Rt. Rev. Msgr. (BG) James Hugh O'Neill was a United States Army Chaplain for twenty-six years, including World War II. He was perhaps best remembered as the Chaplain, then Colonel, who authored the "Weather Prayer" on December 8, 1944, at Caserne Molifor in Nancy, France, just before the Battle of the Bulge, for Gen. George S. Patton, Jr., who at the time, was commanding the Third U.S. Army.
"Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness, to restrain these immoderate rains with which we have had to contend. Grant us fair weather for Battle. Graciously hearken to us as soldiers who call upon Thee that, armed with Thy power, we may advance from victory to victory, and crush the oppression and wickedness of our enemies and establish Thy justice among men and nations."
James Hugh O'Neill was the son of William O'Neill and Catherine Enright O'Neill. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree (1911) and Master of Arts degree (1913) from Loyola University, he entered St. Paul's Seminary in Minnesota, and was ordained on May 20, 1915. Father O'Neill was then assigned to the Diocese of Helena, Montana, and appointed to the faculty of Carroll College in the fall of 1915. While at Carroll, he was Professor of Physics, Registrar, Dean of Men, and Vice President (1921-1926).
In 1926, Father O'Neill entered the Chaplain Service of the United States Army. He saw duty throughout the United States (1929-1934; 1936-1942) and the Philippine Islands (1927-1929; 1934-1936). He served on the staffs of General Jacob Devers (1942-1944) and General George S. Patton (1944-1946) in the European Theater of Operations, and served on the staff of General Courtney Hodges (1946-1948) at Fort Jay, Governor's Island, New York. He was promoted to Brigadier General and became Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the U.S. Army, at Fort Myer, Arlington, Virginia (1948-1952).
His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Croix de Guerre with Palm from France, the Croix de Guerre with Palm from Belgium, the Croix de Guerre from the Duchy of Luxembourg, the American Theatre Medal, and the American Defense Medal. He also earned battle stars for the campaigns of Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe.
He retired from the U.S. Army in 1952 and continued his priestly ministry at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Diocese of Pueblo, Pueblo, Colorado. His Masses there were always packed and his sermons were full of passion. He used his outdoor military voice, so visitors thought he was yelling. He enjoyed walking the schoolyard and enjoyed talking with the students. He died on Apr 17, 1972, in the 57th year of his priesthood and the 80th year of his life.
Thanks to the Carroll College newspaper "Prospector," May 28, 1948; "The True Story of the Patton Prayer" by Msgr. James H. O'Neill, October 6, 1971; and special thanks to the "Pueblo Chieftain," Pueblo, Colorado, April 18, 1972, for their help.
"Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness, to restrain these immoderate rains with which we have had to contend. Grant us fair weather for Battle. Graciously hearken to us as soldiers who call upon Thee that, armed with Thy power, we may advance from victory to victory, and crush the oppression and wickedness of our enemies and establish Thy justice among men and nations."
James Hugh O'Neill was the son of William O'Neill and Catherine Enright O'Neill. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree (1911) and Master of Arts degree (1913) from Loyola University, he entered St. Paul's Seminary in Minnesota, and was ordained on May 20, 1915. Father O'Neill was then assigned to the Diocese of Helena, Montana, and appointed to the faculty of Carroll College in the fall of 1915. While at Carroll, he was Professor of Physics, Registrar, Dean of Men, and Vice President (1921-1926).
In 1926, Father O'Neill entered the Chaplain Service of the United States Army. He saw duty throughout the United States (1929-1934; 1936-1942) and the Philippine Islands (1927-1929; 1934-1936). He served on the staffs of General Jacob Devers (1942-1944) and General George S. Patton (1944-1946) in the European Theater of Operations, and served on the staff of General Courtney Hodges (1946-1948) at Fort Jay, Governor's Island, New York. He was promoted to Brigadier General and became Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the U.S. Army, at Fort Myer, Arlington, Virginia (1948-1952).
His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Croix de Guerre with Palm from France, the Croix de Guerre with Palm from Belgium, the Croix de Guerre from the Duchy of Luxembourg, the American Theatre Medal, and the American Defense Medal. He also earned battle stars for the campaigns of Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe.
He retired from the U.S. Army in 1952 and continued his priestly ministry at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Diocese of Pueblo, Pueblo, Colorado. His Masses there were always packed and his sermons were full of passion. He used his outdoor military voice, so visitors thought he was yelling. He enjoyed walking the schoolyard and enjoyed talking with the students. He died on Apr 17, 1972, in the 57th year of his priesthood and the 80th year of his life.
Thanks to the Carroll College newspaper "Prospector," May 28, 1948; "The True Story of the Patton Prayer" by Msgr. James H. O'Neill, October 6, 1971; and special thanks to the "Pueblo Chieftain," Pueblo, Colorado, April 18, 1972, for their help.
Rt. Rev. Msgr. (BG) James Hugh O'Neill was a United States Army Chaplain for twenty-six years, including World War II. He was perhaps best remembered as the Chaplain, then Colonel, who authored the "Weather Prayer" on December 8, 1944, at Caserne Molifor in Nancy, France, just before the Battle of the Bulge, for Gen. George S. Patton, Jr., who at the time, was commanding the Third U.S. Army.
"Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness, to restrain these immoderate rains with which we have had to contend. Grant us fair weather for Battle. Graciously hearken to us as soldiers who call upon Thee that, armed with Thy power, we may advance from victory to victory, and crush the oppression and wickedness of our enemies and establish Thy justice among men and nations."
James Hugh O'Neill was the son of William O'Neill and Catherine Enright O'Neill. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree (1911) and Master of Arts degree (1913) from Loyola University, he entered St. Paul's Seminary in Minnesota, and was ordained on May 20, 1915. Father O'Neill was then assigned to the Diocese of Helena, Montana, and appointed to the faculty of Carroll College in the fall of 1915. While at Carroll, he was Professor of Physics, Registrar, Dean of Men, and Vice President (1921-1926).
In 1926, Father O'Neill entered the Chaplain Service of the United States Army. He saw duty throughout the United States (1929-1934; 1936-1942) and the Philippine Islands (1927-1929; 1934-1936). He served on the staffs of General Jacob Devers (1942-1944) and General George S. Patton (1944-1946) in the European Theater of Operations, and served on the staff of General Courtney Hodges (1946-1948) at Fort Jay, Governor's Island, New York. He was promoted to Brigadier General and became Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the U.S. Army, at Fort Myer, Arlington, Virginia (1948-1952).
His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Croix de Guerre with Palm from France, the Croix de Guerre with Palm from Belgium, the Croix de Guerre from the Duchy of Luxembourg, the American Theatre Medal, and the American Defense Medal. He also earned battle stars for the campaigns of Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe.
He retired from the U.S. Army in 1952 and continued his priestly ministry at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Diocese of Pueblo, Pueblo, Colorado. His Masses there were always packed and his sermons were full of passion. He used his outdoor military voice, so visitors thought he was yelling. He enjoyed walking the schoolyard and enjoyed talking with the students. He died on Apr 17, 1972, in the 57th year of his priesthood and the 80th year of his life.
Thanks to the Carroll College newspaper "Prospector," May 28, 1948; "The True Story of the Patton Prayer" by Msgr. James H. O'Neill, October 6, 1971; and special thanks to the "Pueblo Chieftain," Pueblo, Colorado, April 18, 1972, for their help.
"Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness, to restrain these immoderate rains with which we have had to contend. Grant us fair weather for Battle. Graciously hearken to us as soldiers who call upon Thee that, armed with Thy power, we may advance from victory to victory, and crush the oppression and wickedness of our enemies and establish Thy justice among men and nations."
James Hugh O'Neill was the son of William O'Neill and Catherine Enright O'Neill. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree (1911) and Master of Arts degree (1913) from Loyola University, he entered St. Paul's Seminary in Minnesota, and was ordained on May 20, 1915. Father O'Neill was then assigned to the Diocese of Helena, Montana, and appointed to the faculty of Carroll College in the fall of 1915. While at Carroll, he was Professor of Physics, Registrar, Dean of Men, and Vice President (1921-1926).
In 1926, Father O'Neill entered the Chaplain Service of the United States Army. He saw duty throughout the United States (1929-1934; 1936-1942) and the Philippine Islands (1927-1929; 1934-1936). He served on the staffs of General Jacob Devers (1942-1944) and General George S. Patton (1944-1946) in the European Theater of Operations, and served on the staff of General Courtney Hodges (1946-1948) at Fort Jay, Governor's Island, New York. He was promoted to Brigadier General and became Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the U.S. Army, at Fort Myer, Arlington, Virginia (1948-1952).
His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Croix de Guerre with Palm from France, the Croix de Guerre with Palm from Belgium, the Croix de Guerre from the Duchy of Luxembourg, the American Theatre Medal, and the American Defense Medal. He also earned battle stars for the campaigns of Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe.
He retired from the U.S. Army in 1952 and continued his priestly ministry at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Diocese of Pueblo, Pueblo, Colorado. His Masses there were always packed and his sermons were full of passion. He used his outdoor military voice, so visitors thought he was yelling. He enjoyed walking the schoolyard and enjoyed talking with the students. He died on Apr 17, 1972, in the 57th year of his priesthood and the 80th year of his life.
Thanks to the Carroll College newspaper "Prospector," May 28, 1948; "The True Story of the Patton Prayer" by Msgr. James H. O'Neill, October 6, 1971; and special thanks to the "Pueblo Chieftain," Pueblo, Colorado, April 18, 1972, for their help.
Gravesite Details
Date is Death at age 80
