5 7

to love and serve

Introduction

In the Contemplation on the Love of God that concludes the Spiritual E xercises of St. Ignatius, the grace petitioned is that one “may be able in all things to love and serve” 1 the Lord. That ideal of love and service is at the heart of the J esuit vocation and the motivating force behind whatever apostolic activities are undertaken on behalf of the P eople of God. That this extends to the men and women in the armed forces oftheir respective countries should come as no surprise. Such service has been part ofJesuit history since its earliest years.

Rev. James Laynez, S.J., who succeeded St. Ignatius as General ofthe Society ofJesus, was the first Jesuit to serve as a military chaplain. In 1550 he was invited by John de Vega to accompany him and his men in a war against pirates in the eastern Mediterranean. As chaplain Laynez ministered to both the physical and spiritual needs ofthe fighting forces. From this experience he offered advice about engaging chaplains in the military to John de la Cerda, who had been appointed Viceroy ofSicily after de Vega’s death.

“I believe that our Lord will be very well served and Your Excellency much consoled ifyou send some good religious along on this expedition, men who will be true servants ofGod and who will seek the salvation ofsouls. By prayer and good example, by preaching and hearing confessions, by nursing the sick and helping the dying, these men will do a tremendous amount ofgood. They will teach the soldiers the proper motives for fighting, keep them from quarreling among themselves, and will call them to task for blasphemies and gambling. Finally, I know that the soldiers ofour nation will really profit from this, for by their peace ofmind and confidence in God they will better fulfill their duties in the war.” 2

Despite all the changes over the centuries in how wars are conducted, the role ofthe Catholic chaplain has remained essentially the same in our own nation as well as in nations throughout the world. And Jesuits have been leaders among those who have served their various countries with honor and distinction. Rev. Gerard F. Giblin, S.J. has documented the records ofJesuits in the United States who served in the Armed Forces from 1917 to 1960. 3 Building on his detailed report, this volume focuses on Jesuits from the New England Province during World War II. At its peak in 1945, 246 American Jesuits were serving at chaplains. The second largest number was from the New England Province (54); only the New York Province had more (59).

They were a part ofwhat Tom Brokaw has called “The Greatest Generation.” They responded to our nation’s and our world’s need in the company ofand in support ofyoung men mostly,

1 The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. (New York: Catholic Book Publishing, 1956), 115. 2 Joseph H. Fichter, James Laynez, Jesuit. (St. Louis, B. Herder Book Co., 1944), 277.

to love and serve

Introduction

(continued)

much younger than themselves, and many thousands ofwhom gave their lives in the fight for freedom. All ofthese Chaplains have long since gone to their eternal reward and, like those whom and with whom they served, with stories untold. Through their service records, citations for “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity,” “meritorious achievement” and “heroic conduct,” and in their own and in the words ofothers, we catch a glimpse, not only oftheir own generous service and often courageous accomplishments, but also oftheir appreciation and admiration for the youth of our nation and for what one Chaplain described as “The American Spirit.”

May 2014 Joseph P. Duffy, S.J.

3 Gerard F. Giblin, “Jesuits as Chaplains in the Armed Forces,” Woodstock Letters, 89, 323-482.