Father Emil
Kapaun was a priest of the Diocese of Wichita, Kansas, who served as a military
chaplain during World War II and the Korean War. His story has recently become more known
because his cause for canonization is being examined and he posthumously
received the Medal of Honor this year. I
recently had the opportunity to read a biography of his life, and was inspired
by his example. During this “Fortnight
for Freedom,” his life can help us to understand our part in protecting religious
liberty.
« First,
Father Kapaun is a priest: he was
selfless, brave, and always working for others; he led by example, always
putting the enlisted men before himself and the other officers; he encouraged
the men to never give up and to help each other. In a word, he showed these soldiers the face
of Christ. And because of this, they
would have followed him anywhere.
« Second,
Father Kapaun was pro-life before the term was ever used: he went into the
thick of battle to rescue the wounded and perform last rites, worked from dawn
to dusk to keep the men healthy in the camp, performing repugnant tasks to ward
off disease, encouraging them to eat their meager rations which were hard to
digest. When he was sent to the camp
“hospital” from which he would not return, he brought his stole and holy oils to
bring the sacraments to the dying. All
of this was done because life was a gift from God, a sacred gift worth fighting
for.
« Finally,
Father Kapaun was truly American, and that meant that he understood that truth
is the foundation of civil government, not force. During Communist propaganda classes at the
camp, Father Kapaun was not afraid to tell the teachers when they lied, and
would calmly argue against false ideologies.
The prison guards were afraid of Father Kapaun because of his courage
and influence with the other prisoners.
Let us pray and fast for an end to new threats to freedom,
especially those that threaten the exercise of religious liberty. Let us discern what God is asking of us
during this watershed moment for our nation.
- Sister M. Mediatrix, FSGM
Comments