OBITUARY FATHER ANGELO (McCUNNIN), C.P. (d. 9th April 1930, aged 64 years.) With feelings of very deep regret we announce the death of Father Angelo of the Seven Dolours, formerly Editor of “The Cross”, which occurred at Mount Argus on Wednesday, April 9th. Father Angelo who was known in the world as Michael McCunnin was born in Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, on September 1st, 1865; but whilst he was still a child, his parents migrated to Dublin. As a boy he served Mass at St. Kevin’s, Harrington Street. He soon became acquainted with the Passionist Fathers, and the experience seems to have made a deep and lasting impression upon him, for at the age of twenty he sought admission to the Passionist Congregation. He entered the Noviciate at St. Saviour’s Retreat, Broadway, Wores., and in due course was professed on October 8th, 1886. Subsequent to his profession he was transferred to St. Paul’s Retreat, Mount Argus, Dublin, to pursue his ecclesiastical studies; and on their completion he was ordained by Most Rev. Dr. Comerford in Carlow Cathedral on May 31st, 1890. After his ordination Father Angelo was appointed to St. Mungo’s Retreat, Glasgow; and at later periods he was successively a member of the Passionist communities at Harborne, Sutton, Herne Bay and Broadway. In all these places he laboured zealously for the salvation of the souls entrusted to his care. A man of wide experience and mature judgement, an earnest priest, a much-sought confessor, a prudent counsellor, a wise and enlightened director, he never spared himself when he could be of service to others. Many people afflicted by troubles of one kind or another, can bear grateful testimony to his Sympathetic and consoling words. Endowed with considerable intellectual gifts and a facility for expressing his thoughts, Father Angelo, were he so minded, might have enriched the world with the products of his pen and have made a reputation for himself in literary circles. Yet a modest diffidence in his own powers, coupled with a somewhat retiring disposition, constrained him to remain unknown in this field of labour. A widely-read man in all branches of literature, he was particularly interested in works of a biographical or historical nature, and his eye would light up with a gleam of pleasurable anticipation at the sight of a publisher’s catalogue. His sermons were always models of literary elegance, yet he was never one to sacrifice the solid content of doctrine for the sake of mere oratorical flourish. As a giver of retreats to religious communities, Father Angelo was well known throughout the country; indeed it may be said that he specialised in this work which he made peculiarly his own, and we know that many of those who profited by his spiritual instructions will feel the poorer for his passing. Father Angelo was painstaking and diligent in fulfilling any duty with which obedience had charged him. An indefatigable worker all his life, he was never one to rest upon his oars, to remain content with what he had already achieved. To whatever he undertook he brought of his best and gave of it unstintedly. Death cut him off in the midst of his activities, for amongst the papers found upon his desk was an unfinished sermon upon which he had been engaged when the final summons came. ” Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when He cometh, shall find watching.” To readers of “The Cross” in particular, Father Angelo’s death will bring a feeling of grievous loss, for from July, 1922 until September, 1926, he filled the position of Editor of this magazine. It is impossible to exaggerate the value of his work during that period; indeed it is not too much to say that, but for his untiring efforts we doubt if “The Cross” would be in existence to-day. He had to contend with enormous difficulties, partly the legacy of the War years. Yet these were all successfully overcome, and under his energetic guidance “The Cross” took on a new lease of life. It was considerably improved in format and increased in size. The results of this vigorous policy soon became apparent in the immediate and phenomenal rise of its circulation. It is one of the sad features connected with his death that he should have passed away just as further improvements were being planned, and should thus be deprived of the pleasure of seeing this first issue of the new “Cross”. Let it be remembered likewise that it is to him that the “Cross Annual” owes its birth. By no means demonstrative either in his piety or in his feelings, Father Angelo was yet possessed of a wealth of genuine kindliness of heart. His devotion towards Our Blessed Lady was constant and unwavering, he had a serene confidence in her assistance, a confidence that gained strength with the years. One of his first acts as Editor was to place “The Cross” under the protection of Our Lady and St. Joseph, and it is betraying no secret to reveal the fact that the beautiful statue of ” Our Lady of the Lake,” erected some years ago at Mount Argus, was a thanks offering from Father Angelo in grateful acknowledgement of Our Lady’s aid in the many difficulties he had to contend with in the discharge of his editorial duties. The only relative whom Father Angelo leaves to mourn his loss is his sister, Mother Gonzaga, one of the ablest and most distinguished of the Sisters of the Cross and Passion. On the occasion of her great sorrow, accentuated by vast spaces of the intervening ocean, we extend to her our sincerest sympathy. The obsequies took place at Mount Argus on Friday, April 11th, the celebrant of the Requiem Mass being Very Rev. Father Sebastian C.P., Provincial. On the same day, the Feast of the Seven Dolours, to which he cherished a life-long devotion, Father Angelo was laid to rest in the monastery cemetery at Mount Argus. May his good soul enjoy perpetual peace ! A.T. (ex. “The Cross”, May 1930, Vol. XXI, p.29) OBITUARY NOTICE OF THE LATE FATHER ANGELO OF THE SEVEN DOLOURS ‘Death, with his sickle keen’ has been busy of late amonst the Passionists of the Province of St. Patrick. Scarcely a month had passed since the lamented death of Fr. Pius when it was announced that Father angelo of the Seven Dolours had passed away after a brief illness, at St. Paul’s Retreat, Dublin, on Wednesday, April 9th. Father Angelo, who was known in the world as Michael McCunnin, was born in Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, on September 1st, 1865. Whilst he was still a child, his parents migrated to Dublin, where, it may well be, his future vocation made itself known during those early years when he served as an altar-boy in St. Kevin’s, Harrington Street. It was at this time presumably that he first became acquainted with the Passionist Fathers. The experience seems to have made a deep and lasting impression upon him, for at the age of twenty he sought admission to the Passionist Congregation. He entered the Noviciate at St. Saviour’s Retreat, Broadway, Wores., and in due course made his profession on October 8th, 1886. Subsequently, he was transferred to St. Paul’s Retreat, Mount Argus, Dublin, to pursue his ecclesiastical studies, and when these had been successfully completed he was raised to the Priesthood by Most Rev. Dr. Comerford in Carlow Cathedral on May 31st, 1890. After his ordination he was appointed to St. Mungo’s Retreat, Glasgow; and at later periods he was successively a member of the Passionist communities at Harborne, Sutton, Enniskillen, Herne Bay and Broadway. In all these places he laboured zealously and successfully for the salvation of the souls entrusted to his care. Many people afflicted by troubles of one kind or another, can bear grateful testimony to the sympathy which he invariably extended towards those who sought his aid, and to the consoling words with which he endeavoured to lighten their burden. A man of wide experience and mature judgement, an earnest priest, a much-sought confessor, a prudent counsellor, a wise and enlightened director, he never spared himself when he could be of service to others. To the disheartened he imparted new courage; to the perplexed and the doubtful he dispensed sage advice; to the mournful he suggested those throughts inspired by faith, which help to assuage grief and fall as a healing balm upon the soul which has tasted of the bitterness of unshared sorrow. Throughout his whole life Fr. Angelo was most painstaking and diligent in fulfilling any duty which obedience had laid upon him. Always an indefatigable worker, he was never one to remain content with what he had already accomplished. To whatever he undertook he brought of his best and gave of it unstintedly. During his last illness one of the few regrets that troubled him was that he would be unable to give the ordination Retreat to the class of students at Mt. Argus – for it was a source of great consolation and pleasure to him that he should have been selected for this weighty task. Death indeed cut him off in the very midst of his activities, for amongst the papers found upon his desk was an unfinished sermon upon which he had been engaged when the final summons came. ” Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when He cometh, shall find watching.” Endowed with considerable intellectual gifts and a facility for expressing his thoughts, Father Angelo, were he so minded, might have enriched the world with the products of his pen and have made a reputation for himself in literary circles. Yet a modest diffidence in his own powers, coupled with a somewhat retiring disposition, constrained him to remain unknown in this field of labour. His sermons, which were always carefully prepared, were always models of literary elegance, yet he was never one to sacrifice the solid content of doctrine for mere oratorical flourish. As a giver of retreats to religious communities, Fr. Angelo was well known throughout the country; indeed it may be said that he specialised in this most important work which he made peculiarly his own – and we know that many of those who profited by his spiritual instructions will feel the poorer for his passing. In his religious life, Fr. Angelo fulfilled all the acts of observance with the same care and exactitude that he devoted to his labours in the ministry. He was regular and punctual in his attendance at choir, and it was a source of innocent gratification to him if he found that he had arrived there before any of the other religious. By no means demonstrative either in his piety or in his feelings, he was yet possessed of a wealth of genuine kinliness of heart. He excelled in the gift of repartee, and took a delight in carrying off the palm in a witty encounter, which wa always enlivened by his unfailing good humour. The greatest work that Fr. Angelo accomplished for the Congregation was undoubtedly done during his term of Editorship of “The Cross”. He filled that position from July, 1922 until September, 1926, with conspicuous ability, and with a success which is all the more remarkable when one recalls the fact that at no previous time had he any experience either of Editorial or managerial duties. It is impossible to exaggerate the value of his work during that period; on the testimony of those best qualified to judge it may be said that but for Fr. Angelo’s energetic and untiring labours, it is doubtful whether “The Cross” would be in existence to-day. He wrought many improvements in its format, greatly increaed its circulation, and above all, he completely paid off a large devt which had hindered its progress for years and had well-nigh dealt it its death blow. He was also the founder of the new Passionist magazine “The Cross Annual” which is now one of the most popular and successful of its kind. Towards Our Blessed Lady Fr. Angelo ever cherished a devotion both constant and unwavering. He had a serene confidence in her assistance, a confidence that gained strength with the years. One of his first acts as Editor of “The Cross” was to place the magazine under the protection of Our Lady and St. Joseph; and he always gratefully acknowledged our Lady’s aid in the many difficulties he had to encounter in the discharge of his editorial duties. We cannot doubt that this devotion obtained for him many favours from the Mother of Sorrows, not the least of which was that his death should have occurred during Passion Week, and that he should be laid to rest upon a day so dear to his heart, the Feast of the Seven Dolours of Our Blessed Lady. Fr. Angelo’s death was somewhat unexpected. He had undergone a slight operation from which no danger was apprehended, and was making a splendid recovery when complications set in which it was soon apparent could have only one issue. He received Extreme Unction with great devotion and tranquillity almost on the first day of his illness, and bore his painful sufferings with exemplary fortitude and unfailing courage. He passed away peacefully at 2.45 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9th, 1930. The Solemn Requiem Mass was at 11 o’clock on Friday, April 11th, the celebrant being Very Rev. Fr. Provincial; deacon, Rev. Fr. Valentine; subdeacon, Rev. Fr. Heremiah. The large congregation that attended the obsequies was an evidence of the widespread grief and sorrow occasioned by the lass of this good priest and exemplary religious. May he rest in peace! Adrian of the Seven Dolours, Rector. St. Paul’s Retreat, DUBLIN. April 21st. 1930.