Obituary Notice
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Fr. Gabriel O'Hanlon (1838-1893) Father Gabriel (O'Hanlon) of tie Aumunciation. Father Gabriel of the Annunciation whose secular mame was John O'Hanlon, was born at Clenoe, Co. Tyrone on the Tth ‘August 1838, His early years were spent at business at Coalisland in his native county, and during those years he acquired habits of order, regularity and grasp of detail which added much to the utility of his life in religion. He did not allow business to engross his whole time much of which was given to reading and study, until in fact, he became and remained a great reader or in vulgar phrase a bookworm - and so retentive was his memory that to the end of his life he could repeat long passages from the class- ical writers whom he read in his earlier yéars. He received the Passionist habit at Broadway in Worcestershire on the I2th August 1864, and pronounced his vows on the I3th of the same month in the follow- ing year. He received minor orders at the hands of the late Cardinal Manning and was ordained priest in Dublin on 29th September 1869, From that time till the end of his life he laboured incessantly on the migs-= ion in England and Treland, and such was his zeal for souls that he would have died at his work had not obedience compelled him to keep his room. Hven as it ‘was he went into the confessional the Saturday before his death and remained there five hours and insisted in taking his part in the work and celebratinga public Mass on the Sunday. The following day, Monday, the physician pronounced his life in danger from a disease which he had borne for years, or rather a complication arising from extreme weakness of the heart's action, and that night he recéived with greet fervour the Last Sacraments. On Wednesday night he answered the responses for the Papal Blessing and next morning, Thursday 5th January 1893, calmly expired at 11.55, having retained consciousness till the last. He held at different times the offices of Rector and Master of Novices. A companion who, moreover was professed and ordained along with hin, laboured with him on the mission, and saw him expire, testifies that he never knew ather Gabriel during his twenty-eight fears as a Passionist to once lose control of his temper or omit an observance which he could and should attend, or shirk a duty, or say deliberately one word to wound charity. His whole life seemed an exemplification of the words of our Lord - Thou shaly love the Lord Thy God with thy whole heart - thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself and in thy patience thou shalt possess thy soul. Signed. “anthony, C.P." re te mre nt et er emt ete me ee met entation mn me
Source: Obituary Notices, Provincial Archive, St Joseph's Province. Passionist Congregation.