history_matters - Requiescat in Pace

Siobhan ^ | J+M+J 8 June A.D. 2002 | Siobhan

[Siobhan]

Dear Friends,

This is a terribly sad day and joyous day. First, we learned of OxfordMovement's son Michael having died. Now I must tell you that my father who was known as the Freeper history-matters has also died today.

At 2 o'clock my family gathered in my father's hospital room for my son Finn to announce that he and Aileen are engaged. They have only known each other a few weeks. Aileen was my father's nurse in ICU. She is young, Irish, and a Gaelic speaker. My father instantly told me she was the one for my son Finn. I introduced the two, they were instantly smitten, and today they made this announcement.

My father gave them his Gaelic blessing and then announced we would all say a Rosary in Gaelic as a thanksgiving and a prayer for Finn and Aileen. When my father announces something, we all jump to it. Indeed, if he said 'jump' to this day we would all say, 'how high, Sir'. Bless him.

We said the Rosary, and at 3 we were still there so we joined him in the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. At the end, he fell asleep and we all quietly left the room and went outside into the atrium to congratulate Finn and Aileen and to make a fuss over them.

At about 3:30 the nurse went in and discovered that my father had died in his sleep. She was very upset and weeping. She had come to care for my Da just as most folk do. We ran back into the room. Da had a smile on his face. There was the overwhelming aroma of roses. Even the nurses commented on it.

It hasn't really sunk in yet with me. He had suffered so much in the last couple of years. And his face was the picture of peace. The Maronite priest was in the hospital, and he came by just intending to call on his old friend my father. He is such a saint of a man. He prayed for Da in Aramaic and Arabic. It was very beautiful and perfect given my father and mother's service to the Church in the Holy Land. Father was a great comfort to my dearest mother.

Everyone of the nurses was wonderful to my mother, and for her part she cried but more because she was happy for my father to see Jesus face to face. She is actually older than my father and not in the best of health either. She is resting just now, and my brother Kevin is handling various arrangments that were made from when Da had his surgery. There was such a likelihood that he wouldn't make it through that surgery that he had prepared everything. We just didn't know that we would need it at this time.

As you all know, I only lately came to FR to fill in for my father who was so worried about the Catholics on FR and the troubles in the Church. I have tried to do some of what he wanted, but I know I haven't been able to do nearly so well as he.

He cherished many of you and kept you in his prayer intentions. He would want me, in the most Irish way possible, to bless all of you on behalf of my family for your kindness to him. And so in the name of good St. Patrick and sweet St. Brigid, I bless you all and your loved ones too, and I thank you for your prayers and your many kindnesses in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit..

[Siobhan]

My father was born in County Donegal in Ireland. He moved the family to the United States on his 18th birthday. He had a career in the Marines and upon retirement, he and my mother moved to the Holy Land first to Bethlehem and then to Nazareth. My mother taught, and my father did whatever the Church needed at the time. He said he started off life as the son of a tinker, and now here he was tinkering for the Lord in Bethlehem.

He loved Bethlehem. When a need arose in Nazareth, they relocated but they weren't there very long before he had a stroke. He had a good recovery from that stroke, and my parents moved to Spain to live near a number of old friends. Honestly, they were tired of all of their kids hovering over them. They loved their time there but returned to the US when it was clear that something else was wrong with his health. It was discovered that he had a growth encircling his spine. He underwent both chemo and radiation and then finally surgery.

My father is and was a great man in this world that has too few great men. He loved his wife with his life, and he raised a family that is a testimony to him today.

He was first of all a believer in Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the Son of God. Second, he was devoted to the Blessed Mother. Third, he was a devout Catholic Christian.

But for all of that the most important thing to me is that he is my Da.

Most folks knew my father by the name "Greg" which was his confirmation name. His Christian names were Kieran Padraic Seamus -- honestly, you can't get more Irish than that. If anyone wishes to remember him by way of a memorial, you can make a donation in memory of "Kieran of County Donegal" to:

Aid to the Church in Need
ACN-USA
378 Broome Street
New York, N.Y., 10013-3706

You may wish to designate any donation for the ACN's work in helping the Church in Syria, the Sudan, or in East Timor all of which are important to my father.

I have been advised not to give out more detailed information so as to protect our family's privacy. I regret that it must be that way, but I hope you understand the need for that in this age.

Today is one of the Roman Catholic feast days of St. Mary the Blessed Mother. I like to think of our Mother holding young Michael, Oxford's son in her arms and welcoming my father home. May we all find peace with Christ for time and eternity. Amen.

[Siobhan]

A request for your prayers, and a thank you for your kindness to my late father, history_matters.

[Senator Pardek]

This is very sad - he was a brilliant and decent man. Prayers for you.

[maryz]

God bless and keep your father and you and your family!

(My maternal grandmother was from Donegal -- may she greet your father.)

[JMJ333]

A tough day. I am so sorry for your loss, Siobhan. Please accept my condolences. If there is anything I can do for you just ask.

I am going to say a rosary for baby michael and History_Matters at 8:00 central time. Anyone who wants to join me is welcome.

I'll come back and post opeining prayers.

May the soul of HM be guided to eternal light by St. Michael, defender and lover of souls. LONG LIVE CHRIST THE KING.

[Bahbah]

I knew there was something special about you. They are all there waiting for the loved ones. I just know this.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

Benedicat vos omnipotens Deus.

So sorry to hear of the passing of your father and a brother Marine. May he rest in peace.

[backhoe]

I am very sorry to learn of this. May the Father of peace send His Peace to those who mourn, and comfort to the bereaved.

[RightOnline]

May God bless you as you have blessed your father's name with such a wonderful tribute. It is clear that such a man is now in the presence of the Good Lord and his pain & suffering have ended forever.

The world was a better place because of your father. God bless him, his works, the Catholic Church (I'm an evangelical, myself..........and have nothing but the greatest respect and admiration for the Catholic Church), and your family..........your blessedly GROWING family. The announcement of the engagement was an incredible thing for your father, you can rest assured. It seems as if he felt "ok; good; NOW I can go home..........".

[sinkspur]

Your father is in the company of the Good Lord, and in the bosom of Abraham who, no doubt, as the father of a great lineage, will have much to share.

A heroic defender of the Faith is now able to supplicate for us as we pray for the Holy Spirit to bring those of us who are left behind to a renewed sense of service in our Church.

[Polycarp]

God Bless your Da, Siobhan, and may He grant him eternal rest.

History_Matters leaves us here with a great legacy of real Catholic piety and patient, charitable apologetics. I recomment everyone visit History_Matters' profile page, visit his threads and links, and browse the wisdom he shared with us in his posts, as we all join in prayers for him and his family.

[Slyfox]

How sweet of you to share this with us. I know a number of us felt as if we had
a very good friend in your Da. Don't worry, you have filled his shoes pretty well.

[MarMema]

Your father was a truly Christ-filled man. I am glad I had the honor of knowing him in this world, and I hope to have the honor of meeting him again in the next.

[eastsider]

My condolences to you and your family. I shall remember your father fondly. Thank you for taking the time to share this news with us.

Domine, Jesu Christe, Rex gloriae,
libera animas omnium fidelium defunctorum
de poenis inferni
et de profundo lacu.
Libera eas de ore leonis
ne absorbeat eas tartarus,
ne cadant in obscurum;
Sed signifer sanctus Michael
repraesentet eas in lucem sanctam,
Quam olim Abrahae promisisti
et semini eius.

Hostias et preces tibi, Domine
laudis offerimus
tu suscipe pro animabus illis,
quarum hodie memoriam facimus.
Fac eas, Domine, de morte
transire ad vitam.
Quam olim Abrahae promisisti
et semine eius.

May the angels greet him in paradise, Siobhan.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

‘S e an Tighearna mo bhuachaille:
Cha bhi mi ann an dìth;
Ann an cluaintean uaine bheir E orm laighe sìos;
Làimh ri uisgeachan ciùine treòraichidh mi.

Beòthaichidh E m'anam,
Treòraichidh E mi
Air slighe na fìrinn air sgàth ainm fhèin,
Air slighe na fìrinn air sgàth ainm fhèin.

Seadh, ged tha mi siubhal
Tro ghleann sgàil a' bhàis,
Chan eil eagal orm ro olc, oir tha Thusa maille rium -
Do shlat agus do lorg bheir iad cofhurtachd dhomh.

Deasaichidh Tu bòrd fom chomhair
Ann am fianais mo nàimhdean;
Dh'ung Thu le ola mo cheann;
Tha mo chup' a' cur thairis.

Gu cinnteach leanaidh mathas agus tròcair mi
Uile làithean mo bheatha,
Agus nì mi còmhnaidh fad mo làithean
Ann an taigh ‘s an àros an Tighearna.

[roachie]

My condolences, tears and prayers go out to you and your family. I always loved your father. Fear not and weep little, for he is now with Our Father and His Son Jesus Christ, in Heaven. < Amazing Grace on pipes cry out in the home of the roachie>

[ELS]

I am simultaneously so sorry to hear of your father's passing, he made a significant contribution to FR - I will miss him, and happy to hear that "Da had a smile on his face. There was the overwhelming aroma of roses."

I hope you stay on at FR. I appreciate your flags to Catholic related threads. I think you underestimate your impact on FR.

Congratulations for your son! What a beautiful story. You and your family will be in my prayers.

Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord.
And let perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in peace. Amen.

[Askel5]

His was a beautiful and -- given the announcement, surrounded by family -- surely a most happy and peaceful death. Very fitting.

I'm so sorry for you and your family ... even if I'm happy for your Da. All of you are in my prayers. I'm not sure when we've had the opportunity to witness such grace and strength under such trying and painful circumstances. Thank you so much for the posts.

We shall miss your Dad very much. I know I will. I hope you'll stick around.

Chris.