On Day 13 of the Advent pilgrimage, we are in Wichita, Kansas, to recall the life of Servant of God Emil Kapaun and to draw inspiration from it as we progress along this Advent journey. His shrine is located at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
Fr. Kapaun was killed in the line of duty at the age of 35 in a Chinese prison camp, after being captured during the Korean War. Fr. Kapaun exhibited numerous acts of valor on the battlefield that went well beyond his duties as military chaplain, including stepping between a Chinese soldier who was about to fire point blank at an injured American serviceman, swatting the rifle away, and then carrying the injured serviceman on his back to safety. Fr. Kapaun’s greatest witness came while trying to sustain the health and morale of the POWs that he was imprisoned with in the Chinese prison camp. He secretly led the men in praying the rosary daily and was not afraid to stand up to the prison guards. He eventually died from illness related to the extreme living conditions in the camp and his life of heroic virtue both on the battlefield and in the prison have now set him on the path to sainthood.
The legacy of Fr. Kapaun is simply one of a man who sought to serve his Lord faithfully to the end, modelling the example of Christ who from the moment He was born in the stable in Bethlehem, exhibited self giving love and complete obedience to the will of the Father. While we may never be as selfless as Fr. Kapaun was, even if we could find little ways in these last two weeks of Advent to put others before ourselves and in doing so model the way of life that the Christ child brought into the world, we would be better prepared for Christmas.
Discover more of Catholic Kansas
To discover more of Catholic Kansas and the surrounding states, check out my travel guide Little Pilgrimage on the Prairie.
Concluding Psalm
Let us conclude with Psalm 4:
“Answer me when I call, my saving God. When troubles hem me in, set me free; take pity on me, hear my prayer. How long, O people, will you be hard of heart? Why do you love what is worthless, chase after lies? Know that the Lord works wonders for his faithful one; the Lord hears when I call out to him.” (Psalm 4: 2-4)
Previous days of the pilgrimage:
Day 1 – Rapid City, South Dakota
Day 2 – Montana
Day 3 – Sacramento
Day 4 – Los Angeles
Day 5 – Tucson
Day 6 – Santa Fe
Day 7 – Denver
Day 8 – San Antonio
Day 9 – Chicago
Day 10 – LaCrosse
Day 11 – Oklahoma City
Day 12 – Omaha
CATHOLIC CONCIERGE 
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