October 29, 2025

Fr. John Riccardo

Brothers and sisters: Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For Christ, while we were still helpless, died at the appointed time for the ungodly. Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. How much more then, since we are now justified by his Blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath. Indeed, if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, once reconciled, will we be saved by his life. Not only that, but we also boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation (Romans 5:5-11).

Recently, we were blessed to serve in the Diocese of Wichita on mission. It was an extraordinary week or so, allowing us time to minister to Bishop Kemme and the priests, a gathering of students at Wichita State University, hundreds of school principals and teachers, and a one day revival as well. Something amazing is happening in the heartland, truly.

Among the many highlights of our time was the opportunity to pray at the tomb of Venerable Emil Kapaun, the most highly decorated chaplain in United States history. This most extraordinary and heroic man was the recipient of, among other awards, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Legion of Merit and the Medal of Honor.

Kapaun was born in Pilsen, Kansas, in 1916. Ordained a priest at the age of 24, he began his military service just a few years later in 1944. After a few initial months spent State-side, he was assigned to the Burma Theater in March, 1945. There, he ministered to the troops at the tail end of the war. My dad served in that theater during that time; I can’t help but wonder if he ever received communion from Kapaun. Anyway, after World War II, Kapaun came home but soon thereafter petitioned his bishop to re-enlist in the Army. His request was granted and Kapaun served again as a chaplain in the Korean War.

He arrived first in Japan in January, 1950, to help with the peace-keeping forces. When communist North Korea shockingly invaded South Korea, in June of that same year, Kapaun was with the first soldiers sent to assist. Over the course of the next four months, Kapaun earned a reputation for loyalty, courage and fierce devotion to his brothers in arms. Countless times he risked his life to administer the sacraments, bury the dead, and retrieve and bring back to safety wounded soldiers. Stories abound from those who served with him. One soldier said, “He seemed to appear from nowhere during a combat operation and stay long enough to perform his duties and then disappear. He was never bothered by enemy mortar and small arms fire coming into the vicinity of where he was helping others. He would conduct religious services whenever possible. He expressed no fear of the enemy and stories of his brave deeds of dragging soldiers to safety, tending to their wounds and suffering circulated among the officers and men. How many lives were saved because of him? Only God knows for sure. His exposure to the terrible combat operations was, I believe, a dress rehearsal for what followed.”

On November 1 1950, his platoon was attacked while protecting the village of Unsan. Captured once, he managed to escape, only to be captured again the next day after he made a decision to stay behind so as to minister to the wounded, even though he was given the chance to retreat to safety. Together with other prisoners of war, he then walked 100 miles to a prison camp in Pyoktong. Those who fell behind on the march were often shot, so Kapaun did all he could to encourage the men to keep going, even carrying one of them on his shoulders for miles, thus sparing his life.

He didn’t live long once they finally arrived at the camp. Conditions were horrible — on so many levels, and the sufferings inflicted upon the soldiers were inhuman. In the midst of it all, Kapaun still served as a priest, caring for the needs, both material and spiritual, of as many men as possible. Everyone knew him. His witness and words gave hope and encouragement to the men, and his captors hated him. They were afraid to outright kill them, however, for fear that a rebellion would ensue. In spring of 1951, though, he fell ill, and the guards saw their chance. Entering his hut, they declared that he was to be taken to the camp “hospital,” which was in fact a death house. The other POWs tried to prevent this from happening, but when they saw it was futile, they demanded to carry him themselves, so dear was he to them. On May 23, 1951, Kapaun died. His story is the one most frequently recounted by the soldiers who survived what was known as Prison Camp No. 5. He is one of only 5 chaplains to ever receive the Medal of Honor, awarded posthumously to him in 2013. In 2021, he received the highest military award in South Korea, the Taegeuk Service Medal. Kapaun truly embodied Jesus’ words that “no greater love has a man than to lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).

But here’s what’s hitting me this week, as we ponder St. Paul’s words. Paul says that Jesus didn’t lay down His life for His friends. In fact, Jesus died for His enemies! Jesus died, Paul writes, for the ungodly! Who does things like this? Nobody does things like this. Nobody willingly dies for their enemy, for bad people, for the ungodly, for the wicked. Nobody but God that is. And by so doing, Jesus turned enemies into friends and the ungodly and the wicked into beloved sons and daughters of His Father.

Who were those enemies and ungodly? Us. Every single one of us.

As we were wrapping up our retreat with the clergy in Wichita, Bishop Kemme made some concluding remarks to his priests. It was one of the most inspiring and rousing exhortations I’ve ever heard a bishop give. As he drew to a close, he told all of us gathered there words I will never forget: “The apostle in the room wants to tell you this: You matter!”

Paul says the same, in a different way, to each of us this week. You matter. To God. You matter so much to God that He has laid down His life for you. Not because you were His friend. Not because you’re good. Not because you’ve earned it. Not because you’ve worked hard. Not as a reward for some accomplishment. But simply to prove His love for you. And for me. Let us beg the Lord to astound us by such wondrous and unfathomable love, and to respond by loving Him and each and every person we encounter today, for they too matter to God.

Is There No Greater Love?

Are We Ready?