THE LATE FATHER FINBAR (WARD), C.P. The telegram delivered at every Passionist Monastery in Ireland and Great Britain on Thursday, December 9th. well-nigh stunned each and all of the religious, for the death of this comparatively young and seemingly healthy priest was the most unexpected of all that have occurred amongst the Passionists for years. Father Finbar of the Sorrowful Heart of Mary (formerly known in the world as Patrick Ward) was born in Dublin on March 5th, 1877. He was professed a Passionist at St. Saviour’s Retreat, Broadway, Worcs., in 1897, and was ordained a Priest in London in 1905. He spent the greater part of his priestly life in England. For nine years he discharged the office of Vice-Rector: at St. Mary’s Retreat. Harborne, Birmingham, from 1911 to 1917, and at St. Mary’s Retreat, Carmarthen, S. Wales, from 1917 to 1920. He then spent some four years at St. Paul’s Retreat, Mount: Argus, Dublin, where he was an active member of the missionary staff. Having left Mount Argus, he was stationed for a short period at St. Paul’s, Retreat. Ilkley, Yorks., and was thence transferred to St. Joseph’s Retreat, Highgate, London, where his death took place. In an obituary notice there is often the tendency – pardonable, and even praiseworthy, though it be – to exaggerate, for the sake of charity or edification, the good qualities of the deceased. But when we set down here some of the traits that made Father Finbar so priestly and so beloved by his religious brethren and a host of friends, we pay him no more glowing tribute than his merits won. He was ever a man of method; and, in a religious community, if anywhere, exactness and its handmaid, punctuality, are virtues. He was generally of a silent and rather reserved temperament – another virtue; for silence and recollection are the twin hallmarks which should stamp a monastery. He was one of those religious who live not in the glare and glamour, but who pass their lives “hid with Christ in God,” ever keeping up an even, steady pace and arriving safely and surely at the goal for which they aim. We shall never know – at least in this world – the big things done for God and the souls for whose sake He died by such as Father Finbar, as he wended his way quietly and unostentatiously through the parish, the school, the hospital, the workhouse and the convent. But God knows, and His knowledge of it all wins a reward that neither time nor other thief can rob. Father Finbar was zealous, too. We know it from his missionary labours, his devotedness to the confessional and his successful handling of parish work; those whom he served know it too; and, again, God knows it better still. His charity was a very real thing. We have ample testimony of his kindly, comforting ways and words in the widespread, unconcealed grief of the people who knew him, not only at Highgate, where he last laboured, but also in the other places where he had worked in former years and where the memory of him might have been dim or dead. His last days and death furnish a touching and beautiful closing chapter in the story of his life. He died, as the saying is, “in harness!” He had hardly left his confessional on a Saturday night when he fell ill – a victim to the ruthless ravages of the dreaded pneumonia. His case was hopeless from the outset, and only four short days did he linger. He retained full consciousness until a few moments before his death, and when told that the end was nigh, he displayed a physical bravery and spiritual resignation that all may envy. He even joined in responding to the prayers for a soul departing, and scarce had these prayers ended, when he closed his eyes and died peacefully, having received the Last Sacraments with deep devotion. We are told that “as a man lives, so shall he die” . . . . . . He was attended at his deathbed by his religious brethren, amongst whom was his brother – in a dual sense – the Rev. Father Henry, C.P., of Holy Cross Retreat, Ardoyne, Belfast. The obsequies took place on December 11th at St. Joseph’s, Highgate. Solemn ]Requiem Mass was sung by Rev. Fr. Henry, C.P., assisted by Rev. Fr. Aidan, C.P., and Rev. Fr. Clement, C.P., as deacon and subdeacon respectively. After Mass, the Absolutions were pronounced by the Very Rev Fr. Alban, C.P. (Provincial), who also officiated at the graveside. The attendance at the funeral was very large. The mortal remains of Father Finbar lie with those of many other sons of St. Paul of the Cross in the private mausoleum in the grounds of the monastery, where its broad shadow keeps unceasing guard. R.I. P. (The Cross, Vol. XVII, 1926-1927; p. 311) FR. FINBAR OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY PASSIONIST Death laid a swift and a heavy hand on the community of St Joseph’s Retreat, Highgate, London, in December 1926. On the 9th of that month there passed to his eternal reward Fr Finbar Ward, C.P., in Religion, Fr Finbar of the Sorrowful Heart of Mary. Fr Finbar was an active member of the community attached to St Joseph’s retreat, Highgate and his unexpected death came as a severe shock to all who knew him. Up to the Saturday preceding his death, Fr Finbar appeared to be enjoying his usual good health and attended his confessional at that night until after 8 p.m. Before retiring, however, he complained of feeling cold and a short time afterwards an excruciating pain in his right side accompanied by difficulty in breathing necessitated the summoning of a physician, Pneumonia being diagnosed, Fr Finbar was taken early on Sunday morning to a private hospital where everything possible was done to help the patient to a speedy recovery. But from the first the specialist who attended him and the hospital staff realised that the case was indeed a desperate one. His right lung was already out of action and the left one badly affected. His condition was so critical that oxygen had to be administered unceasingly during the whole time he was in hospital. In a spite of every care and attention the malady gained on him, and after fighting bravely for four full days Fr Finbar died peacefully in the early hours of Thursday, December 9th. His death was a most edifying one. Conscious to the end, Fr Finbar, realised that his labours for his Divine Master were over, and for him had come “the night when no man may work”. Fortified with the last rites of the Church and having joined as best he could in the prayers for the dying he breathed forth his soul to God with perfect resignation to the Divine Will, giving those who surrounded his deathbed a perfect example of Christian fortitude and confidence equalled only by the patience with which he had borne the pains and the stress of his proceeding illness. Born in Dublin on 5th of March 1877, Fr Finbar was educated at the well-known College conducted by the Marist Fathers in Leeson Street in that city. In 1896, following the example of this brother, Fr Henry Ward, Passionist, he entered the Novitiate of the order in Broadway, Worcestershire. Professed the following year, he came to St. Joseph’s, Highgate, to pursue his studies for the priesthood and was ordained on the 24th of September 1904 at St Edmund’s College, Ware. The first scene of his priestly ministry was at St Mary’s Retreat, Harbourne, where he laboured for nearly 13 years, six of which were passed as Vice-Rector of the retreat. While at Harbourne, Fr Finbar deeply attached himself to of the inmates of the large home for the aged conducted by the Little Sisters of the Poor. For 13 years he was in daily and often nightly attendance in this institution and when at length his superiors called him to be Vicar of St. Mary’s Retreat, Carmarthen, these poor people and the sisters of the community showed in no uncertain fashion that they realised that they were losing a real father-in-God. Fr. Finbar, during his chaplaincy of the Convent of the Little Sisters of the poor gave a wonderful example of punctuality. Not only did he never miss a day at the convent but during all those 12 years of constant attendance he was not at late in coming, even once. From Carmarthen, after three years as Vice-Rector, Fr Finbar was appointed to St Paul’s Retreat, Mount Argus, Dublin and later to St Paul’s , Ilky, Yorks. In January, 1920, he came St. Joseph’s, Highgate, and here he worked with his customary zeal until his untimely death of last year. Fr Finbar had no mean a reputation as a missioner and director of retreats, and some of his most ardent admirers and steadfast friends were those to whom he had endeared himself by his labours as a Passionist missioner. His list of converts to the Catholic Faith was not a short one and his work in this respect though unostentatious was solid and lasting. He had a wonderful genius for making friends and keeping them, and his unexpected death came as a heavy blow to those who treasured his acquaintance. To his brethren in religion his sudden departure from amongst them can hardly yet to be realised. His cheery presence and priestly bearing will be sadly missed at St Joseph’s. But the consoling fact remains that though he died at a comparatively early age yet he fully realised that his “dies magna” has dawned. He knew he was dying, he was prepared to die, and his wonderful resignation to God’s Holy Will and his confidence in God’s mercy were vividly displayed to those assembled around his deathbed. “In pace in idipsum dormiam, et requiescam: quoniam tu Domine, singularitar in spe constituti me”, The obsequies took place on Saturday morning 11th of December 1926 at St Joseph’s Highgate before at crowded congregation; his brother, Fr. Henry Ward, C.P., being celebrant of the mass. The music was beautifully rendered by the choir of St Aloysius’ College, Highgate. The absolution and final prayers were recited by the Provincial Very Rev Fr Alban, C.P. and the remains were laid to rest in the private mausoleum in the monastery grounds. There where, as a student he prayed, and studied and learned to be a Passionist, Fr Finbar sleeps his last long sleep surrounded by his brethren who proceeded him awaiting the glorious resurrection . R.I.P.