Ed, this was so beautiful. Thank you for sharing this story about Fr. Bob. I will indeed pray for him as I head to mass soon and thank God for his priesthood and the lessons he taught you and, now, us. I'm sorry for the loss of your friend yet rejoice at his receiving his reward for being a good and faithful servant. And happy Easter.
The Venerable English College is a really cool place. Much more beautiful than the NAC. Its history was to train priests after the English reformation made seminaries illegal. Many of those were martyred as soon as they stepped foot on English soil. There is a gold box under the main alter containing the bones of many of those priests.
May the Almighty God receive his good and faithful servant into the joy of the Beatific Vision. I will pray for Fr. Bob. Please pray for me and The Work and its congress.
What a lovely story about your friend, Fr. Rob. Reading it brought to mind the words of the Apostle: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." May he rest in the bosom of the Father, until the world is made anew.
This was my Dad's (also named Bob) favorite Scripture passage, David. We placed it on his holy card. It's comforting to trust that he and Father Bob will meet.
In one of the Magnificate's Lenten reflections of the past they gave, as an activity of the day, the task of sending someone a thank you message. I did it for a priest of my youth. that priest wrote back a sincere letter thanking me because he wondered if he had made a difference in his life as a priest. My letter gave him a consolation. Your words remind me of how much our priests could use words of consolation that they have made a difference. Thank you for appreciating his presence in your life. It sounds like a few of your friends did the same. May the Lord give Fr Bob's loved ones his peace which is beyond all understanding and may the One who knows all welcome Fr Bob into his eternal reward.
Thank you Ed and JD for reporting and commenting in such a hopeful manner and with an obvious love of Christ and His Church. It makes a huge difference!
A beautiful, encouraging, humbling reminder of what priesthood is really about.
Ed, you helped me see the greatness of our Faith which at times falls far into the background of what I do as a priest. You gave me a great Pascha gift and I will remember you and yours in thanksgiving to the Lord.
There is a new phenomena; faithful Catholics dying alone, it is sad.
I hope to begin a ministry in my parish where people who are known to be in extremis will have at least one companion to pray with them as they die.
Often families are far away, some are too busy or actually have real constraints that cause them not to be present at the death of a loved one.
This is true for priests as well. A number of priests in my diocese have died alone in the past few years. They may not have families and friends might be too “shy” or uncertain what to do.
It is the responsibility of the clergy to see that a priest or at least a praying friend is present.
Priests need to encourage and teach folks that we pray people into the next life and have prayers readily available for this.
As Fr. Bob stood at God’s altar here in earth, may he have a place at God’s table in heaven.
I did not see this until today and now am disappointed in myself for having forgotten to feast on Easter Friday. I'm sure I can find a way to compensate.
Ed, this was so beautiful. Thank you for sharing this story about Fr. Bob. I will indeed pray for him as I head to mass soon and thank God for his priesthood and the lessons he taught you and, now, us. I'm sorry for the loss of your friend yet rejoice at his receiving his reward for being a good and faithful servant. And happy Easter.
The Venerable English College is a really cool place. Much more beautiful than the NAC. Its history was to train priests after the English reformation made seminaries illegal. Many of those were martyred as soon as they stepped foot on English soil. There is a gold box under the main alter containing the bones of many of those priests.
May the Almighty God receive his good and faithful servant into the joy of the Beatific Vision. I will pray for Fr. Bob. Please pray for me and The Work and its congress.
What a lovely story about your friend, Fr. Rob. Reading it brought to mind the words of the Apostle: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." May he rest in the bosom of the Father, until the world is made anew.
This was my Dad's (also named Bob) favorite Scripture passage, David. We placed it on his holy card. It's comforting to trust that he and Father Bob will meet.
Thank you, Ed, for sharing Father Bob with us.
In one of the Magnificate's Lenten reflections of the past they gave, as an activity of the day, the task of sending someone a thank you message. I did it for a priest of my youth. that priest wrote back a sincere letter thanking me because he wondered if he had made a difference in his life as a priest. My letter gave him a consolation. Your words remind me of how much our priests could use words of consolation that they have made a difference. Thank you for appreciating his presence in your life. It sounds like a few of your friends did the same. May the Lord give Fr Bob's loved ones his peace which is beyond all understanding and may the One who knows all welcome Fr Bob into his eternal reward.
Great sharing on Fr Bob. I am humbled, but so grateful to have heard this story. He sounds like a saint in the making.
Thank you Ed and JD for reporting and commenting in such a hopeful manner and with an obvious love of Christ and His Church. It makes a huge difference!
A beautiful, encouraging, humbling reminder of what priesthood is really about.
Ed, you helped me see the greatness of our Faith which at times falls far into the background of what I do as a priest. You gave me a great Pascha gift and I will remember you and yours in thanksgiving to the Lord.
There is a new phenomena; faithful Catholics dying alone, it is sad.
I hope to begin a ministry in my parish where people who are known to be in extremis will have at least one companion to pray with them as they die.
Often families are far away, some are too busy or actually have real constraints that cause them not to be present at the death of a loved one.
This is true for priests as well. A number of priests in my diocese have died alone in the past few years. They may not have families and friends might be too “shy” or uncertain what to do.
It is the responsibility of the clergy to see that a priest or at least a praying friend is present.
Priests need to encourage and teach folks that we pray people into the next life and have prayers readily available for this.
As Fr. Bob stood at God’s altar here in earth, may he have a place at God’s table in heaven.
This is a lovely ministry. Please keep us posted. Perhaps others will be able to follow your example.
This reflection on Fr. Bob is so edifying. Thank you for sharing his life, especially the humility he possessed.
Alleluia
I did not see this until today and now am disappointed in myself for having forgotten to feast on Easter Friday. I'm sure I can find a way to compensate.