IRISH PRISONERS OF WAR IN GERMANY

New Zealand Tablet, 8 July 1915, Page 47

IRISH PRISONERS OF WAR IN GERMANY

Mgr. Keller, P.P., Youghal, has received a letter from Father J. T. Grotty, 0.P., who is with the Irish prisoners of war at Kriegsgefangenlager, Limburg, in which he says : The Irish prisoners of war have an Irish priest to look after their spiritual welfare, and, thank God, his efforts are being blessed with success. Since his arrival tlie Rosary is recited every night in the various barracks, and all the men (over 2300 here) have gone to the Sacraments ; many of them go every week. St. Patrick’s Day he had eight priests helping to hear confessions, and on the feast day itself there was scarcely a man here who did not receive Holy Communion. High Mass was sung in the open air, and after the first Gospel the panegyric of the saint was preached. In the afternoon, there was a grand concert, and a comedy performed by the artist* among the soldiers was a great success. Easter Sunday was another memorable day. We had High Mass at 10 o’clock, and at the first Mass great .numbers received Holy Communion. At each Mass there was a sermon. Every Sunday evening there are devotions, which begin at 4 o'clock, and a sermon is preached then, too. So, you see, there is nothing left undone to satisfy the religious wishes of the prisoners. No day' passes that the Irish priest does not pay a visit to the hospital to look after the patients, first our own countrymen, and then the French and Russians (Poles). Thank God the Irishmen are recognised here amongst the Catholic prisoners by the Germans, and even by their fellow-prisoners, of other nations, as ‘ the good Catholic soldiers,’ which indeed they are. They are a credit to their country and to their Apostle, St. Patrick.