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Armed with Faith: The Life of Father Vincent R. Capodanno, MM
“Chaplain (Lt.) Vincent R. Capodanno, 37, of New York City, wears no physical weapon of war. HIS ARMAMENT is faith – a basic, necessary and treasured attribute to the men around him.”
In the midst of the bloodshed and political rancor of the Vietnam War, the example of Servant of God, Father Vincent R. Capodanno, MM (1929-1967), stands out, for he was motivated neither by politics, nor by personal ambition, nor by military necessity. His was the dedication of Christ’s priest to the Roman Catholic Church and to others, whether as a Maryknoll missionary in the mountains of Taiwan, as a high school teacher in Hong Kong, or as a chaplain in the United States armed forces to men on the battlefield, dying to self to bring Christ to his Marines. In their fear, despair and loneliness in the military camps, and in the mud and filth of the battlefield front lines, Father Capodanno was there, even to the point of perfectly imitating Christ by his personal self-sacrifice to save a man in the heat of battle in Vietnam on September 4, 1967. This is his story.
“No one could risk his life and ultimately be killed to meet the spiritual needs of the Marines if he or she did not believe in the promise of the Kingdom. Father Capodanno brought those unique gifts of the sacraments under fire, because his first concern was to dwell in the house of God forever. You and I want his life and death known, because we believe his example will invite others to stay awake, prepare for the day of the Lord, and be men and women for others. The celebration of the greatness of a figure gone before us is implicitly an invitation to imitate the virtues of that individual. Father Capodanno teaches us the value of commitment and belief. He invites us to give our all in the pursuit of our vocation which is the path the Lord has set for us to share in the joy of His Kingdom.”
-- His Excellency, the Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., Archbishop for the Military Services, USA, on the 50th anniversary of the death of Father Vincent R. Capodanno, MM, September 5, 2017
228 pages, Paperback
Published July 31, 2018
About the author
Stephen M. Digiovanni
2 booksStephen DiGiovanni is a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut. An alumnus of the Pontifical North American College in Rome who received his doctorate in Church History from the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1983. He served in various parishes, as rector of the diocesan seminary, and as pastor of the Basilica of Saint John in Stamford since 1998.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 29, 2025
“He was a hungry man. -Hungry to be with his troops. -Hungry for more time, more time to seek out the lonely Marine, more time to sit with the scared boy, more time to explain things to the confused platoon leader.”
“Few greater guys have braced this earth— there was a secret about Vin’s style of life— I do know that his deep intense love of Christ pulsed in his veins.”
I devoured this book and think it deserves 5 stars, not because it is a pinnacle within literature, but a pinnacle within love. This book reads less like a story and more like a chronological compilation of journal entries, reports, and accounts from interviews regarding Father Vincent Capodanno (and also some written by his own hand!), mostly about his missioner years in Taiwan and Hong Kong and then his chaplaincy in the United States Marine Corps.
Yes, I cried. Quite audibly, alone in my car, for the witness of Christ-like paternity that this man made of his life. A father that loves his children to no end will run to them, irrationally and devotedly, submit his own body to torment and death for their protection, embrace any given present moment with them as if it is their last together; Padre did all of these things for the Marines he loved and more. He was a sprinter after the one lost lamb and an ensurer of the safety of the 99. As far as I can discern, this man is a saint in heaven, and reading this book made me feel like he was my very own chaplain by my very own side. I’ll miss you, Father, and I’ll return to this book often!!!
“Few greater guys have braced this earth— there was a secret about Vin’s style of life— I do know that his deep intense love of Christ pulsed in his veins.”
I devoured this book and think it deserves 5 stars, not because it is a pinnacle within literature, but a pinnacle within love. This book reads less like a story and more like a chronological compilation of journal entries, reports, and accounts from interviews regarding Father Vincent Capodanno (and also some written by his own hand!), mostly about his missioner years in Taiwan and Hong Kong and then his chaplaincy in the United States Marine Corps.
Yes, I cried. Quite audibly, alone in my car, for the witness of Christ-like paternity that this man made of his life. A father that loves his children to no end will run to them, irrationally and devotedly, submit his own body to torment and death for their protection, embrace any given present moment with them as if it is their last together; Padre did all of these things for the Marines he loved and more. He was a sprinter after the one lost lamb and an ensurer of the safety of the 99. As far as I can discern, this man is a saint in heaven, and reading this book made me feel like he was my very own chaplain by my very own side. I’ll miss you, Father, and I’ll return to this book often!!!
October 19, 2018
Over the last few years I have read several books about military chaplains. This is the second on father Vincent Capodanno that I have read. And it is an incredible read. It goes into a lot of details. Especially about his early years as a missionary priest. It gives us a very clear picture of the man, the priest and his life, that has now opened the cause for his canonization. Father Capodanno is currently classified as a Servant of God, he was priest, missionary, and chaplain to the United States Marine Corps. But he was also a brother, son, and friend. The author of this book has written a biography. He does not shy away from some of Vincent’s rougher edges or present just a super holy hagiography.
In the introduction it is stated that:
“Several years ago I asked Msgr. DiGiovanni to serve as the chairman of the Historical Commission in the Cause for the recognition of the sanctity of this hero. He carefully studied the documentation available and spoke to those who knew Father Capodanno during his life. This book offers the results of that study and is being published to help others learn about the priest who gave his life to minister to “his Marines.”
While you will certainly appreciate the careful research and the literary talents of the pastor of the Basilica of Saint John the Evangelist in Stamford, CT, my hope is that you are also captured by the virtues of the pilgrim whose example has inspired so many.”
That theme of pilgrimage is expressed in the introduction and throughout the book. Part of what we see in this life is a man, an average man, who spent his like seeking for God, seeking God’s will, seeking to serve God, and through that to serve others. In the tradition of all Spiritual Quester’s he life was a journey, but not just spiritually, for Vincent, it ended up being a physical journey, half way around the world.
The chapters in this volume are:
Foreword
Vincent Robert
Formosa and Language School
The Missions in Tunglo and Miaoli
Hong Kong and Hawaii
Training and Vietnam, 1966
Vietnam, 1967
September 4, 1967
Epilogue Mission Diaries, 1958-1959
Some Reflections on Adaptation to the Orient, Father Vincent R. Capodanno, MM, November
1966
Biographical Timeline of Father Vincent R. Capodanno, MM 1929-1967 Bibliography
I stated earlier that Vincent was average, he was of average build, maybe leaning towards stocky. He was an average student. And according to parts of this text was average as a missionary, at least to one of his superiors. But that is what is so incredible about this story. Vincent was an average man, and he became a chaplain at an older age. He was a little older than many of the soldiers he served with. But with his age, and his maturity he brought a calm to the soldiers around him. Especially in battle.
From the accounts in this book and other works about Capodanno, we see a man who excelled in courage, who excelled under pressure. A man who was committed to serving the best he could. In some ways this is an easier military biography to read. Vincent did not suffer in the concentration camps as others tried to strip his humanity. Or he was not a prisoner in China, and forced on a death march, beaten, and abused. What he did was live heroically. He had many medals for valor and courage. And in the end, he used his own body to shield an injured corpsman. That battle, and Vincent’s final hours has been pieced together from the testimony of the men he served and served with. I do not know how you could read this book and not be inspired and challenged in your own faith.
One of the great things in this book is the publication of excerpts of Vincent’s missionary diaries. And also, a copy of his piece ‘Some Reflections on Adaptation to the Orient’.
I am sure that as time goes on, and prayerfully the cause of Vincent moves forward to the stages of blessed and saint, that other books and future scholarship into the life and impact of Father Vincent Capodanno will take place. But this most recent book about his life is masterfully done and written with impeccable research and dedication to seeking the facts.
This is truly a book about a man who life appeared average but was truly a great man. And this book is a great read about him.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books about Vincent Capodanno, and also other military chaplains.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2018 Catholic Reading Plan!
In the introduction it is stated that:
“Several years ago I asked Msgr. DiGiovanni to serve as the chairman of the Historical Commission in the Cause for the recognition of the sanctity of this hero. He carefully studied the documentation available and spoke to those who knew Father Capodanno during his life. This book offers the results of that study and is being published to help others learn about the priest who gave his life to minister to “his Marines.”
While you will certainly appreciate the careful research and the literary talents of the pastor of the Basilica of Saint John the Evangelist in Stamford, CT, my hope is that you are also captured by the virtues of the pilgrim whose example has inspired so many.”
That theme of pilgrimage is expressed in the introduction and throughout the book. Part of what we see in this life is a man, an average man, who spent his like seeking for God, seeking God’s will, seeking to serve God, and through that to serve others. In the tradition of all Spiritual Quester’s he life was a journey, but not just spiritually, for Vincent, it ended up being a physical journey, half way around the world.
The chapters in this volume are:
Foreword
Vincent Robert
Formosa and Language School
The Missions in Tunglo and Miaoli
Hong Kong and Hawaii
Training and Vietnam, 1966
Vietnam, 1967
September 4, 1967
Epilogue Mission Diaries, 1958-1959
Some Reflections on Adaptation to the Orient, Father Vincent R. Capodanno, MM, November
1966
Biographical Timeline of Father Vincent R. Capodanno, MM 1929-1967 Bibliography
I stated earlier that Vincent was average, he was of average build, maybe leaning towards stocky. He was an average student. And according to parts of this text was average as a missionary, at least to one of his superiors. But that is what is so incredible about this story. Vincent was an average man, and he became a chaplain at an older age. He was a little older than many of the soldiers he served with. But with his age, and his maturity he brought a calm to the soldiers around him. Especially in battle.
From the accounts in this book and other works about Capodanno, we see a man who excelled in courage, who excelled under pressure. A man who was committed to serving the best he could. In some ways this is an easier military biography to read. Vincent did not suffer in the concentration camps as others tried to strip his humanity. Or he was not a prisoner in China, and forced on a death march, beaten, and abused. What he did was live heroically. He had many medals for valor and courage. And in the end, he used his own body to shield an injured corpsman. That battle, and Vincent’s final hours has been pieced together from the testimony of the men he served and served with. I do not know how you could read this book and not be inspired and challenged in your own faith.
One of the great things in this book is the publication of excerpts of Vincent’s missionary diaries. And also, a copy of his piece ‘Some Reflections on Adaptation to the Orient’.
I am sure that as time goes on, and prayerfully the cause of Vincent moves forward to the stages of blessed and saint, that other books and future scholarship into the life and impact of Father Vincent Capodanno will take place. But this most recent book about his life is masterfully done and written with impeccable research and dedication to seeking the facts.
This is truly a book about a man who life appeared average but was truly a great man. And this book is a great read about him.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books about Vincent Capodanno, and also other military chaplains.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2018 Catholic Reading Plan!
July 10, 2024
Msgr. DiGiovanni brings together the documents gathered for the Cause for the recognition of the sanctity of Fr Capodanno, MM.
January 7, 2025
Excellent!
Father Capodanno was a dedicated priest and will be a Saint someday. We would all do well to emulate him.
Father Capodanno was a dedicated priest and will be a Saint someday. We would all do well to emulate him.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews