Father William Doyle S.J

CD CO FROM-THE- LIBRARY OF TR1NITYCOLLEGE TORONTO 19 8 PRESENTED A.D. *. .„. from the library of the BY late Rev. G.H.Shortt t FATHER WILLIAM DOYLE, S.J. : Kibil Obsiat: IOANNES WATERS Censor Theol. Deputatus. Imprimatur EDM. CAN. SURMONT Vic. Gen. Westmonasterii) die 4 Oct. , 1919. FATHER WILLIAM DOYLE SJ. BY ALFRED O'RAHILLY Professor in the National University of Ireland Registrar of University College, Cork WITH ILLUSTRATIONS FOURTH IMPRESSION LONGMANS, GREEN AND CO, 39 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON, B.C. 4. 55 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK BOMBAY, CALCUTTA AND MADRAS 1922 All rights reserved BX MAY 2 2 1948 PATRIBUS FRATRIBUSQUE PROVINCIAE HIBERNIAE SOCIETATIS IESU HOC SOCII MONUMENTUM PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION AFTER the death of Father Doyle, who was not only my friend but the guide and helper of several who are near and dear to me, I undertook, at my sister's suggestion, to write a brief memoir of his life. This task, lightly undertaken as a personal tribute, has now grown into unforeseen dimensions. Neither I nor anywie else then sus pected the existence of a series of spiritual journals and personal records which Fr. Doyle had written for his own exclusive use and guidance. Had he died after an ordinary illness in his own room, he would undoubtedly have completely destroyed these intimate papers. It was the chance, the providential chance, of his death as a martyr of charity on a far-off Flemish battlefield which rescued these notes from the fate that he had destined for them. They were found among his few belongings in his room in Rathfarnham Castle, accompanied by explicit instructions directing that in the event of his death they should be burnt unopened. Fortunately his Superior, Fr. J. Brennan, S.J., and his brother, Fr. C. Doyle, S.J., decided that this injunction would be best observed by formally violating a request which had been inspired by motives that had ceased to count. These papers were accordingly handed over to me ; and it is from these intimate self-revelations, which were never intended for any eye save the writer's own, that the greater, or at least the more valuable, portion of the present book has been compiled. Had I anticipated that this mass of material existed, I would have left this biography to more competent hands, especially as I could devote to it only some of the scanty leisure of a busy life. But having once undertaken it, I felt that I could not act as a mere transcriber or editor. Without in any way obtruding my own views, which in such matters are of no Vlll. PREFACE account, I have attempted to give a study as well as a record. I have sought not only to chronicle the thoughts and experiences of Father Doyle, but also in some measure to give them their true perspective by inserting them in the rich and inclusive tradition of Catholic spirituality. With this object in* view I have drawn, more extensively than is usual in a mere biography, on other spiritual writers, especially on those who were Fr. Doyle's favourite authors. I have tried, in particular, to lay stress on the spiritual ideals of S. Ignatius, as revealed in his Letters and in the Spiritual Exercises, and to distinguish carefully between these general ideals and their individual adaptations or special developments. On this point I may have been excessively careful and irritatingly insistent. But my intention, however defective its execution, has been to make this book not merely a sketch of the life of Fr. Doyle, but also, as I am convinced he himself would have wished, the prolongation of his life-work. The latter portion of this memoir recounts Fr. Doyle's experiences as Military Chaplain. It has been compiled almost entirely from the letters or budgets which he used to send home to be perused by his relatives and intimate friends, without the slightest ulterior thought of publication. In including these interesting letters from the Front, it has not been my intention, any more than it was the writer's, to make another addition to ' war literature.' This book -claims to be simply the record of an apostolic life and the study of a very remarkable spiritual personality. His •experiences at the Front are of biographical and spiritual interest and help to correct what might otherwise be a partial or misleading impression. In obedience to the decree of Pope Urban VIII. I protest that all that is written in this life of Fr. Doyle has no other force or credit than such as is grounded on human authority. Hence no expression or statement is intended to assume the approbation or anticipate the decision of the Church. Were it not for the continual assistance and encouragement of Father Charles Doyle, S.J., this memoir would never PREFACE ix. have been undertaken or written. Father F. Browne, S.J., readily supplied me with information on many points con nected with the last two chapters. I have to thank my sister, Sister M. Anthony, for much help in transcription. The map was kindly drawn for me by Mr. D. R. Kennedy, B.E. I am much obliged to the printers, Messrs. Purcell and Co., Cork, for their interest, attention and efficiency. Cork, F&bruary, ig2o. PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION ONLY a few minor changes have been made in this edition. I have added in an Appendix some further letters of Fr. Doyle which have subsequently come to light. In an Afterword I have attempted, by some general considerations on Catholic hagiography, to reply to the very few unfavourable criticisms which have reached me. The publication of Fr. Doyle's Life has been amply justified by the unexpectedly rapid sale of the first edition. Cork, July, 1920. PREFACE TO NEW IMPRESSION. T I THE second edition was sold out immediately on -l_ publication. I set about preparing a final and complete edition, but circumstances over which I had no control interfered with my work. I am therefore com pelled to re-issue the second edition in order to satisfy the insistent demand. I have added a photograph of Fr. Doyle at the age of fifteen ; and in the light of further information I have modified the note on page 328. Military Prison in Field, Bere Island, June, 1921. CONTENTS • Chapter Page I. Childhood and Youth (1873—1891) II. From Noviceship to Priesthood (1891—1907) 10—29 I. Tullabeg (1891—1893) 10 2. Clongowes (1894—1898) 12 3. Philosophy (1898—1901) 18 4. Clongowes and Belvedere (1901— 1904) 21 5. Theology (1904—1907) 23 6. Some Notes written during Theology 26 III. Tertianship (1907—1908) 30—39 IV. Diary of Long Retreat (1907) 40—63 V. Apostolate . 64—86 I . Missions and Retreats .. 64 2. Retreats for the Workers .. 7 I 3. The Holy Childhood •• 79 4. Vocations .. 80 VI. Inner Life . 87—121 i . Introduction .. 87 2. Interior Union . 92 3. Personal 'Attachment to Christ 99 A Praver 107 VII. Mortification and Suffering • • 3:22 —169 I . Self-Conquest 122 2. Life of Immolation •• 133 3. Priestly Sanctity and Reparation •• 154 4. Holy Follies .. 161 VIII. Spiritual Direction ]70—213 I . His own Soul 170 2. Director of Others i?3 3. Discouragement 178 4. Union and Abandonment 187 5. The Cross ... 195 6. Little Things ... 201 7. Praver 2O6 8. Mortification . 211 Xll. CONTENTS Page Chapter IX. Mil itary Chaplain 1916 • • . 214—274 i. The Great Adventure . 215 2. 220 • 221 3- Cure of Mazingarbe 226 4- 23T 5- 6. Another Spell at the Front . 242 7- The Somme 251 8. Christmas at the Front 200 X. Military Chaplain 1917 275—335 I. Easter in the Pas de Calais . 275 3. May Devotions 279 Padre in the Trenches • 283 3- The . 4- Wytschaete Ridge 291 5- His Last Sermon 302 0. The Battle of Ypres . 307 •t. The End . 326 Appendix (Further Letters) 336—357 Afterword (An Apology for Saints) 358—374 Index 375 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Portrait of Father Doyle Frontispiece Schoolboy, Novice, and Scholastic .To face page 2O Father Doyle at the Age of Fifteen „ „ 86 Father Doyle, Aberdeen, 1908 „ 170 Map of the Front Page 223 Military Chaplain To face page 260 FATHER WILLIAM DOYLE, S.J. CHAPTER I. CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH (1873—1891) IT is chiefly in the light of a man's subsequent development that the incidents of childhood become interesting and significant, for the child is father of the man. It is often in the artless sayings and doings of the child, and in the impulsive spontaneity of the youth, that we can best discern that groundwork of natural character which in the man is generally concealed by conventionality or self-control. Unfortunately in the case of the present biography the records are scanty, but by collecting some scattered anecdotes and reminiscences, it has been possible to trace in the boy hood of the future Jesuit and Apostle some of those human and lovable characteristics which remained to the end. William Joseph Gabriel Doyle was born at Melrose, Dalkey, Co. Dublin, on 3rd March, 1873. His father is Mr. Hugh Doyle, an official of the High Court of Justice in Ireland, who is still alive and active though in his eighty- eighth year ; his mother was Christina Mary Doyle, nde Byrne. 1 Willie was the youngest of seven children, four boys and three girls. The eldest and youngest of the girls married ; the second became a Sister of Mercy. The eldest boy after a short stay in the Jesuit Novitiate entered Holy Cross College, Clonliffe, whence he passed to the College of the Propaganda, Rome.

Load more