James Hugh O ' Neill Rt . Rev . Msgr . ( BG ) James Hugh O ' Neill was a US Army Chaplain for twenty - six years , including World War II . He was perhaps best remembered as the Chaplain , then Colonel , who authored the " Weather Prayer " on December 8 , 1944 at Caserne Molifor in Nancy , France , just before the Battle of the Bulge , for Gen . George S Patton , Jr . , who at the time , was commanding the Third US Army . Early life and education . James Hugh O ' Neill was born on Jan 14 , 1892 , the son of William O ’ Neill and Catherine Enright O ’ Neill . After receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree ( 1911 ) and Master of Arts degree ( 1913 ) from Loyola University ( Chicago ) , he entered Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity in St . Paul , Minnesota , and was ordained on May 20 , 1915 . Early career . Father O ' Neill was then assigned to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Helena , Montana and appointed to the faculty of Carroll College in Helena in the fall of 1915 . While at Carroll , he was Professor of Physics , Registrar , Dean of Men , and Vice President ( 1921 – 26 ) . Military career . In 1926 , Father O ' Neill entered the Chaplain Service of the US Army . He saw duty throughout the United States ( 1929 – 1934 ; 1936 – 1942 ) and the Philippine Islands ( 1927 – 1929 ; 1934 – 1936 ) , and served on the staffs of General Jacob Devers ( 1942 – 44 ) and General George Patton ( 1944 – 46 ) in the European Theater of Operations . During the Battle of the Bulge Patton desired good weather for his advance , which would permit close ground support by U . S . Army Air Forces tactical aircraft , and requested that O ' Neill compose a suitable prayer . O ' Neill complied , and his prayer was printed and distributed to unit members : " " Almighty and most merciful Father , we humbly beseech Thee , of Thy great goodness , to restrain these immoderate rains with which we have had to contend . Grant us fair weather for Battle . Graciously hearken to us as soldiers who call upon Thee that , armed with Thy power , we may advance from victory to victory and crush the oppression and wickedness of our enemies , and establish Thy justice among men and nations . Amen . " " When the weather cleared soon after , Patton awarded O ' Neill a Bronze Star Medal . O ' Neill later served on the staff of General Courtney Hodges ( 1946 – 1948 ) at Ft Jay , Governor ’ s Island , New York . He was promoted to Brigadier General and became Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army , at Ft Myer , Arlington , Virginia ( 1948 – 1952 ) . His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster , the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster , the Croix de Guerre with Palm from France , the Croix de Guerre with Palm from Belgium , the Croix de Guerre from the Duchy of Luxembourg , the American Theatre Medal , and the American Defense Medal . He also earned battle stars for the campaigns of Normandy , Northern France , Ardennes , Rhineland , and Central Europe . Retirement . In 1952 , Msgr . O ’ Neill retired from the US Army and continued his priestly ministry at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart , Diocese of Pueblo , Pueblo , Colorado . He died on Apr 17 , 1972 , in Pueblo , Colorado in the 57th year of his priesthood and the 80th year of his life . He was buried in the Bishop ’ s Section of Roselawn Cemetery , Pueblo , Colorado .