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"Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life." (John 12:24-25)
At present, according to the statistics of the Korea Armed Forces, about 599,000 soldiers are on active duty. Among them, 87,093 soldiers are Catholics, and about 30,000 young people are baptized as Catholics during military service every year.
"Military Ordinariate," one of 16 dioceses in Korea, was founded in 1951 with the help of 11 military priests. It was officially established in 1983 and elevated in 1989. Now in Military Ordinariate, about 50 religious sisters and 104 priests are serving in 95 military parishes and 116 secondary stations.
Emil Joseph Kapaun (1916-51) was born in a farm village in Pilsen, Kansas, was ordained as a priest in 1940, and was sent to Korea as a U.S. Army chaplain in July 1950.
He first experienced the duty as a chaplain in the Burma Theater of World War II, and then he was sent again to Korea as a chaplain. He is now called "Jesus of the Korean War."
In 1993, he was proclaimed as a "Servant of God," the first step before beatification and sanctification thanks to his extraordinary heroic action, patriotism, selfless service, and indomitable spirit.
He was buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii, but his remains were identified only 70 years after his death.
He had several chances to escape from the frontline but he volunteered to stay together with the wounded. So, he took care of them in a trench made of logs and straws. He even made an altar on a jeep to celebrate Mass and prayed for the eternal peace of dying soldiers.
During the battle of Ulsan, he served with the Third Battalion of the 8th Cavalry Regiment. Against Chinese communist forces, he exposed himself to enemy fire to recover wounded soldiers and dragged them to safety.
He was captured and held at the Byeokdong war camp where he dedicated himself to his fellow captives. He washed the clothes of the wounded and even stole food and medicine from the enemy's storage to share with his colleagues.
He passed away on May 23, 1951, at the age of 35, due to a combination of factors including a blood clot, dysentery and pneumonia. He was posthumously bestowed the "Army medal of honor" in April 2013.
Our late Cardinal Jeong Jin-seok was much inspired by his example during his seminarian life and translated "Chaplain Kapaun" in 1956.
Prayer for the Intercession of Father Kapaun reads as follows: "Father Emil Kapaun gave glory to God to the priesthood and thus serving the people of Kansas and those in the military. Father Kapaun, I ask your intercession not only for these needs which I mention now … but that I too may follow your example of service to God and my neighbor. For the gifts of courage in battle and perseverance."
The author is a member of the Daughters of St. Paul (fsp.pauline.or.kr.) living and giving the Good News to the world by means of social communication.
