“In those last months, weeks, and days he would go at night among the huts of the wounded, the sick, and depressed, to do whatever he could to lift their spirits; he would lead them in prayer, sing a song, tell a joke, pick lice off their bodies, boil water in a helmet to give them a drink of clean water to ward off dysentery,give them some meager amounts of food, even, yes, even by stealing, in short, to do whatever he could to bring light to those who entered a darkness few of us can ever imagine. He was a missionary disciple of hope. And that hope indubitably kept many of those men alive. And evidently, he did all of this day after day in an uncomplaining fashion, never begrudgingly, but happily, dare we say, even joyfully … bringing God’s love in simple and profound ways to those who were at risk of losing all hope.”
Bishop Kemme reflected with gratitude on being invited by Fr. Kapaun’s family to accompany them to Hawaii to receive and to view the priest’s remains.
Allowed reverently to touch the skull of the priest, “many thoughts immediately flooded my mind,” the bishop said: “The skull, it is the physical foundation of so much of what makes us human, our face, the eyes, the ears, the lips, and the mouth. As we were permitted to so gently touch this part of Fr. Kapaun, I found myself reflecting on his face, which we see so often in photos. His was a caring face, a face of quiet strength, a face of character and virtue, a face of a friend, a brother, the face of a comrade, that brought calmness and consolation, that instilled upon those who looked on his countenance, uncommon courage and confidence. His was the face those soldiers would never forget.”
“I thought of his eyes, eyes that saw human suffering in front of him, unimaginable suffering, but eyes that were able to see beyond the dirt and the grime, the lice and the disease, eyes that were able to see through all of that to the person who needed him at that very moment. Those who were so blessed to look into his eyes, I am confident, saw a reflection of Jesus, to whom Fr. Emil had dedicated his life and ministry. I thought of his ears, which heard the cries of the poor, the lonely, the afraid, the ears that listened to the fears and concerns of the soldiers, the ears that heard their sins … And I thought of his mouth and lips, that spoke words that lifted spirits and gave strength and courage, absolution and freedom.”
Bishop Kemme noted that “It was in those places that Father was also baptized, on his forehead, becoming a child of God; and was anointed on the crown of his head as priest, prophet and king; and years later was ordained as a priest of Jesus Christ by the imposition of hands. From this center of who Fr. Kapaun was, flowed the life of a baptized disciple. From there flowed the ministry of a priest, and the dedicated and courageous service of a chaplain.”
The bishop concluded by inviting all to come to Fr. Kapaun’s tomb at the cathedral to “reflect on the extraordinary man whose mortal remains we will inter there today. To all who have been inspired by the ministry of his priestly life, we now have a place to be in the company of his mortal remains, and to pray for his intercession.”
“Especially when for us life is dark and lonely, and we are hopeless and afraid, come to his tomb, pray there and sit in the stillness of the beauty and peace that surrounds you, and let God speak to you through the example and the witness of this servant of God, Fr. Emil Joseph Kapaun.”
“And let us all continue to pray for his cause, so that one day soon we will be able to call him the saint we are confident he truly is. Give thanks to the lord for he is good, for his love is everlasting. Chaplain, Fr. Emil Kapaun, Servant of God, pray for us.”
Join Our Telegram Group : Salvation & Prosperity
