Brother ANTHONY of the Sacred Heart (Doyle) On the Feast of the Feast of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, then on the 3rd of October, Brother Anthony was found dead in bed, his Rosary beads tightly clasped in his fingers: It was the Month of the Rosary, and on a Feast dear to his heart: Though in his 83rd year then, he was a child at heart. He had been born on the 1st April 1972, at Lismore, Co. Waterford. He spend his early childhood there, but the family moved to Dublin, and in his early teens he took to learning a trade, in the Building Industry. As a young man, he joined the English Army, and spent 7 years in the Royal Artillery Regiment. He then went to America, and for some years was engaged in all kinds of work. A ‘late’ vocation (he was 37 years old), he asked to be admitted to our Congregation as a Brother, and after doing his Novitiate at the Graan, then only a fortnight opened, was professed on 19th July 1910. He remained a member of that Community, and was of great help, for it was then that the old Coach House and Stables were converted into a Church suitable for a Monastery. A former building worker, he was concerned not only with the bricks and mortar but also in the drawing up of the plans. He then went to Mount Argus, and after some years there doing the various jobs a Brother does, he found himself in Broadway, where he became cook. But (his OBITUARY states) most probably the best and most fruitful years of his Religious Life (1926-1929) were those at St. Joseph’s Retreat, Highgate, where he was Infirmarian and Nurse to three well-known priests of the old Anglo-Hibernian Province: Fr. Vincent Logan, Fr. Matthew Kelly, Fr. Augustine Hopkins, all of them seriously ill, tho’ not all at the same time. His care helped to ease and lighten the sufferings of their last years, and to sustain them to the end. Anthony was skillful, compassionate, unfailing in his constant attendance of his patients, More than half his life was spent in Broadway, where (due to a rheumatoid-arthritic condition he was a semi-invalid and confined to his room. He suffered his pains with cheerfulness and even good humour. His piety was childlike and strong: no frills. It was built on the essentials: The Mass, The Blessed Sacrament, The Passion, and our Lady. And so in that frame of mind he died. God rest him. SOURCES: THE CROSS 46(1955-56) 207 Obituary Notice. BROTHER ANTHONY (BOYLE), C.P. With regret we record the sudden death of Brother Anthony, C.P. His passing away took place on October 3rd at St. Saviour’s Retreat, Broadway, where forty years earlier he had been professed a Passionist. Born at Lismore, Co. Waterford, he was known in the world as Charles Boyle. Brother Anthony spent the greater part of his long religious life in our Retreats in England. For many years he was a revered member of the Community of St. Joseph’s Retreat, Highgate, London. His was a quiet, unostentatious service of the Master – a service which never took him into the limelight, but which, no doubt, has won for him a crown of eternal glory. On the day before his death, he heard Mass, received Holy Communion and attended Benediction. Surely a fitting end to a life that was hidden with Christ in God. – May his soul rest in peace. (The Cross, Vol. XLVI, 1955-56; p. 207.) OBITUARY: BROTHER ANTHONY OF THE SACRED HEART. Brother Anthony died peacefully in his sleep on the 3rd of October – the Feast of the Child Jesus. His death was not altogether unexpected, nor the manner of it really surprising as there had been of late a visible and gradual worsening of his health. On the previous evening he sustained a fall in his room, and this in conjunction with two similar accidents of a more serious nature which befell him in recent months contributed to the hastening of his end and shook his otherwise strong constitution. They left him in a weakened condition sapping his energy and vitality. But his death, coming as it did, found him ready and well prepared. On Sunday morning, as had been his custom for some years past, with his usual determination he had dragged himself to the Choir to assist at Holy Mass and receive Holy Communion which proved to be his last. Blessed is that Servant, whom when His Lord shall come, He shall find so watching Known in the world as Charles Boyle, he was born on 1st April, 1872, at Lismore, Co. Waterford. His childhood was lived there, but later, his family moved to Dublin where he received his early education, and in his early teens he applied himself to the learning of a trade, mostly in the Building line. As a young man he joined the Army and spent seven years in the Regiment of The Royal Artillery. Afterwards he travelled to America and was engaged for some years in various kinds of work. He was a late vocation, being 37 years in age when he made his final decision to apply for admission to the Congregation as a lay-brother. Shortly after he was accepted, his vocation was put to stern test, which proved what manner of man he was. Pressing and repeated invitations from two different sources were forced upon him holding out tempting promises of material gain and temporal happiness if he should alter his resolution or change his mind. They caused him to waver for a short while, but the call of God proved more strong and enduring. His novitiate was made in the newly acquired Foundation of The Graan, Enniskillen. It was an eventful year for the Community, for during it, the old Coach House and Stables were converted into a Chapel and made suitable for a Monastery. Brother Anthony, because of his age, experience and industry, and knowing more than others about bricks and mortar, was employed in the work of reconstruction and helped considerably in the completion of the plans. He was professed on the 19th of July, 1910, and after his Profession was kept a few years in The Graan where he gave invaluable and devoted service in the new Foundation. Then he was transferred to St. Paul ‘ s Retreat, Mount Argus, where he was employed in the various duties of a Brother, fulfilling them conscientiously and efficiently. After some years he was appointed Cook at St. Saviours Retreat, Broadway, which office he discharged for several years. Most probably, the best and most fruitful years of his Religious Life were spent, 1926 – 1929, at St. Joseph’s Retreat, Highgate, when he was appointed Infirmarian and Nurse to three well known and distinguished Priests of the Anglo-Hibernian Province who had fallen seriously ill – Fr. Vincent Logan, Fr. Matthew Kelly and Fr. Augustine Hopkins. They were all under his care at one particular period, and depended to a great extent upon him to ease and lighten the sufferings of their last years and to sustain them in their weakness and infirmities. Brother Anthony brought to his work a skill and a compassionate tenderness that endeared him to his patients, and he was unfailing in his constant attendance day and night upon them. Thus he won their undying gratitude and that of his Superiors and brethren for his work of mercy, sympathy and compassion. More than half his Religious life was spent at St. Saviours Retreat, Broadway, where in his latter years, due to a rheumatoid-arthritic condition, he became a semi-invalid, but never bed-ridden. Though confined to his room, he was never idle, and never seemed to suffer from loneliness. But he did suffer – and suffered much from the unremitting grip of his complaint, but endured it with cheerfulness and even good humour with the courage and resignation of the good soldier of the Cross that he was. His faith was childlike and strong and itwas always a source of inspiration and edification to others to see him at his prayer. His piety was solid and deep with no extras or trimmings about it. It was built on the essentials – The Mass, The Blessed Sacrament, The Sacred Passion and Our Lady. He had, of course, his own favourite Saints. He was found dead in bed with the Rosary Beads tightly clasped in his fingers in the month of the Rosary and on the Feast of one of his favourite Saints. Though in his 83rd year he was a child at heart to the last. May he rest in peace. Bernard of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Rector.