Obituary Notice
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Fr. Anselm Lomax (1830-1898) - , ; ae . (99 Father Anselu (Lomax) of the Assumption. In the death of Fr. Anselm, we have to record a sad loss to the Province of St. Joseph,.and his comparatively long life of quiet but earnest work, is a picture that suggests the firm hope that the labourer has been found worthy of his hire. Benjamin Lomax was born at Liverpool on February 10th 1830 of Catholic parents, and though carly trained in solid virtue, it was not until he had tried his vocation in the busy world, that he found his trve vocation in the religious life. Thus it was that he did not make his profession as a Passionist until his 30st year. lie received the name of one of Canterbury's great heroes, the glorious Archbishop St. Anselm, and was professed on the feast of our Blessed Lady's Assumption (his special devotion) in 1960. ‘The old retreat of St. Joseph's, Highgate, sheltered him as a student, where also he completed his Theological training and.received the sacred unction of the eternal priesthood in company with Pr. Lawrence (Kieran, ordained Nov.24th J864) who is still attached..to St. Paul's Retreat, Lublin. At St. Joseph's too, he offered the Woly Sacrifice for the first time, and thére he passed the most considerable part of his religious life. Not long after his ordination, Fr. Anselm went with the late Fr. Mugene (tartorelli) to found the new mission at St. Mungo's, Townhead, Glasgow, on which occasion Pr. Kugene remarked to one of the then little Highgate congregation, "For myself I am an old man, but I have great confidence in the young priest I am taking with me," and the remark proved to be well justified. The other members of St. Mungo's first little community were the late Ir. Michael (Drysdale) who ewentually died there (Sept. Ist 1866) and Br. John the only survivor of that small band. ; . . Afterwards Pr. Anselm was made superior of the new Glasgow mission, where he built the present large and handsome church. There it was that he fell ill of a severé fever, of which he carried the effects to his dying day. In the year 1872 he was elected Rector of St. Joseph's, Highgate, and he. is the only one, during the forty years of the Passionists' residence in J.ondon During his Rectorship he built the present Retreat, and he especially exerted himself in promoting the "Christian Doctrine Society" which flourished with marked success. Those were days still gratefully remembered by many who | experienced the tnbouncded charity of Fr. Anselm. It was not the promistuous and perhaps undeserving poor that he hebped, but out of the limited means at his disposal, he raised the fortunes of the fallen, and restored many that he knew to be deserving, to a position from which adverse circumstances had driven them. In after years Fr. Anselm held the still higher office of )*rovincial- CGonsultor, in which capacity he visited Rome to attend the General Chapter. Afterwards he was Vicar of St. Paul's Retreat, Dublin, during the Rectorship of Fr. Jerome (Smyth) now in Bulgaria. This brings us witiin fifteen years ot the end. His next office was that of Vicar of St. Joseph's, Highgate, in succession to the late Fr. Bernard (O'Loughlin). Winally under all the vicissitudes of Highgate during the last eleven years, he has been continuously one of its community ard surely it is fitting that his resting place should be there. He never orice said Mass, or preached, or even gave Benediction in St. Josephts new church, but although his nervousness and shattered health prevented this, he was nevertheless, indefatigable in his attendance daily in the confessional. Until within a week of his death he said an early Wass in ' the. choir and most of the rest of the day was spent in looking after various affairs in the retreat, and the numerous penitents that could always rely on his readiness to help then. _
Father Anselm's weak heart was unable to bear the oppressive heat of the few days preceding his death, and on September ITIth (1898) he’ succumbed to cardiac disease and syncope, and the peaceful passing of his soul to eternity was in keeping with the calm course of his thirty-eight years of religious life. _. Written from St. Joseph's Hetreat, MWishvate. rr ee ee a ae ee Oe
Source: Obituary Notices, Provincial Archive, St Joseph's Province. Passionist Congregation.