Obituary Notice
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Fr. Honorius Welsh (1877-1929) Vi OBITUARY NOTICE 7 OF THE LATE FATHER HONORIUS OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION. . . It has been said that "Death puts an end absolutely and irrevocablyto all our plans and works,and it is inevitable". This sombre truth was forcibly brought home to the religious Community of St.Paults Retreat ,Mount Argus,when just recently as preparations were being made for the joyous festival of Christmas,Fr.Honorius e€ after a few weeks illness passed out of this life and rendered up his soul to God. Fr .Honorius of the Immaculate Conception,formerly known in the world by the name of James Welsh, was born in the city of Glasgow on 26 December in the year 1877... Having entered our Novitiate in 1899,he made his religious Profession at St.Saviour'ts Retreat ,Broad= ~way,Worcestershires on 24 January 1900. . After his profession he was transferred to 8t.Paul's Retreat ,Mt.Argus,Dublin where having completed the usual ecclesiastical course of studies he was ordained to the priesthood on 22 September 1906. His priestly. labours were distributed over the various parishe®, and districts adjoining our houses of Sutton,Glasgow,Harborne and Dublin to which he was succes- ~sively attached. a m - L- ¥r.Honorius was a pridst of more than ordinary intellect- ~ual acumen. His energy was indefatigable. Notwithstanding his frail constitution and a distressing bronchial affection from which he suffered for many years,he performed prodigies of self«sacrifice in his burning zeal for the spiritual and temporal welfare. of his neighbour. The sick,the sorrowful,the unfortunate and the destitute always found in Fr.Honorius a charitable comforter ,a wise counsellor and a faithful friend. He Was patient and attentive in the discharge of the duties of the confessional,even when it was apparent to all that his own physical sufferings were acute. But it is generally admitted that by far the most remarkable trait in his character as a priest was the prompt and willing anewer which he invariably gave to sickscalls. Whether the call was to the rich or to the ppor,to private house or to a hospital,whether it came by night or day, in good or bad weather,he hastened immediately on his errand of mercy, and never failed to bring consolation to the agonizing soul, and to inspire the sorrowing relatives with perpetual gratitude. It was - as those who knew him well can readily testify- while he was in charge of the Royal Infirmary ,Glasgow, that his charity and his mercy towards the sick and the dying shone out most conspicuously. These arduous latours however, accompanied by a certain natural anxiety to which he was naturally subject, told heavily on his health and | brought on « it may be feared « a premature. cardiac affection from which he never fully recovered. From-that time forward he found it necessary to abstain from the task of preaching and to confine him- ~self to the administration of the Sacraments and to the liturgical offices. .In his religious life he was regular and fervent; he was seldom absent from the common observance except at such times as he was legitimately dispensed on account of his infirmity. He was frugal in his habits; and showed a keen sense of the value of self- denial by his life-long abstention from the use of fermented liquor.
Vy “20 Thht cordial benevolence which earned for him the esteem of people in the world was always exercised with equal gener osity¢ towards each ana every religious in which he lived. His loyalty to the Congregation of St.Paul of the Cross was constant and active. He had a special devotion towards the Blessed Eucharist, the Sacred Passion and the Immaculate Conception. It was from these spiritual sources that he daily derived new strength for his soul, and imparted fresh vigour to his weary body to enable it to carry on the work of his heavenly Mas- -~ter Whom he loved so well. And thus he laboured on and on uninterrupedly without attra- ~cting much attention of complaining of his dilments. Early in the month of last September however, a noticable change took place. From his pie pale and emaciated countenance, and from a certain alienation of expression which stiperveried, it became evident that the insidious disease was attacking the last reserve of his vital forces and that a dissohution was not far off. Nevertheless, he continued his usual round of duties day after day till about the middle of November,when he grew so weak that his Superiors déemed it advisable for him to con- -sult a physi¢ian. Needless to say the result of the medical examin- ~ation proved unsatisfactory, and though he anticipated nothing serious himself, it was then privately understood that the worst was to be feared. He was accordingly confdned to his bed by order of the doctur and when it was said that the Last Sacraments might be administerdd tou him, he willingly donsented and received them at once, animated by a lively faith in their spiritual efficacy and in their remedial effect. But after ten of twelve days of #kilful nursing and careful observation it was clearly ascertained that his cas# was hopeless, and that he should be told definitely that his recovery could not be expected. He received the news of his approaching with deep emotion; he shed tears copiously and moved to tears his doctor and a friend who were present. The manifestation of these sentiments was but natural in the circum -stances,and precisdély in accordance with his disposition; they passed away in half an hour when he bécaiie quite calm and resigned,and never afterwards showed the least sign of featr,sadness or depression. During the rest of his iliness he wad’ a model of patience and of submission to the Divine Will. He went to Confession often; assisted at Mass daily and received Holy Comminion with great faith and devotion. On tne afternoon of 20 December he felt that his end was drawing near,and he made his Confession for the last time ih immediate preparation for his departure. He was not mistaken for his last hour was really at hand. About4 ofclock the same afternoon “while resignathon gently sloped the way" and assisted by the prayers of the assembled religious, his gen~ -@rous soul peacefully returned to God who gave it. The obsequies and interment of Fr.Honorius took place at Mt. Argus ,Dublin on 23 December 1929 in the presence of the Religious Com- -mnunity,some of the secular afd regular clergy,a number of relatives, and a large cotigregation of people from the city. The Celebrant of the Mass was the V.Rev. Fr Sebastian,Provincial; Rev.Fr.Frederick,Deacon; Rev.Fr.Cormac ,Subdeaconjand Rev.Fr.Cronan,Master of ceremonies. "Blessed is the man that understandeth concerning the needy and the poor: the Lord will deliver him in the evil day.* ee et)
Source: Obituary Notices, Provincial Archive, St Joseph's Province. Passionist Congregation.