact on Fr Doyle’s life, changing him from a devout Jesuit into a Jesuit with one aim – great sanctity. His remarkable exploits during the war can only be explained in the context of the impact that the Exercises had on him as a young priest. Thankfully, we still have many of the notes he took on this life changing retreat which commenced 103 years ago today, October 10, 1907.
I have established a website to honour Fr Doyle. In addition to pamphlets by and about Fr Doyle, each day snippets from his writings are published along with some commentary. For the next month I will be publishing extracts from Fr Doyle’s notes during the month-long Spiritual Exercises of 1907. Anyone with an interest in traditional Jesuit spirituality and the Spiritual Exercises will find these interesting and inspiring.
The site can be found at www.fatherdoyle.com
It can also be followed on Facebook at facebook.com/pages/Remembering-Fr-William-Doyle-SJ/115758611804786
When he died he left behind detailed notes on his spiritual life which were never meant for public consumption. However, his superiors thankfully chose not to comply with his wish, and much of his work ended up in an incredible biography written by his friend Professor Alfred O’Rahilly in the early 1920’s.
This book was a remarkable success, and was soon published in all of the major European languages, running to 5 different editions. There was a major push for Fr Doyle’s beatification in the early-mid 20th Century which has unfortunately died somewhat in recent decades. However, from personal experience I can tell you that Fr Doyle is a very powerful intercessor!!
The Spiritual Exercises had a remarkable impact on Fr Doyle’s life, changing him from a devout Jesuit into a Jesuit with one aim – great sanctity. His remarkable exploits during the war can only be explained in the context of the impact that the Exercises had on him as a young priest. Thankfully, we still have many of the notes he took on this life changing retreat which commenced 103 years ago today, October 10, 1907.
I have established a website to honour Fr Doyle. In addition to pamphlets by and about Fr Doyle, each day snippets from his writings are published along with some commentary. For the next month I will be publishing extracts from Fr Doyle’s notes during the month-long Spiritual Exercises of 1907. Anyone with an interest in traditional Jesuit spirituality and the Spiritual Exercises will find these interesting and inspiring.
The site can be found at www.fatherdoyle.com
It can also be followed on Facebook at facebook.com/pages/Remembering-Fr-William-Doyle-SJ/115758611804786
