The archdiocesan newspaper The Catholic Spirit (www.catholicspirit.com) about a week ago ran an interesting article on the experience Archbishop John Ireland in the Civil War, from 1862 shortly after the battle of Shiloh until April, 1863.
In 1862 Bishop Thomas Grace of St. Paul requested a state chaplain be appointed for all Minnesota regiments. Just ordained, then-Father Ireland joined the Fifth Minnesota. On battlefields and in hospitals, he called out to Catholics, heard their confessions, and administered the Last Rites. From September 18-19, 1862, he sat all night under a tree hearing confessions, and received non-Catholics into the Church.
One man, dying from being shot in the face, ask for a chaplain on a slip of paper. He was quickly dying and said to Father Ireland, “Speak to me of Jesus.” Though the man was not Catholic, the memory of his death was etched into Ireland’s memory and he stated, “I have not doubted the salvation of that soul.”
Later in life, Archbishop Ireland said, “My years of chaplaincy were the happiest and most fruitful years of my ministry.”
Those of us in Minnesota who know Church history here, know well of the enormous personality, force of character, and formidable leadership that Archbishop Ireland enjoyed. The Cathedral of St. Paul, sitting on top of a hill in the city of that name, and not far from the state Capital building, speaks of his influence in this state.
Let us pray for all military chaplains. They are often forgotten. I remember especially tonight Fr. Joe Graves with whom I worked during the summer of 1978 in Germany. He was a Catholic chaplain to the troops there. Fr. Graves, if you are still among us in the diocese of Peoria, may God bless you!
To read the entire article in The Catholic Spirit, log on to: www.catholicspirit.com/spotlight/civil-war-chaplaincy-counted-father-ireland-among-its-ranks
