Catholic Chaplain Killed 80 Years Ago During “Great Crusade”

June 6th 1944 was considered the turning point of WW2 in Europe. With Americans, British, and Canadians they embarked on the “Great Crusade” pouring out 110,000 soldiers, sailors, and airmen to liberate a continent held by the Nazis. It was their most desperate moment.

Amid the carnage, many Catholic chaplains have stepped up to tend to the wounded and dying from both sides. But there was one chaplain who would pay the ultimate price on this day in 1944.  His name was Father Ignatius Maternowski.

Father Maternowski, a member of Franciscan Friars Conventual, parachuted into Normandy with the 82nd Airborne Division’s 508th regiment. Their destination was the village of Picauville. There, Father Maternowski turned a family grocery store into a makeshift hospital for the wounded.

Years later, the son of the grocery store owner came forward to offer key testimony to understand why this chaplain that driven to be sure every soldier was treated with dignity.

“He needed to secure another facility for the Americans. The new testimony is crystal clear — he wasn’t seeking a common aid station but, rather, an additional house for an American infirmary,”  recalled Joseph Hamilton, the director of mission advancement for Our Lady of the Angels Province.

Observing that it was being overflooded by wounded soldiers, Father Maternowski made a bold move to seek help from a German medic. They agreed and soon combined a bigger space to tend to the wounded. The priest had a red cross armband that indicates that he is providing medical care for the wounded.

The 1929 Geneva Convention defined the rights and protections afforded to noncombatants. As a chaplain, a Franciscan priest, and an Army captain, he shows the German officer these men are all wounded and dying.

“It’s clear the wounded are protected. He wanted to get the belligerent side to agree this is a noncombatant facility. And one of the provisions of the Geneva Convention is also how civilian volunteers need to be recognized as noncombatants, particularly in medical help. He must’ve wanted to get the Thouroude family protected as well as the soldiers.” Hamilton informed.

As Father Maternowski was making his way across alone, a German sniper fired a mortal round into his back. Father Maternowski lays in a ditch for three days.

After discovering this new information and correcting decades-long errors, it became clear that Father Maternowski died as a martyr of charity. He wanted to provide care for both Americans and Germans alike.

“Father Maternowski’s heroic sacrifice is an outstanding example of Christian love in practice, even in the face of great evil and adversity.” Said Archbishop Timothy Brogolio

Today, in the same village where heavy fighting took place, a chapel recently erected a stained glass window that bears the image of this heroic priest.

Let us pause and remember this heroic priest who showed us what greater love is all about.

Father Ignatius Maternowski, pray for us.