New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1916-01-01
PRIESTS WHO FIGHT IN THE
TRENCHES.

: When the story Of the Grea
War comes to be written the his
torian will probably feel surpris
that heroism displayed by chap
lains and fighting priests OF to
day obtained such meagre notice
during the progress Of the cam
paigns. Eye Witnesses rare
ly mention the chaplain, and dec
orations and distinctions seldom
come his way, but it may be doub
ted whether greater examples o.
endurance and devotion ar,
furnished than those of the hum.
BILE cure or country parson. Es
erywhere the verdict and tribute
of the soldier to the priest is the
samoa tribute Of admiration and
respect alike for the office and the
man that is as spontaneous as i
is universal.
1t is estimated that there are
between 10000 and 10000 priests
engaged in one capacity or other
at the various fronts. OF these
from 10000 to 10000 are in
France actually fighting in the
trenches, the Government having
abolished the privilege which in
nearly every other country eX-
empts the cleric from military
service. Thus the "cure sac-au-
dos" (the ''priest pack-on-back y
as the French fighting priest is
called Gin contradistinction to the
@'aumonier'' or chaplain), has be-
come quite feature Of the tren-
ches and is the hero of a thousand
and one legends and adventures.
Wounded Absolute Wounded.
Thousands Of monks and priests
who, some ten years ago, left
France in consequence of the anti
clerical legislation focked back
to their country at the call of
danger. There are, naturally,
recognized chaplains or "aumo-
ners," who, except for the "kepi"
and the large davalry cloak bear
ing the gallons proper to their
rank, look very much like other
priests. By far the greater por-
ton. however, wear the ordinary
uniform Of the common soldier
and are only distinguished When
occasion brings out their sacer-
dotal character. For example,
there is nothing more touching
than to see some young giant Bre-
ton private suddenly singled out
from the ranks and given a temp
orary position of precedence
among officers and generals in
order to read funeral service, all
his superiors kneeling down in
lumbly beside his standing figure
and then, the service once over,
the soldier-priest going back to
the ranks.
Sometimes it is in a hospital
that the priest is discovered.
There is a sudden agitation among
The long line Of sick beds; a
wounded soldier, after a serious
operation, has taken turn for
he worse. and sisters and doc
;ors are consulting in order to get
! priest who can administer the
aste rites of the church. A faint
5oice attracts attention. and a
Nurse hurries to see what is the
natter. "Sister,' says the voice
rom bundle Of bandaees on the
pillow. II am a priest; / can give
lin absolution if you will hold
NY hand" And as the whole
ward lapses into silence the
wounded hand is helped to make .
he mystic sign, and the saving
words that bring peace to the dy-
ng man are uttered: ego tie
strangled by a Cure.
Nor are they less prominent on
he field of battle. They are
the bravest and. what IS
more, often serve as stimulus to
bravery in others. The other day
IL France, for example, among
our promoted from the ranks
lpon the battlefield three were
priests in orders. Another story
ellis Of how huge cure crawled
,ut from in front Of the French
ines and single-handed strangled
he German sentry only few
yards from the enemy's lines.
Again, a Jesuit priest. Revel by
lame. joined the Garibaldian vol
lnteorc and eventually became q |