On January 6th, 1963, at St. Michael’s Retreat, Dankeith, Kilmarnock, Scotland, the death occurred of Rev. Father Camillus (Boyle), C.P. Fortified by the grace of the Last Sacraments and perfectly resigned, he passed peacefully to his reward.
Known in the world as Francis Boyle, Father Camillus was born in Glasgow in 1905. Having completed his secondary education, he entered the Passionist Novitiate at St. Gabriel’s, The Graan, Enniskillen, and was professed there on April 28th, 1924. His student years were spent at Saint Paul’s Retreat, Mount Argus, Dublin.
He was raised to the Sacred Priesthood on June 14th, 1930, in the Pro-Cathedral, Dublin, by Most Rev. Dr. Norton, Bishop of Bathurst, Australia. For many years, Father Camillus taught with notable success in the Passionist Juniorate, then at Wheatfield House, Belfast. Subsequently he was attached to several Houses of the Province. During his years at Mount Argus, his services as confessor and counsellor were frequently sought and deeply appreciated.
Although he never enjoyed robust health, his death came unexpectedly, but it did not find him unprepared.
On Wednesday, January 9th, the Solemn Obsequies were held at St Michael’s Retreat, Dankeith. Most Rev. Dr. Magee, Bishop of Galloway, presided. Among those present were Very Rev. Father Valentine, C.P., Provincial, Right Rev. Monsignor McHardy, M.C., Provost, and a large number of Passionists from Scotland, England and Ireland. The interment took place in the Passionist plot at St. Kentigern’s Cemetery, Glasgow.
May he rest in Peace.
(The Cross, Vol. LIII, 1962-63; p. 287)
Second life
On the evening of Thursday, 3rd January, 1963, one of the priests from St. Michael’s Retreat, Dankeith, waited with the truck at the bus-stop on the main Kilmarnock-Ayr road. He had arranged to meet Father Camillus who was returning from a visit to his sister’s home in Glasgow. When a number of buses had passed without anyone alighting it was thought that Father Camillus had been delayed and would arrive later. In fact, at that very time he lay injured by the roadside less than a mile from the place where the truck waited for him, Afterwards, passengers who travelled with him on the bus, recalled that a conductress, new to the route, had allowed him to alight some distance from his destination. His clerical garb made him almost invisible in the darkness and while he was walking along the road to the place where he had arranged to be met, he was struck by a passing car. The driver of the car and others who came on the scene did what they could to comfort and relieve Father Camillus until an ambulance arrived which rushed him to Kilmarnock Infirmary. There he was identified by some papers which he carried and a ‘phone call conveyed the sad news to the Community at Dankeith.
Immediately on receiving this information, Father Rector and two of the priests motored to the Infirmary, passing on their way the scene of the accident where the police had set up flashing beacons. Before their arrival at the hospital, however, the Chaplain had given Absolution and Extreme Unction to Father Camillus. He was conscious and was able to recognise his brethren but he was in great pain from the injuries on his head and back. The doctors said that his condition – though serious – was not hopeless. On the following day, however, his breathing became difficult and he rapidly lost strength and soon lapsed into unconsciousness. His brother and sisters had been called to the hospital and during his last hours members of the Dankeith Community remained at his side. When he was dying on Sunday evening Father Rector was present to give a Final Absolution and to recite the prayers for a Departing Soul
Francis Boyle was born in Glasgow on Dec., 5th, 1905. He was a student of St. Mungo’s Academy before going to our Postulant House which was then at Holy Cross Retreat, Belfast. When he had completed his preparatory studies he went to the Novitiate at St. Gabriel’s Retreat, Enniskillen, where, a year later, he made his Profession on the Feast of Our Holy Founder, 28th April, 1924. For the study of Philosophy and Theology he was sent first to St. Paul’s Retreat, Ilkley, and then to St. Paul’s Retreat, Dublin, and it was while he was a student in Mount Argus that his ordination to the Priesthood took place in the Pro-Cathedral on June 14th, 1930.
During the years that followed Father Camillus served in almost every house in the Province including the Postulant House at Wheatfield, Belfast, where he taught English and French for a number of years. In other Retreats, especially in Mount Argus, his zeal for souls was shown by his devotion to his duty as a Confessor. His ready sympathy for those in trouble brought a constant stream of penitents to his confessional. Late in the year 1962 he was changed to St. Michael’s Retreat, Dankeith, and he was here only a few months when the accident occurred which ended his life.
As soon as the news of. his death was received at Dankeith the Office for the Dead was recited in Choir, Next evening the body of Father Camillus was brought back from the Infirmary to the Retreat and on the morning of Wednesday, 9th January, the Obsequies took place with the Right Rev. Joseph McGee, Bishop of Galloway, presiding, Very Rev. Fr. Provincial and many Passionists from our own Province and from St. Joseph’s Province were present for the ceremonies. After Solemn Requiem Mass the funeral set out for the cemetery at Lambhill, Glasgow, where the internment took place in the Passionist plot. There, beneath the great stone Cross, the remains of Father Camillus and his Brethren await the Resurrection. May his soul and the souls of all the Faithful Departed, through the Mercy of God, rest in Peace.
From St. Michael’s Retreat, Dankeith. ANDREW OF THE SACRED HEART, Rector.