Patton’s Weather Prayer
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/3594882/
“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.”
The famous “weather prayer” of General Patton was written by a Catholic Chaplain, Colonel James H. O’Neill. Here is his article on the incident written in 1950. Go here to view the famous weather prayer sequence from the film Patton.
Patton was an interesting mixture of contradictions in his spiritual life. Foul mouthed even by the standards of an army known for profanity, and much too fond of war for a Christian, he also read the Bible and prayed each day. A firm Episcopalian, yet he also firmly believed in reincarnation. While in command in Sicily he began attending mass, initially largely for political reasons to build a bridge to the Catholic population, but then found that he enjoyed worshipping at mass.
Some may view a prayer for success in a war as blasphemous. The troops that saw what General Patton saw at Ohrdruf would no doubt respectfully disagree as to the war they fought in.
4 Responses to Patton’s Weather Prayer
Subscribe by email!
Vatican Endorsed & Imprimatur
Recent Posts
- Some In Mainstream Media In Full Anti-Catholic Meltdown Mode
- Religious Kook Talks About Evil Existing in the World
- Cardinal Newman on Lent
- Alternate Georges
- Sin is Poison
- It is Time to Get Rid of Most Campaign Finance Laws
- The Effrontery of Rick Santorum
- The Unmanly Bitterness of the Manosphere
- Rate that President! : Part II
- There Is No Right to Privacy in the Constitution
- Goerge Weigel: The Betrayal of Religious Freedom by Liberal Catholics
- Father Barron Explains What the Obama Administration Means by “Freedom of Worship”
- February 20, 1962: God Speed John Glenn
- A “leaven at work” in the world of politics?
- Rate That President! : Part I
Recent Comments
- Donna V. commented on Religious Kook Talks About Evil Existing in the World
(3 hours ago) - Anzlyne commented on Rate that President! : Part II
(3 hours ago) - Donna V. commented on Religious Kook Talks About Evil Existing in the World
(3 hours ago) - Anzlyne commented on Rate that President! : Part II
(4 hours ago) - Ivan commented on The Effrontery of Rick Santorum
(5 hours ago) - Greg Mockeridge commented on The Effrontery of Rick Santorum
(6 hours ago) - Elaine Krewer commented on Rate that President! : Part II
(6 hours ago) - Elaine Krewer commented on Rate that President! : Part II
(6 hours ago) - Greg Mockeridge commented on The Effrontery of Rick Santorum
(7 hours ago) - T. Shaw commented on Religious Kook Talks About Evil Existing in the World
(7 hours ago) - PM commented on Father Barron Explains What the Obama Administration Means by "Freedom of Worship"
(7 hours ago) - Anzlyne commented on Rate that President! : Part II
(9 hours ago) - buckyinky commented on The Unmanly Bitterness of the Manosphere
(10 hours ago) - buckyinky commented on The Unmanly Bitterness of the Manosphere
(10 hours ago) - buckyinky commented on The Unmanly Bitterness of the Manosphere
(10 hours ago) - Mike Petrik commented on Religious Kook Talks About Evil Existing in the World
(10 hours ago)
Visitors to our website
Archives
- February 2012 (95)
- January 2012 (102)
- December 2011 (85)
- November 2011 (81)
- October 2011 (82)
- September 2011 (80)
- August 2011 (78)
- July 2011 (65)
- June 2011 (83)
- May 2011 (94)
- April 2011 (84)
- March 2011 (98)
- February 2011 (87)
- January 2011 (90)
- December 2010 (91)
- November 2010 (106)
- October 2010 (103)
- September 2010 (102)
- August 2010 (89)
- July 2010 (106)
- June 2010 (136)
- May 2010 (112)
- April 2010 (131)
- March 2010 (55)
- February 2010 (98)
- January 2010 (114)
- December 2009 (105)
- November 2009 (123)
- October 2009 (102)
- September 2009 (116)
- August 2009 (110)
- July 2009 (109)
- June 2009 (102)
- May 2009 (46)
- April 2009 (126)
- March 2009 (104)
- February 2009 (90)
- January 2009 (87)
- December 2008 (76)
- November 2008 (126)
- October 2008 (103)
Canon Law
Catholic and Infertile
Catholic Arts & Beauty
Catholic Blogroll
- A Catholic Mom in Hawaii
- Against The Grain
- An Examined Life
- and sometimes tea
- Biblical Evidence for Cthlcsm
- Bonfire of the Vanities
- Cahiers Péguy
- Catholic Light
- Catholic Phoenix
- Catholic Translations
- Coffee and Canticles
- Conversion Diary
- CVSTOS FIDEI
- Disputations
- Fidelity to the Word
- Head Noises
- la nouvelle théologie
- Mary Meets Dolly
- Over the Rhine and into the Tiber
- Per Christum
- Pro Ecclesia
- Riparians at the Gate
- Sacramentum Vitae
- SoCon or Bust
- The Catholic Comedy
- The Catholic Key Blog
- The Divine Life
- The Minor Premise
- This Cross I Embrace
- Video Meliora
- Vivificat!
- Whosoever Desires
Catholic Economics Links
Catholic Education/Schools
Catholic Environmental Links
Catholic Forums
Catholic Health Care Links
Catholic Law Links
Catholic Music
Catholic Mysticism
Catholic Newpapers
Catholic Pro-Family Links
Catholic Pro-Marriage Links
Catholic Punditry
- American Papist
- Catholic and Enjoying It!
- Catholic Fire
- Creative Minority Report
- Crisis Magazine
- CVSTOS FIDEI
- Damian Thompson
- DarwinCatholic
- Dyspeptic Mutterings
- Father John Zuhlsdorf
- George Weigel
- Journeys in Alterity
- Lair of the Catholic Cavemen
- National Catholic Register
- Non Nobis
- Opinionated Catholic
- Pro Ecclesia
- RealCatholicTV.com
- Standing on My Head
- Ten Reasons
- The Catholic Thing
- The Pertinacious Papist
- ThePulp.it
- Thoughts of a Regular Guy
Catholic Radio
Catholic Religious Orders
Catholic Resources
- African-American Outreach
- Biblical Evidence for Catholicism
- Black Catholic History
- Byzantine Cthlc Church (US)
- Catechism (CCC)
- Catholic Encyclopedia
- Catholic Hierarchy
- Catholic Latin Mass
- Catholic Leadership Institute
- Catholic Search Engine
- Catholic Theology Resources
- Catholic Translations
- Compendium of the CCC
- Early Christian Writings
- flockNote
- Mass Times
- National Cthlc AIDS Network
- Natl Black Cthlc Congress
- Natural Procreative Tchnlgy
- Papal Encyclicals
- Pope Benedict XVI Fan Club
- Pope John Paul II Writings
- QuoteCatholic
- Sancta Missa
- Sonitus Sanctus
- Universalis
- USCCB
- Vatican: English Site
- Vatican: Latin Site
Catholic Social Justice Links
Catholic SSA Links
Catholic TV Links
Catholic Young Adult
Catholic Youth Links
Orthodox Blogroll
Other Christian Blogs
Other Christian Resources
Secular Websites
- Almost Chosen People
- American Cancer Society
- American Conservative
- American Education Reform
- American Life League
- American Red Cross
- Americans for Fair Tax
- Americans United for Life
- Amrcn Conservative Union
- Amrcn Health Care Reform
- Asian Conservatives
- Athens and Jerusalem
- Autism Society of America
- Big Government
- Big Hollywood
- Black Genocide
- Blue Dog Democrats
- Breast Cancer Prevention Inst
- Breitbart
- C-SPAN
- Care Net Pro Life Clinics
- Citizens for Term Limits
- Coaltn on Abort/Brst Cncr
- Concerned Women/America
- Conservatives/Patients Rts
- Consistent Life
- Defend Marriage
- Dem Congrsnl Campaign Cte
- Dem Lgsltv Campaign Cte
- Dem Senatrl Campaign Cmte
- Democratic Gov Assoc
- Democratic Ldrshp Council
- Democratic Natl Convention
- Democratic Party
- Democrats for Life
- Dems for Education Reform
- Economic Policy Institute
- Energy Independence Now
- Face AIDS
- Fair Economy
- Faithful Democrats
- Fathers for Good
- Fathers for Life
- Feminists for Life
- GayPatriot
- Go Green Initiative
- GOProud
- Health Care/Homeless
- House Democrats
- Invisible Children
- Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles
- Make Poverty History
- Mediaite
- Mercy Corps
- Murder Vctms Fams/Rcncltn
- National Black Pro Life Union
- National Right to Life
- National Right to Work
- Natl Rep Cngrssnl Cte
- Natl Rep Senatorial Cmte
- NC/Abolish Death Penalty
- NewsBusters
- Nurses for Life
- Pave the Way Foundation
- PeaceCorps
- Physicians for Life
- Politico
- Poverty.com
- Pro-Life America
- Project 21
- Project Vote Smart
- Pure Love Club
- Raging Elephants
- RealClearBooks
- RealClearMarkets
- RealClearPolitics
- RealClearWorld
- reason.tv
- Redeem The Vote
- Rep State Leadership Cmte
- Repub for Envmntl Protec…
- Republican Gov Assoc
- Republican Jewish Coalition
- Republican Ldshp Cncl
- Republican Natl Convention
- Republican Party
- Repubs for Single Payer
- Ross Douthat
- Save Darfur
- SBA List
- Senate Democrats
- Stand Firm
- Stop Human Trafficking
- Suggest Ideas
- Suicide Prevention
- The Art of Manliness
- The Buck Stops Here
- The Daily Caller
- The Other McCain
- The Polycarp Research Inst.
- The White House
- US House of Representatives
- US Senate
- What’s Wrong With the World
- Women in Congress


Warfare is Spiritual as well as earthly. When we look at WWII especially, the lines are very clear as to what was right and what was wrong. Without spiritual guidance, men lose their consciences, without conscience, atrocities will occur un-abated and un-punished. As a combat veteran of Iraq, even if you disagree with Iraq, one can see the good that can come from that war when they are involved over in Iraq. My chaplain was staunchly opposed to the war in Iraq, and yet he did his job and took care of the people as best he could. He also pointed out that the military is best manned by men and women of faith.
There is also an old saying that rings true: “There are no atheists in foxholes” and I never met an atheist while I was in the military, not once (the ones that said they were all were agnostics who believed in “some higher power”).
If prayer for success in war is blasphemous, there are a lot of Old Testament figures, and lots of Saints, who have committed said blasphemy. I find the idea of prayer for success on the battle field as blasphemy to be grounded in nothing Biblical (or Jesus would have told the Centurion who’s servant He healed to quit the Roman Army no matter the consequence).
Sudsy,
Thank you for your comments. I couldn’t agree more with your statement.
In Jesus, Mary, & Joseph,
Tito
You are most welcome Tito!
sudsysutherland, well said, and thank you for your service to our country.