An obituary in the Ulster Presbyterian Weekly News recognized Doyle’s dedication to souls: “If he risked his life looking after Ulster Protestant soldiers once, he did it a hundred times in the last few days … The Ulstermen felt his loss more keenly than anybody, and none were readier to show their marks of respect to the dead hero priest than were our Ulster Presbyterians.”
Bravery under fire
Irish filmmaker Campbell Miller produced an EWTN docudrama of Father Doyle’s life titled “Bravery Under Fire.”
“I got to know and understand Father Willie Doyle very well over time working on ‘Bravery Under Fire,’” he said. “His selflessness and humanity was astonishing. All denominations loved him and knew that he looked out for them in their darkest and most terrifying moments; even if they were in no man’s land and left for dead, Father Willie would go out for them.”
“He did this time and time again. He would drag the soldier back, lie beside them, and give them the last rites,” the filmmaker said.
“Father Willie always wanted to give soldiers who died a dignified Christian burial, yet this simple mercy could not be awarded to him because his comrades never actually found his body.”
Spiritual warfare
Years of spiritual penance and self-mortification prepared the priest physically and spiritually for the brutal and inhumane conditions he encountered and described: “The first part of our journey lay through a narrow trench, the floor of which consisted of deep thick mud, and the bodies of dead men trodden under foot. It was horrible beyond description.”
His account of saying Mass for the dead in the trenches is harrowing yet compelling: “Round about me on every side was the biggest congregation I ever had: behind the altar, on either side, and in front, row after row, sometimes crowding one upon the other, but all quiet and silent, as if they were straining their ears to catch every syllable of that tremendous act of sacrifice — but every man was dead! Some had lain there for a week and were foul and horrible to look at, with faces black and green.”
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A bridge-builder
In formally opening Father Doyle’s case, Bishop Deenihan described him as a “bridge-builder” as defined by Pope Francis and as a man whose generosity extended beyond nationality.
“His desire to offer his life, penances, and even his death as a reparation for the sins of priests can resonate with the Church in these times. His love and service of German soldiers offers the Church an example of universal charity. Father Willie can be seen as a servant of peace and reconciliation and a model of true ecumenism. In many ways, his life and witness are more relevant to us now than they were 100 years ago.”
For many faithful, there is a poignancy that to this day, Doyle lies with his men among the fallen, eternally one of the unknown. Yet he is not unknown, but one whose grace and love is known, and has consoled and inspired so many.
Patrick J Passmore lives on the north coast of Ireland. He has worked with St Brigid Media on a range of projects as a consultant and writer.
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