I recently finished a book entitled, “Jesuit Missionaries to North America.” I figured it was high time I read it since I now am in residence at North American Martyrs Parish in Lincoln.
Contained in the book are stories of various missionaries including, of course, the eight North American martyrs who are patron saints of the above parish. It was a book that I had a hard time to put down.
One of the hallmarks of the martyrs was their willingness to suffer for the Lord Jesus in order to save souls. Telling was the discussion of St. Isaac Jogues who, despite having had numerous opportunities to escape, did not because of his desire to minister to the Catholic Huron captives of the Iroquois - not only materially but most importantly spiritually by administering the sacraments.
After reading this book I moved on to another entitled, “The Miracle of Father Kapaun, Priest, Soldier, and Korean War Hero.” It is a book about Father Emil Kapaun, a WWII and Korean War chaplain from Pilsen, Kan., who was captured by the Chinese during the Korean War and put to death by starvation.
I was amazed that during the battle that raged south of the village of Unsan, and despite warnings from his fellow soldiers, Father Kapaun went from foxhole to foxhole, despite heavy gunfire, to pull wounded men out of harm’s way, in order to administer absolution and the anointing of the sick. He figured if God wanted him to administer the sacraments to the wounded and dying, he would keep the bullets away. He was right; none of the bullets hit their intended targets. They were so close though, he had two pipes shot out of his mouth.
Like St. Isaac Jogues, Father Kapaun turned down multiple opportunities to escape in order to stay with his wounded comrades who were about to be captured by the Chinese. Once captured, he was responsible for the conversion of countless souls. In addition, he helped save the lives of countless more.
Eventually, he was taken away from his men and left to die in a separate building. His heroic love for his neighbor was nothing other than the imitation of the love Christ manifested on the cross for us all.
Can we not connect the dots to many other saints and martyrs from St. Stephen until the present time? Ignoring our own interests for others, which is a prelude for laying down our lives for our brothers and sisters, is what drives our donors to help us: spiritually with their prayers, materially with donated items not needed in their homes, and financially with cash donations according to their means.
I have been told a number of times that one of the rules of fundraising is to thank a donor seven times. Please allow me to use this article as ‘one of the seven’ opportunities God has given me to thank our many self-less donors who ignore their own interests for the sake of others by supporting us as described above.
Please know that we will keep you, your family and intentions in our prayers. Please also remember to pray for the beatification of Father Emil Kapaun.
St. Isaac Jogues, and Father Kapaun, pray for us!
