Fr. Vincent Capodanno (1929-1967) was born in Staten Island, NY to an Italian Catholic family. Guided by his faith-filled upbringing, he was led to the priesthood. He joined the Maryknoll Society, whose mission is to “go and teach all the nations.” When Fr. Capodanno was in Hong Kong, he ministered to Navy sailors, which inspired him to join the Navy Chaplain Corps. Eventually he served as a Marine chaplain in Vietnam, where he attended to the spiritual needs of the soldiers by praying the Mass, hearing confessions, and consoling the weary. He was devoted to humbly serving his comrades and ensuring they were spiritually sound while in difficult conditions, earning the nickname “Grunt Padre.” On September 4, 1967, Fr. Capodanno was killed in the Quảng Tín Province of Vietnam while providing medical aid to and praying over an injured Catholic medic, putting the needs of his dying brothers over his own safety. He is remembered for his bravery and heroism, and is one of nine chaplains to have received the Congressional Medal of Honor. Fr. Capodanno’s path to sainthood was opened in 2002 by the Archdiocese for Military Services.
Questions for Reflection:
Fr. Capodanno put the spiritual needs of others above his own, even in the darkest of moments. How can you help others maintain and grow in their faith? What are ways you can be selfless in evangelization? Can you recall a time when someone guided you through hardship? How can you emulate this person in your actions?
