Obituary Notice
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Br. Gilbert Murphy (1882-1955) St. Gabriel's Retreat, The Graan, Enniskillen. Obituary Notice of Brother Gilbert, C.?. Province of St. Patrick, Death came peacefully $o Brother Gilbert on the morning of February the Sixth. We heard the sad news with a sense of shock, for although Brother Gilbert was in chronic ill health for the last few years, and at times apparently in extremis,; somehow he always seemed to rally. His illness was of a nature which gave rise to alarming. set-backs from time to time. We had come to regard such set-backs as being symptomatic of his disease, and 30, had hopes to the very end that he might recover from what proved to be the final attack, His frail body exhausted by the ravages of years - Brother Gilbert was a Golden Jubilarian in Religion - no less than by disease, proved unable to sustain further suffering. Strengthened by the Baving Grace of the Last Sacraments, he died a happy and holy death. A fitting close to a long life spent in the service of God in The Congregation of The Passion of His Divine Son, Known in the world as Thomas Murphy, Brother Gilbert was a Member of a well known Belfast family. He was born on the Twentieth of December 1882 and became a Member of The Congregation on June the Seventeenth 1904. From that day until his death he served The Congregation faithfully. A willing worker he was much sought after, and as a consequence laboured from time to time in most Houses in the Provinge during his earlier years. The last eight years of his life were spent in this Retreat, dnd despite infirmity he was a useful Member of The Community and a source of edification to us all. Being of a retiring disposition He always sought solitude and did not move much abroad. All with whom he came in contact, however, were not left unimpressed, for they saw in his ready sympathy the marks of holiness and there were many who sought his Prayers. Indeed it was only after Death tnat the citadel of his hidden life was invaded and I am sure he would have been the very last to seek the honours which were paid to him then, , Most Reverend Eugene O'@allaghan, Bishop of Clogher, presided at the Obsequies and walked with representatives from every walk in life in a simple Funeral procession to pay tribute to Brother Gilbert and as a manifestation of the esteem in which he was held during his life. His mortal remains now rest in The Comminity Cemetery at The Graan, As I write this Obituary Notice I am surrounded by a
curious assortment of memories - memories of Brother Gilbert. I am sure you must have scores of memories of him too. Turning them over together we cannot fail to find in each memory we have of him a Blessed Simplicity. By way of example - his hidden life; his unobtrusive desire to be of some help, even while in the grip of illness; his Charity towards all; his love of all God's creation. Now having such wonderful memories of him, I think we will be pardoned if we look into the Sanctuary of his Soul. There, The Most Holy Mary, model of tlumility and Simplicity, held a very exalted place. That does not surprise us because Brother Giloert valued Humility and Simplicity. He learned of their value through his great devotion to Mary. Neither does it surprise us when we discover that his heroes and heroines among the Saints were all men and women of Simplicity when they walked with us on earth - Saint Paul of The Gross, Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Theresa of The Child Jesus. I chronicle these things because our memories of this saintly Brother will die with us and for the benefit of those who are too young to have known him and for those who will come after us I think it good that we should pass them on. May his good Soul rest in Peace. Alphonsus C.?. Rector.
Source: Obituary Notices, Provincial Archive, St Joseph's Province. Passionist Congregation.