FATHER PANCRAS (BYRNE), C.P. (d. 2nd March 1930, aged 59 years.) A familiar figure has been removed from our midst by the death of Fr. Pancras (Byrne), C.P., which occurred at St. Paul’s Retreat, Mount Argus, on Sunday, 2nd March. Fr. Pancras of the Seven Dolours in the world John Gerald Byrne was born in Dublin on 1st December, 1870. He passed his boyhood with his parents in his native city, where he was educated by the Jesuits at Belvedere College, of which he ever retained grateful memories. When his resolution was taken to be a priest in a Religious Order, he selected the Passionist Congregation, and entered the Noviciate in the month of October, 1888. On the 1st of November in the following year he made his Religious Profession at St. Saviour’s Retreat, Broadway, Worcestershire. Passing next to the house of studies he completed his ecclesiastical course, and on 18th November, 1895, he was ordained by Cardinal Vaughan at St. Joseph’s Retreat, Highgate, London. He remained attached to the Highgate Community for some time after his ordination, until he was transferred to a house which the Passionists had recently opened at Wareham in Dorsetshire. From Wareham a small mission had just been started at Swanage, mainly for the convenience of visitors to the seaside during the summer months. Mass was said on Sundays in a room which was requisitioned for the purpose. Some of the visitors were thus attracted to settle permanently at Swanage; where by the revival of the faith of several lapsed Catholics in the district, and by the addition of a small number of converts, the nucleus of a future congregation was gradually formed. Fr. Pancras was in charge of this mission for some time, and did very valuable pioneer work in those early days at Swanage. Always a great lover of the open air, he often travelled long distances on his bicycle to carry the consolations of religion to some neglected soul, or to assist one of the diocesan priests engaged in the work of spreading the light of Faith in some remote district of Dorsetshire. Subsequently it was found necessary for the Passionists to abandon Wareham, as it was giving little promise of spiritual growth; but the mission at Swanage, which showed more hopeful signs of progress, was taken over by the Canons Regular of the Lateran. Fr. Pancras was then appointed to St. Savour’s Retreat, Broadway, Worcestershire, and later at St. Mary’s Retreat, Carmarthen, Wales. In these places he was regularly engaged in active duties, besides attending faithfully to the exercises of the Religious Community. The last years of his life were spent at St. Paul’s Retreat, Mount Argus, Dublin. People who knew Fr. Pancras intimately revered him for his dimple and childlike piety, for his kind and gentle disposition, for his deep and sincere sympathy in time of affliction, for his tender solicitude for the wants of the poor, and for the timely and helpful assistance which he always gave to the sick and the dying. Many of those who were acquainted with him wrote to his brother, Fr. Berchmans, to say that they had lost a real friend by the death of Fr. Pancras, and that he had left on their minds deep and ineffaceable memories of his charity and devotedness. In fact it was only after his death that his generous soul was fully revealed in all be compassion and tenderness, in its real simplicity and unobtrusive holiness. Though he had not been in his normal health for some days, his end came rather unexpectedly, and perhaps by a merciful Providence, in a way which seemed particularly fitting for one of his spiritual and temperamental disposition. On Saturday, 1st March, he said Mass for a special intention and for the last time. He saw the doctor during the day, but he did not think it necessary to keep to his room. On Saturday night, before going to bed, he said in his usual quaint and simple way: ” I think it would be a good thing for me to make a general confession. His confessor was accordingly called to his room, and the confession was made, after which he retired to rest with great composure and tranquillity. On the following morning the Community learned, with very deep regret, that Fr. Pancras had passed out of this life during the night, and presumably in his sleep. The Solemn Requiem Mass, at which Rt. Rev. Mgr. Wall, P.P., V.G., presided was celebrated on Tuesday, March 4th, by V. Rev. Fr. Sebastian, C.P. (Provincial). B. C. (ex. “The Cross”, April 1930, Vol. XX, p. 440)