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..

[fatima]

Your father was a waonderful man,full of faith and a blessing for this forum,we will miss him so much,Betty

[Aggie Mama]

You know, I was thinking about your father all day yesterday and part of today; wondering how he was doing. It sounds as if he had a wonderful day with your family and a wonderful greeting in Heaven. My prayers to your family and your father. You have done a tremendous job "filling his shoes" and have grown into your own here on FR. I am very glad that you are here.

[OxfordMovement]

Siobhan, I loved your father so much. I don't know what to say, but I feel like he went to watch over Michael till I get there. I don't know if I'm making sense or not. All day I've just wanted to die, but now. I am so sad your Da is gone from us, but the news of his passing is about the only thing that's given me any sense of hope. I hope that doesn't sound crazy. But your father was a great man, one of the greatest men I have ever known and we never met in person, and I know he would find Michael and take care of him for me. I know he would do that for me. Oh God, Siobhan, I never knew there was such pain. I haven't been able to pray today, but I can pray for your Da and you. Pray for me and Shelley and the kids. Please. Your father was a great man and a greater saint. This is the saddest day in my life, the saddest. Pray that I can do or say what Shelley needs to hear to get through this, and the kids. I love them all so much, and I really don't know what to do or say. I'm sorry for your loss, Siobhan, but I know Greg will take care of Michael for me, and if it is any comfort to you, I'm sure Michael will make your Da happy. Michael had such a beautiful laugh. God bless you, Siobhan. Give my love to your mother. May God give eternal joy to your father, and may light perpetual shine upon him.

[Siobhan]

In the midst of your suffering you have remained a man of faith, Oxford, and that makes you one of the greatest of men. You know how much Da cared about you and your family. I have no doubt that he and Michael are together since they both were welcomed into the arms of Jesus and the embrace of Mary our Mother this very day. You are right that my father would watch over Michael for you. I do not know how things work in the Paradise of Christ, but we know that Jesus is caring for them both and loving them both and rejoicing with both of them.

Michael's life was short, but it was not insignificant. It was of the greatest meaning not only for you, Shelley, and your family, but it was of the greatest value for Jesus, Mary, the saints, and all the angels. I'm sure that Jesus said to him, "Michael, three years of bringing joy to your parents and then bearing this illness unto death. Extraordinary, Michael. Extraordinary. Well done, good and faithful servant." You are in my heart, and I hold you in my prayers, and all you have to do is freepmail me, and I will do anything to help you, to listen, or to cry with you or pray with you. May the love of Christ the King and the tenderness of Our Lady Help of Christians surround you and support you through the days to come. Amen.

[Askel5]

Thank God you are here to offer poor OxfordMovement some consolation and hope when he is so distraught. You are an extraordinary woman, Siobhan. I know your Da and your Father are pleased with you.

[katnip]

Dear Siohban,

What a wonderful father you had. I often wished he had been mine.

I looked forward every day to his posts as I surely look forward to yours now.

He was a magnificent defender of the faith, a soul pure and sweet as are you.

I am sorry for your loss. Find comfort in knowing this fine man is with Jesus now with no more pain.

Kathleen

[drstevej]

I am saddened at the news. May God give grace and peace to you and the family.

[drstevej]

ping for added prayers.

[OwenKellogg]

Blessings and prayers for your family. Da is home.

[sfousa]

Siobhan, I am deeply touched by your report honoring your father's life and passing. Please accept my condolences. I've read only a few of his posts and they reflected his deep commitment to our Lord and our Blessed Mother, and devotion to Christ in the Holy Eucharist. To the end, History Matters stood by the Church even as she undergoes a tremendous purification in the wake of the current scandal involving the clergy.

I am also deeply impressed that he and your mom chose to live in the land where Jesus lived, now unfortunately under great strife. The Lord knows and loves your father. Imagine the homecoming celebrations that Our Lord has laid out for him in the New Jerusalem!

I will pray for your father this weekend, and on Monday I am going to St. Patrick's Church, close to my office, to remember him at Mass.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord - and may the perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.

God bless you and your family, Siobhan.

[sfousa]

I never knew there was such pain. Pray for me and Shelley and the kids. Please. This is the saddest day in my life, the saddest. Pray that I can do or say what Shelley needs to hear to get through this, and the kids. I love them all so much, and I really don't know what to do or say. Michael had such a beautiful laugh.

Dear, dear OxfordMovement! My heart breaks as I read these lines. I wish I could say something to ease your pain or suggest what to say to Shelley and the kids. I will pray for little Michael that his beautiful laugh may continue to ring with the angels in Heaven. And may the Lord keep you and Shelley and the kids safely in His Sacred Heart.

Please remember Our Blessed Mother, who underwent such a pain, as she watched Jesus die on the cross. She too weeps for your family, even as she holds little Michael in her arms. She's with you in this trial and she keeps you close to her Immaculate Heart.

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord makes His Face shine upon you. The Lord looks at you with kindness, has mercy on you and grants you peace. Amen.

[Salvation]

Siobhan,

I am so sorry to hear that your dad passed away today. Please know that he is with the Lord.

Remember to take care of you and your family as well as your mom during these days. May God bless all of you.
Salvation

[Dajjal]

My deepest sympathy on your father's passing. You and your family will be in my prayers. Requiescat in pacem.

[Salvation]

Prayers are coming for both of you.

God uses broken things. It takes broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to give rain, broken grain to give bread, broken bread to give strength. It is the broken alabaster box that gives forth perfume.................................It is [the Apostle] Peter, weeping bitterly, who returns to greater power than ever.
~~Vance Havner

[nickcarraway]

Well Deserved prayers are on the way to your father. He will really be missed. His faith was evident to all who heard him. May his faith be the greatest comfort to you, at this time. Congratulations, on your Son's engagement, one of your Father's last gifts.

[nickcarraway]

In ainm an Athar agus an Mhic agus an spioraid Naoimh. Amen.

Ár n-Athair atá ar neamh,

Go naofar d'ainim,

Go dtagfadh do ríocht,

Go ndéantar do thoil ar an talamh mar a dhéantar ar neamh.

Ár n-arán laethúil tabhair dúinn inniu,

agus maith dúinn ár bhfiacha

mar a mhaithimidne dár bhféichiúna féin

Ach ná lig sinn i gcathú,

ach saor sinn ó olc,

Amen.

Sé do bheatha, a Mhuire,

atá lán de ghrásta,

Tá an Tiarna leat.

Is beannaithe thú idir mná,

Agus is beannaithe toradh do bhroinne, Íosa.

A Naomh-Mhuire, a Mháthair Dé,

guigh orainn na peacaigh,

anois, agus ar uair ár mbáis.

Amen.

Gloir don Athair,

agus don Mhac,

agus don Spiorad Naomh.

Mar a bha, 's mar a tha, 's mar a bhitheas,

fad shaoghal nan saoghal. Amen.

Failte dhut a Bhanruinn, a Mhathair na trocaire, ar beatha ar solas, is ar dochas, failte ort.

Riutsa tha sinne, sliochd seachranach Eubha, a togail ar gutha. Riutsa tha sinn ag osnaich, a

caoidh is ag acain, ann an gleann so nan deur. Thoir, mata, iuchair nan gras, suil fhial oirne.

Agus an deidh dhuinn a chein- thir seo fhagai1, feuch dhuinn toradh beannaichte do bhronn,

losa. O Mhoire Oigh bhaidheil, ghradhach chaomh!

Guidh' air ar son, a Mhathair Naomh Dhe.

Los gun toill sinn gealladh Chriosda. Amen.

CUIMHNEACH a Mhoir' Oigh uile chaomh, nach cualas riamh gun deachaidh aon sam bith a

ruith fod dhion, a ghrios do chomhnadh, agus a dh'iarr t-eadarghuidhe, a threigsinn. A' glacail

misniche is earbsa a seo tha mise 'Oigh nan oighean, a' ruith gad

ionnsuidh, A Mhathair, gud ionnsaidh tha mi a tighinn, agus a caoidh mo pheacannan 'nad lathair. A Mhathair Iosa, na cuir

suarach mo bhriathran, ach eisd gu trocaireach agus freagair m'achanaich. Amen.

[SkyPilot]

May God bless you, and the soul of your Dad. I remember his name here because he was kind, and always made sense.

[Siobhan]

My mother and I want to thank all of you for your prayers and kind words. My mother wants to especially thank Michelle and everyone for the Rosary.

A couple have asked for my mother's name so you can pray for her by name. The English spelling of her first name is Noreen and her middle name would be rendered as Marie. She is such a strong woman. She asked me to attach the following little image Da found on the internet that was a favorite saying from Padre Pio.

Mom wanted me to mention that in March one of my nieces died in a car accident and that one of my father's joys today is being met and reunited with his granddaughter. Her name is Kiera.

A special word to OxfordMovement:
Dearest Oxford, my niece Kiera was a wonderful baby-sitter and such a beautiful young woman. I'm absolutely certain she and my father will both take care of Michael and in turn be blessed by him. You are not alone, Oxford, and my mother would like to talk to you and pray with you. She says to tell you that from this moment on you and Shelley and your children will be the prayer of her heart day and night. Please accept our love and our care Oxford. You have many friends here and many who can help you through this.

To everyone:
I thank everyone for your kindness to me and your lovely words about my father and assurances of prayer. Please accept my deepest gratitude.