OBITUARY: FATHER HONORIUS (WELSH), C.P. (d. 20th December 1929, aged 52 years.) The solemn tones of the passing bell at Mount Argus, in the afternoon of Friday, December 20th, announced that a member of the Community Father Honorius of the Immaculate Conception (in the world, James Welsh) had gone to his reward The sad event was not unexpected, as, for some weeks prior to his death, the medical advisers, held out no hope of recovery. In the early stages of his illness, weak though he was, he continued to celebrate Holy Mass, to which he had such a wondrous devotion; but his ebbing strength at length compelled him to forego this consoling privilege, and, having received the Last Sacraments, he became wholly absorbed in his preparation for the passage to eternity. With the Crucifix clasped in his hands, while a marvellous peace and serenity pervaded his soul, characteristic of the end of the good and faithful servant, he awaited the final summons. The Master called him on a day Friday which is consecrated by such sacred memories, especially to the heart of the Passionist. We need not wonder, however, that Father Honorius had such a, happy death, for as we measure out so it shall be meted unto us, and during his life he had never spared himself in ministering to the sick and dying, and now, when he himself needed charitable attention and peace of soul, the Hand of the Lord was not shortened. Born in Glasgow on December 26th, 1877, he received his early education in that city, and, in response to a vocation to the religious state, entered the Passionist Noviciate at Broadway, Worcestershire, where he made his profession on January 24th, 1900. His ecclesiastical studies were made at St. Paul’s Retreat, Mount Argus, and he was ordained priest by the Most Rev. Dr. Walsh, late Archbishop of Dublin, in the Pro-Cathedral, Marlboro’ Street, on September 22nd, 1906. His work in the ministry began in St. Anne’s Retreat, Sutton, Lanes. Thence he was transferred to Glasgow, and in this great industrial city, with its teeming population, his duties were of an arduous nature. Here he was occupied in parochial hospital and social work, to which he devoted himself with a zeal and spirit of self-sacrifice worthy of an apostle. In later years his health failed, and, after a rest at the Retreats of Sutton and Harborne for the restoration of his health, came to Dublin. At Mount Argus his work was chiefly in the Confessional, where he spent many hours on the days assigned him for this duty, and the belated-penitent invariably found Father Honorius in the church ready to receive him with a cheerful countenance and a word of welcome. Whenever the demands of charity needed the services of this worthy son of St. Paul of the Cross he never failed to respond, no matter what fatigue or sacrifice it might cost him, and thus in helping others he never thought of himself. Like the Good Samaritan he hastened to pour oil and wine upon the wounds of afflicted humanity. He had a warm heart, full of sympathy for those upon whom the burden of life was pressing heavily. The sad faces of the large congregation in the church at the obsequies on December 23rd indicated how keenly the loss was felt of this faithful and devoted son of the Passion. The quiet little cemetery at Mount Argus is the last resting place of the mortal remains of Father Honorius. Silence reigns in the abode of the dead, but the stillness is sometimes broken by the song-birds, perched in the ancient trees, warbling their threnodies over the tenanted graves. We ask those who pass by the way to offer a prayer for the happy repose of the soul of him whose memory will ever remain green in the hearts of thousands to whom he was a true friend and wise counsellor. May perpetual light shine upon his soul! C. T. IN MEMORIAM. FR. HONORIUS, C.P. Hear the wind his Requiem chanting Round his lov’d monastic home Ere his saintly spirit, panting, Soars beyond the heavenly dome, Unto the Most High. God hath called him to His bosom, All His blessed joys to share. Friends, who weep? In God ye lose him Rather strive to meet him there When your hour is nigh. A. S. (ex “The Cross”, February 1930, Vol XX, p. 361) OBITUARY NOTICE OF THE LATE FATHER HONORIUS OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION It has been said that “Death puts an end absolutely and irrevocably to all our plans and works, and it is inevitable”. This sombre truth was forcibly brought home to the religious Community of St. Paul’s Retreat, Mount Argus, when just recently as preparations were being made for the joyous festival of Christmas, Fr. Honorius after a few weeks illness passed out of this life and rendered up his soul to God. Fr. Honorius of the Immaculate Conception, formerly known in the world by the name of James Welsh, was born in the city of Glasgow on 26th December in the year 1877. Having entered our Novitiate in 1899, he made his religious Profession at St. Saviour’s Retreat, Broadway, Worcestershire on 24 January 1900. After his profession he was transferred to St. Paul’s Retreat, Mt. Argus, Dublin where having completed the usual ecclesiastical course of studies he was ordained to the priesthood on 22 September 1906. His priestly labours were distributed over the various parishes and districts adjoining our houses of Sutton, Glasgow, Harborne and Dublin to which he was successively attached. Fr. Honorius was a priest of more than ordinary intellectual acumen. His energy was indefatigable. Notwithstanding his frail constitution and a distressing bronchial affection from which he suffered for many years, he performed prodigies of self-sacrifice in his burning zeal for the spiritual and temporal welfare of his neighbour. The sick, the sorrowful, the unfortunate and the destitute always found in Fr. Honorius a charitable comforter, a wise counsellor and a faithful friend. He was patient and attentive in the discharge of the duties of the confessional, even when it was apparent to all that his own physical sufferings were acute. But it is generally admitted that by far the most remarkable trait in his character as a priest was the prompt and willing answer which he invariably gave to sick calls. Whether the call was to the rich or to the poor, to private house or to a hospital, whether it came by night or day, in good or bad weather, he hastened immediately on his errand of mercy, and never failed to bring consolation to the agonizing soul, and to inspire the sorrowing relatives with perpetual gratitude. It was – as those who knew him well can readily testify – while he was in charge of the Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, that his charity and his mercy towards the sick and the dying shone out most conspicuously. These arduous labours however, accompanied by a certain natural anxiety to which he was naturally subject, told heavily on his health and brought on – it may be feared – a premature cardiac affection from which he never fully recovered. From that time forward he found it necessary to abstain from the task of preaching and to confine himself to the administration of the Sacraments and to the liturgical offices. In his religious life he was regular and fervent; he was seldom absent from the common observance except at such times as he was legitimately dispensed on account of his infirmity. He was frugal in his habits; and showed a keen sense of the value of self-denial by his life-long abstention from the use of fermented liquor. That cordial benevolence which earned for him the esteem of people in the world was always exercised with equal generosity towards each and every religious of the community in which he lived. His loyalty to the Congregation of St. Paul of the Cross was constant and active. He had a special devotion towards the Blessed Eucharist, the Sacred Passion and the Immaculate Conception. It was from these spiritual sources that he daily derived new strength for his soul, and imparted fresh vigour to his weary body to enable it to carry on the work of his heavenly Master Whom he loved so well. And thus he laboured on and on uninterruptedly without attracting much attention or complaining of his ailments. Early in the month of last September however, a noticeable change took place. From his pale and emaciated countenance, and from a certain alienation of expression which supervened, it became evident that the insidious disease was attacking the last reserve of his vital forces and that a dissolution was not far off. Nevertheless, he continued his usual round of duties day after day till about the middle of November, when he grew so weak that his Superiors deemed it advisable for him to consult a physician. Needless to say the result of the medical examination proved unsatisfactory, and though he anticipated nothing serious himself, it was then privately understood that the worst was to be feared. He was accordingly confined to his bed by order of the doctor and when it was said that the Last sacraments might be administered to him, he willingly consented and received them at once, animated by a lively faith in their spiritual efficacy and in their remedial effect. But after ten or twelve days of skilful nursing and careful observation it was clearly ascertained that his case was hopeless, and that he should be told definitely that his recovery could not be expected. He received the news of his approaching with deep emotion; he shed tears copiously and moved to tears his doctor and a friend who were present. The manifestation of these sentiments was but natural in the circumstances, and precisely in accordance with his disposition; they passed away in half an hour when he became quite calm and resigned, and never afterwards showed the least sign of fear, sadness or depression. During the rest of his illness he was a model of patience and of submission to the Divine Will. He went to Confession often; assisted at Mass daily and received Holy Communion with great faith and devotion. On the afternoon of 20 December he felt that his end was drawing near, and he made his Confession for the last time in immediate preparation for his departure. He was not mistaken for his last hour was really at hand. About 4 o’clock the same afternoon “while resignation gently sloped the way” and assisted by the prayers of the assembled religious, his generous soul peacefully returned to God who gave it. The obsequies and interment of Fr. Honorius took place at Mt. Argus, Dublin on 23 December 1929 in the presence of the Religious Community, some of the secular and regular clergy, a number of relatives, and a large congregation of people from the city. The Celebrant of the Mass was the V. Rev. Fr. Sebastian, Provincial; Rev. Fr. Frederick, Deacon; Rev. Fr. Cormac, Subdeacon; and Rev. Fr. Cronan, Master of ceremonies. “Blessed is the man that understandeth concerning the needy and the poor: the Lord will deliver him in the evil day.” Signed: Adrian of the Seven Dolours.