From the Director - Who will pray for me?

Three people left different legacies after their deaths. One was a famous scientist, another a Columban priest and the last, a young woman who died in a hospice in New York. The month of November is traditionally the month to pray for the dead. As Catholics we take praying for the dead for granted but I remember reading about the Great War (1914 -1918) when many young English soldiers came into contact with a Catholic culture for the first time in France and were deeply impressed by the Catholic habit of praying for those who had died in battle.

Alfred Nobel whose name carries the Nobel Peace Prize and other prizes had a life changing experience when the newspapers confused the death of his brother Ludvig with himself; he was able to read an obituary of himself. What would the papers write? He was shocked to read, "The merchant of death is dead..." Alfred Nobel was the inventor of dynamite and the obituary dismissed him as a cause of misery. Now the Nobel Peace Prize is his legacy.

Columban Fr John Griffin died on September 25 this year in Wellington, New Zealand. He slipped away quietly perhaps not wanting to cause anyone bother. He had been a missionary in the Philippines, Chile and New Zealand. What did people say about him? He was considerate and a gentleman, he listened to people, he remembered their names, often he would ask them how a family member was years after an initial conversation. (We are impressed when someone remembers our name; even more if they remember a conversation).

A person does not need to be religious to have a deep interest in people. The difference with Fr John's interest in people was his relationship with God; it coloured his life and his relationships with others. Fr John was charming just as God is. Many people will pray for him, especially those who were grateful for his presence in their lives.

Finally, in New York a young woman struggled into a hospice where she was cared for by a doctor who relinquished a promising career in medical research to work in the hospice. His decision disappointed many, obviously it was a remarkable life-changing decision. I remember the story this way:

She was sick, she knew she was very sick, in fact when the doctor came to see her before he went home for the weekend, she said, "Doctor, I want to thank for your kindness in looking after me, you have done everything for me and I have done nothing for you. I know I am dying and I don't think I will be here when you come back to work. But there is one thing I can do for you - when I meet Jesus I will give him your name."

An obvious question comes to mind: would anyone give my name to Jesus? Fr John has many people praying for him, I wonder if that poor young woman had anyone to pray for her? I think her memory will remain with many people who read this column and they will say a prayer for her. I do.

Let us also say a prayer of gratitude to God for Alfred Nobel who became a man of peace and his legacy, the Nobel Peace Prize. May they rest in peace.

Fr Gary Walker
director@columban.org.au

 

LISTEN TO: From the Director - Who will pray for me?
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Read more articles from The Far East, November/December 2014