Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J., 16 April 1916 Letters 1916-1923 Willie Doyle

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 Irish Jesuit Archives IE-IJA-J2-85-100 https://letters1916.ie/item/3910 English Willie Doyle 1916-04-16 8th Royal Irish Fusiliers, British Expeditionary Force, France Male 1917 Faith Faith World War I (1914-1918)

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 Two lessons from experience at the Front 8th R. Irish Fusiliers 16/4/16 My dear Child , I am beginning this letter this morning how or when I shall finish it (or where!). At least let me wish you every grace & from our Risen Lord, one being that you may more deeply realise the meaning hidden in the words, "Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and so enter into His glory." You have a good deal to learn just now, dear child, bu it is all for Him, He wishes it and so I leave you a happy man though the tears may flow. I have seen very clearly since I came out here that Jesus wanted to teach me one lesson at least ( I have written it also for you on the card), and I think the "want of absolute submission to His Will" has been the cause of much I have suffered. He asked me to make the sacrifice of my life but I was unwilling. Not indeed that in any sense I fear death (would not Heaven be a welcome exchange?) but knowing what I do about the state of the world, the millions to be saved, and how little He is known or loved or thought about, I felt it hard, very hard, to leave all that work there and go to enjoy the happiness of His company. Then, too, my mind is full of plans for His glory, and, perhaps more than that, I know well that I have not "done the work He gave me to do," that is I have never fully lived the life He has so often asked for and made clearly known to me because I was too arrogant and cowardly. That life, to put it in a word, was to be one in which I should "refuse Him no sacrifice He asked." You know Jesus, my child, and that He is not afraid to ask! However grace has won the day and I think I can say with truth that I have now no choice or will except him — I have told Him he may may do just as He pleases with me and take all, even my life This has brought great peace and a sense of great security in the midst of danger since I know I am in He's hands. In return He has made me see that without this absolute abandonment to His pleasure, without the breaking of one's own will a life of contemplation as His Victim is a farce. The "perfect renunciation" may be easy but "without murmur or complaint" is the real test of the true lover. Another lesson I have learnedquestionable readingthe powerful weapon we have in prayer and how much His Interests may be helped on at any moment of the day, easily & sincerely, Oh, how much we could all do for Him and his Interests and how many poor souls would be saved daily if we only fill in the chinks of our full lives with little aspirations. No chance of writing more underlined textoff to the for 16 days. God bless you always. From yours affectionately in Him W.D. 8th Royal Irish Fusiliers, British Expeditionary Force, France Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 20 July 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 24 March 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 29 April 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 19 June 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J., 16 April 1916 Willie Doyle Letter from Father Willie Doyle to Hugh Doyle, 10 March 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 20 July 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 23 September 1916Letter from Fr Willie Doyle SJ to Provincial Thomas Nolan, 13 May 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan, 25 January 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan, 25 February 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 1 December 1915Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 10 December 1915Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan, 31 December 1915Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 30 December 1915Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 15 January 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Mai, 22 January 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 25 January 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 4 February 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 10 February 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Mai, 11 February 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 17 March 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 24 March 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 29 April 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 19 June 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 26 October 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J., 16 April 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan, 12 December 1915Postcard from Fr Willie Doyle SJ to Sister M. Anthony, 7 April 1916