Fr. Peter Paul Boyle, C.P. 0n Saturday, January 15th, Rev. Peter Paul Boyle, C.P., died at Holy Cross Retreat, Ardoyne, Belfast. He was in his 70th year and had been ailing for some time, so his death was not altogether unexpected. Nevertheless it brings a deep sense of loss to know that his familiar figure will be seen no more amongst us. Born at Gilford, Co. Down on December 29th, 1896, Michael Thomas Boyle entered the Passionists in 1918 and made his religious profession on August 15th, 1919. He completed his ecclesiastical studies at St. Paul’s Retreat, Mount Argus, Dublin anti was ordained at Clonliffe College, Dublin, on December 22nd, 1923 by Most Rev. Dr. Byrne. For six years, 1941-1947 he was Rector of Holy Cross Retreat, Belfast, and for a further six years, 1947-1953, he was Provincial Consultor. At the Chapter of 1953 he was again elected Rector of Ardoyne, after which for another three years, 1956-1959, he was Rector of St. Joseph’s Retreat, Collooney, Co. Sligo. As befitted his Northern origin, Fr. Peter Paul was bluff and forthright in his manner, and was never one to suffer fools gladly. However, beneath his sometimes gruff exterior there beat a heart of gold, and all soon recognised that his bark was worse than his bite. He had a facility for friendship and his passing will be deeply regretted by his brethren of St. Patrick’s Province as well as by the large circle of his friends in many parts of the country. (The Cross, Vol. LVI, 1965-66; p. 247) Obituary notice of the late Father Peter Paul C.P. Holy Cross, Ardoyne. At 10 o’clock on the night of January 18th 1966, the feast of St. Paul the Hermit, Father Peter Paul of the Seven Dolours, known in the world as Michael Boyle, passed quietly to his eternal reward. By his bedside was the Rector of Holy Cross, Ardoyne, and Fr. Philip, a member of the Ardoyne Community. For about eight months previously Fr. Peter Paul had not been well. After an operation in June, 1965 he never really got back to his normal state of health. During the last three or four months he found it extremely difficult to retain any nourishment and very quickly he lost much weight. All this made him extremely weak. When he entered St. John’s private Nursing Home, Crumlin Road, Belfast on December 28th 1965 he did so simply for a check up. He certainly did not feel that he would never return to Ardoyne. Only on the morning of his death was the news broken gently to him that he was, and had been for some time suffering from. cancer. Having received all the last sacraments he slipped into unconsciousness about 2 p.m. As Fr. Rector and Fr. Philip said the prayers for the dying, he passed painlessly into eternity. Fr. Peter Paul was born at Gilford, Co. Down on December 28th 1896. After completing his early education locally he had been for some short time a School Monitor before going to the old Alumniate at Sandymount, Co. Dublin. In 1917 he entered the Novitiate at St. Gabriel’s Retreat, Enniskillen and was there professed on the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady in 1918. All his student days were spent at Mount Argus, Dublin, and, having completed his studies he was raised to the Priesthood at Clonliffe College, Dublin on December 22nd 1923. Because he had been such an exemplary student and because he seemed to be possessed of the true Passionist spirit, his Superiors, very shortly after ordination appointed him to the position of Directors of Students at Ilkley. In 1929 he was recalled to Dublin to become Vicar of St. Paul’s Retreat, Mount Argus. After three years in Dublin he was at the Provincial Chapter sent as Vicar to Holy Cross Retreat, Ardoyne, Belfast. After a three year period here he was sent to Glasgow where he worked on the parish for the next nine years. From there after the next Provincial Chapter, he went to Holy Cross, Ardoyne as Rector. To this position he was re-appointed in 1944. In 1947 he became First Provincial Consultor and remained such till his re-appointment as Rector of Ardoyne in 1956. In 1959 he was appointed as Rector of St. Joseph’s Retreat Cloonamahon, Collooney, Co. Sligo. When his term of three years was up there he choose Holy Cross, Ardoyne as the house in which he wished to live as a member of the Community. Fr. Peter Paul was well known and highly respected, especially in the Diocese of Down and Connor, where he spent much of his priestly life. His popularity was very evident in the number of priests who attended the Requiem Mass at Ardoyne and the funeral to the cemetery within the grounds of the Monastery. Fr. Peter Paul was not an outstanding preacher; neither was he a great philosopher or theologian. In many ways his life was simple, in the correct sense of that word. He was a man who lived in God’s presence and a man to whom prayer was as important as breathing. He was upright and honest in all his dealings whether within the Community or outside the Monastery. He never suspected duplicity or lack of honesty in others because he expected and believed that all were as himself in this matter. He used no subtlety or flattery to get a Religious to perform an allotted task. He asked frankly and bluntly that it be done. If his correction sometimes seemed hard it was only because he meant exactly what he said. There the matter ended. He followed with devotion and true sincerity what he believed to be the Passionist way of life. It was this very quality that urged his Superiors in his early life to appoint him Director of Students. Not all would agree with his concept of the word “observance”. To him it meant choir observance and in this his view was undoubtedly mistaken. Yet credit must be given to any man who sincerely follows what he believes to be right. We commend his soul into the hands of his maker. Holy Cross, Ardoyne, Belfast, February, 1966.