Chaplain's letter to bereaved wife of soldier killed in Vimy Ridge
Chaplain’s Letter to Bereaved Wife
The following letter was sent to Mrs. Gorrell, lately of Toronto, at Preston, England, where she went to be nearer her husband when he left for overseas. She was received into the Church at Holy Rosary Church, Toronto, previous to her marriage to Corporal Gorrell nearly four years ago. A little boy is proving a real consolation to the mother in her bereavement:
Dear Mrs. Gorrell,
You must have received official notification of the death in action of your dear devoted husband, Cpl. R. Gorrell, 14th Canadian Battalion. He was instantly killed on the morning of the 9th inst. during the battle of Vimy Ridge. It is sad news for you, and I can assure you that our sympathy is real and deep. I knew Cpl. Gorrell quite well as he was a member of my congregation. He was a good soldier, devoted to duty and enjoying the full confidence of his officers and the affection of his comrades. His loss is keenly felt my us all. I especially feel his loss quite deeply, as he was one of my best parishioners and his example was of great help to me in my work among the soldiers.
It will afford you some consolation to know that he was a good Christian man, always ready to give to God what belonged to Him. He kept his soul readiness for any sacrifice that God might demand of him. He prepared himself for this great battle by a pious and worthy Holy Communion, and I feel sure that Our Saviour has accepted his sacrifice and rewarded him for that greatest of all acts of Charity, to give one's life for others.
He was reverently laid to rest beneath the arms of a beautiful Cross erected by the Battalion. I blessed his grave and offered up the Holy Sacrifice for the eternal repose of his soul.
We have prayed for you also, that God may grant you His consoling grace in this your hour of trial.. May He give you the strength and courage to bravely accept His Divine Will and to patiently bear the heavy cross which He has allotted to you.
With deepest sympathy,
A. J. LABOULE,
Capt. C.F.Subscribe to our Digital Edition to have unlimited access to The Catholic Register's 125-years worth of archived stories.
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Poles gather at border to pray the rosary for peace
News and notes from around the Catholic world as collected by The Catholic Register.
Hundreds of thousands of Polish Catholics gathered along their country’s border Oct. 7 to pray for peace, as well as for the future and salvation of Poland and the world. The event, entitled “Rosary at the Borders,” was organized by a lay movement called the Solo Dios Basta Foundation (God Alone Suffices). It was supported by the Polish Bishop’s Conference and was sponsored by several state-owned companies. Approximately 90 per cent of the country identifies as Catholic.
According to The New York Times, participants gathered for prayer at 320 churches near the border of Poland as well as in 4,000 designated prayer zones. The prayer took place on the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, which also commemorates the anni-versary of the Battle of Lepanto, during which Mary, through the prayer of the rosary, is credited for a key victory against the Ottoman Empire.
Poles gather at border to pray the rosary for peace
News and notes from around the Catholic world as collected by The Catholic Register.
Hundreds of thousands of Polish Catholics gathered along their country’s border Oct. 7 to pray for peace, as well as for the future and salvation of Poland and the world. The event, entitled “Rosary at the Borders,” was organized by a lay movement called the Solo Dios Basta Foundation (God Alone Suffices). It was supported by the Polish Bishop’s Conference and was sponsored by several state-owned companies. Approximately 90 per cent of the country identifies as Catholic.
According to The New York Times, participants gathered for prayer at 320 churches near the border of Poland as well as in 4,000 designated prayer zones. The prayer took place on the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, which also commemorates the anni-versary of the Battle of Lepanto, during which Mary, through the prayer of the rosary, is credited for a key victory against the Ottoman Empire.
CHURCH ‘SHAKEN’: The Catholic Church in Australia has been “shaken to the core” over the abuse scandal and is facing the biggest crisis in its history, the Archbishop of Brisbane has said.
Mark Coleridge, vice-president of the Australian Bishops’ Conference, was speaking Oct. 9 after visiting Rome with fellow Australian bishops for talks about the fallout of the clerical sexual abuse crisis which has been the focus of an Australian royal commission.
The scandal widened when police in June charged Cardinal George Pell, the Vatican treasurer and former Archbishop of Sydney, with historic sexual offences. Pell has taken a leave of absence while he seeks to clear his name.
RECTOR LEAVES: The Legionaries of Christ pledged its ongoing commitment to reform as it released information about a former rector who has publicly acknowledged being the father of two children.
Legionaries’ Fr. Oscar Turrion, who has served as rector of the order’s seminary in Rome since 2014, informed his superiors of “his intention to leave priestly ministry” in light of the revela-tions, the order said in a statement Oct. 6.
Turrion, who also released his own letter describing the affair, offered his apologies and asked for prayers.
AGENCIES GUIDE: Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Toronto has published a 24-page booklet listing social service agencies to help parishes respond to families in need.
Cardinal Thomas Collins specifically links the booklet, titled Outreach in Justice and Love: A Social Services Resource, with his hopes for parishes to develop comprehensive pastoral plans.
For a copy, call (416) 934-3401.
Poles gather at border to pray the rosary for peace
Hundreds of thousands of Polish Catholics gathered along their country’s border Oct. 7 to pray for peace, as well as for the future and salvation of Poland and the world. The event, entitled “Rosary at the Borders,” was organized by a lay movement called the Solo Dios Basta Foundation (God Alone Suffices). It was supported by the Polish Bishop’s Conference and was sponsored by several state-owned companies. Approximately 90 per cent of the country identifies as Catholic.
According to The New York Times, participants gathered for prayer at 320 churches near the border of Poland as well as in 4,000 designated prayer zones. The prayer took place on the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, which also commemorates the anni-versary of the Battle of Lepanto, during which Mary, through the prayer of the rosary, is credited for a key victory against the Ottoman Empire.
CHURCH ‘SHAKEN’: The Catholic Church in Australia has been “shaken to the core” over the abuse scandal and is facing the biggest crisis in its history, the Archbishop of Brisbane has said.
Mark Coleridge, vice-president of the Australian Bishops’ Conference, was speaking Oct. 9 after visiting Rome with fellow Australian bishops for talks about the fallout of the clerical sexual abuse crisis which has been the focus of an Australian royal commission.
The scandal widened when police in June charged Cardinal George Pell, the Vatican treasurer and former Archbishop of Sydney, with historic sexual offences. Pell has taken a leave of absence while he seeks to clear his name.
RECTOR LEAVES: The Legionaries of Christ pledged its ongoing commitment to reform as it released information about a former rector who has publicly acknowledged being the father of two children.
Legionaries’ Fr. Oscar Turrion, who has served as rector of the order’s seminary in Rome since 2014, informed his superiors of “his intention to leave priestly ministry” in light of the revela-tions, the order said in a statement Oct. 6.
Turrion, who also released his own letter describing the affair, offered his apologies and asked for prayers.
AGENCIES GUIDE: Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Toronto has published a 24-page booklet listing social service agencies to help parishes respond to families in need.
Cardinal Thomas Collins specifically links the booklet, titled Outreach in Justice and Love: A Social Services Resource, with his hopes for parishes to develop comprehensive pastoral plans.
For a copy, call (416) 934-3401.