Second Friday Lecture: From Rome to Appomattox: A History of Catholic Civil War Chaplains

Friday, October 10  |  12pm – 1pm  |  Presented by: Father Robert Miller  

Military chaplaincy has existed for over 1,600 years, with its earliest connections being seen some 3,000 years ago. In this talk, Father Robert Miller will first outline the history of religious people being actively involved with the world’s military. He will then focus on a subset of Catholic chaplains in the Civil War – their challenges, numbers, impact, and stories of the more colorful and interesting “characters” among them.

The 126 Catholic priests who were Civil War chaplains were not your “usual” priests and bishops. They were a unique group of pioneers – tough, adventuresome, courageous, outspoken, deeply committed, and very spiritual. Being a Catholic in mid-19th-century America was not an easy task, due to the lack of priests as Catholic immigrants flooded the country, a strong anti-Catholic culture, and a Vatican that didn’t “get” American democracy.

Rev. Miller’s presentation will put flesh on the often-forgotten topic of religion in the Civil War, and a group of Catholic clergymen who changed the country, becoming “legends” because of their wartime service – Cooney, Corby, Sheeran, Ireland, Whelan, and more. One chaplain wrote that “courage is the currency with which men’s loyalty is purchased.” Indeed, not only during the American Civil War, but throughout history, the power of religious people to influence, encourage, support, challenge, and bring God into the hell of war was, and remains, a topic well worth exploring.

Robert J. Miller is a Catholic priest of 49 years, retired from 35 years of inner-city Chicago ministry. He has Master’s degrees in Religious Education and Divinity, has authored five books on spirituality and faith, and was an adjunct professor of Church History at the University of St. Mary of the Lake. A former President of the Chicago Civil War Round Table, he frequently speaks on topics of spirituality and history, especially on Civil War religion. His 2007 book, Both Prayed to the Same God – Religion and Faith in the Civil War, was the first book-length overview of the topic. His newest book – Faith of the Fathers – A Comprehensive Study of Catholic Civil War Chaplains – was published in April 2025. A summary of his work in this area, and a documentary film, can be found at www.faithofthefathers.net