The Blessed Mother of the Rosary

The following is a letter written from overseas of a sailor, Daryl Rhea, to his parish priests, who received Rhea into the Church before his tour of duty.

Officer Rhea, 1944

Dear Reverend Fathers,

A slight feeling of neglect has been in my mind for a long time because I have never written to many of my friends and especially you. It seems the longer a person puts this off the more difficult it becomes. 

It will be five years this fall since you both generously gave me your time and helping me realize what is really worthwhile in life and I can never thank you both enough. It has been my greatest comfort in being reconciled to the fact that we have to be at war for God alone knows the true reasons. I hope that He sees fit for it to soon end. 

I have been blessed with good fortune so far and being in one of the lesser active theaters and especially in visiting so many of the edifying marks of our religion. 

I first landed in Oran, Africa last year and had about a month. They're just waiting to be sent on. While there, I visited a Catholic church in the city and was surprised to find it so similar to our church. What really made it nice was the fact that Oran is the lowest type of city in the world. It's overrun with half breeds and people of little or no morals. This was a very disgusting sight but to walk into this little church seemed to lift one right out of it all. I went to Mass mostly though at our camp chapel which was located about three miles from the city. 

I was moved then to Bizerte or rather just outside that City at a place named Karouba. I didn't have a chance to visit anything while being there as we were never allowed outside the camp due to much sickness and disease among the civilians. I was very fortunate though in getting to Mass every Sunday and several times through the week as the Navy always has a chapel close by. I remained at Karouba also about a month when my assignment came through that I was to work with the Eight Fleet somewhere in Italy. This was a real treat as I felt I was getting closer to what I really wanted to see and visit, the Vatican City. 

St. Luis IX Cathedral on Carthage Hill

On our trip to Italy we had to make a stop at Tunis and on pulling into the harbor I could see Carthage Hill just to the right of Tunis. I wished I could have had even an hour to make a visit there but we were only in port a short time so no one was allowed off the ship. I was told though that Carthage Hill is the central stronghold of the Catholic Religion in Africa. The large church and monastery was very beautiful. What I could see of it. After that stop we came directly to Naples, Italy which was on the fourth of December. 

I was immediately put to work in the office I am still in. My boss at that time was a Catholic captain and on the twentieth of December I was asked by three other Catholic fellows if I wanted to go to Rome over Christmas as the Holy Father was going to offer the first Midnight Mass that has ever been to the public. I immediately asked my boss and he was very anxious that I go. I was certainly supposed to be, for the four of us traveled in an open Jeep and it was during the coldest weather and no one even caught a cold, though we nearly froze. 

Rhea in his Cracker Jack uniform, 1941

Fortunately I had gone to confession the evening before we left, for had I waited, I probably couldn't have gone as we got into Rome around dark. We went to the Vatican at nine o’clock for we heard the door to St. Peters would open at eleven. When we arrived the entire court in front of St. Peter's was filled with thousands of people. When the doors were finally opened the entire crowd stormed the gates and there was so much confusion and such a mass of people that had I decided to turn around and go back it would have been impossible, for we were just pressed in. After getting inside we waited for the procession, and it being my first time, I was speechless at the size and beauty. The sight of people from every nation was very impressive and was explanatory and the fact that our religion is really universal. 

The procession started at approximately eleven thirty with a fanfare of trumpets high in the front of the cathedral. It made me think of Judgment Day, all the world there waiting and wondering how each would be affected by the presence of our Lord. The procession was headed by the Swiss Guard dressed in their colorful official uniforms. They were followed by the representatives of the various orders and then the Cardinals and advisories of the Holy Father. Presently, there rose a terrific cheering and rejoicing from the congregation, and I could see the Holy Father being carried in on the throne-like chair borne by several of the guards. I was a little surprised at the excited crowd, though by the smile on the Holy Father's face, he wasn't disappointed and he continually blessed the congregation as he was carried to the main altar. I could see by the expression, though, in the lines of his face that the troubles of the world are on his shoulders. The shouting was something like “Viva de Papa”, meaning long live the Holy Father. 

Pius XII gives Communion to soldiers, Christmas 1944

The procession ended at the main altar by all the participants taking their respective places

around it and the Holy Father began to offer the Solemn High mass. I was very fortunate in being so near the altar as I wanted to go to Communion and I had been told that the Holy Father would give Communion to fourth servicemen. I wasn't quite that near but he read two masses and I got to Communion during his second Mass. That moment of Communion with our Lord and especially being offered by one so near to Him has and will always be a wonderful memory in my life. I had and have so much to be thankful for. 

After Mass the Holy father was carried from the altar in like manner. The following day I went to Mass again, and this time one of the fellows and I made a tour of the Vatican. It is the “Treasure Chest” of our religion.

I have since been in many different beautiful churches throughout Italy. Only yesterday I borrowed a Jeep and went to Pompei to visit the church of the “Blessed Mother of the Rosary”. My personal opinion is that it is more beautiful than St. Peter's, though not nearly as impressive. One of the most beautiful in all Europe. It was just recently completed, I think 1939. 

Church of the Blessed Mother of the Rosary, Pompeii

Both of you have seen much more probably than what I have written about so I'm slightly at a handicap, but I want you to know how much I appreciate my religion and all you have helped me. 

I have had the honor of assisting at Mass once, though I had to use a regular server's card. That was one thing I have always wanted to do as I never had the opportunity. Also during my stay here I have made a very good friend in the acquaintance of Father Stockman. You have heard of him in that he has written quite a few articles on Catholic Marriage. He is a friend of anyone who knows him. The week before Easter, this past Spring, he conducted a mission for a week and he gave us some very instructive talks on the Sacraments. The mission ended by all of us going up on the hill to an Italian orphanage on Easter morning and treating the orphans to a fine meal plus all the nic-nacks we could dig up to take along. 

I have one sad part in my heart about it all, and it's the fact that so many of the people who live in this country do not seem to make the most of the many wonderful facilities they have so generously been blessed with. I only hope and pray that I never become as lax as many of them very obviously are. A lot of it is due to the untold hardships they have undergone. Relief for them is a necessity and also all the prayers we can offer for them. 

Sincerely,

Daryl Sr. meets his son Daryl Jr. for the first time after the War is over.