Obituary Notice
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Fr. Matthew Kelly (1850-1928) ‘The Late Father Matthew (Kelly), CP. 4 On Saturday motning, May 12th at St. Joseph's Retreat, Highgate, London,. t the ‘senior priest of the English Passionist Province—Rev. Fr. Matthew (Kelty), C.P—depatted this life. His death was not tmexpected; for, itt addition to the weight of yeats, he bore for the past two yeats thé burdefi of a lori¢ and.-tedious illness. At the beginning of May, however, it becatne évident, despite thé extra- otdinary vitality so often manifested during his illmess, that the last days of Fr. Matthew's earthly life were tieating their close. Heé was perfectly resigned to the Divine Will; in fact he lofiged to be dissolved that hé might be with Christ, His last audible words after midnight on his dying day wete: “Jestts, Mary and Joseph, come fot me” Towards dawti he tapsed into tnconstiousness and seemed to sleep peacefully without pain or suffering. .The teéligious Commtnity knelt by his bedside, tesponding to the prayers for the dying tecited by the Father Rectot, arid whilst they ptayed, the geritle spirit of Fr. Matthew, full of years, Hpe in vittite, and rich in the Slhitere affection of his brethten, entered inte etemal Fest. Fe, Matthew wag botn at Rathfarnham, Co. Dublin, in the year 1856. He was ‘twenity-fout yeats of agé and already ‘engaged in business before he received from God_ his religious vocation. In August, 1874, he enteted the Passionist Novitiate at Broadway; Worcéstershire, and ix: the following year madé his profession. He was ordained to the sacted priesthood in 1879, and soon afterwards was appointed assistant priest at AvVentie Hoche, Paris, whete he tematndd for fifteen years. Nowhere niore in religion dots the Sctiptural saying soitnd 60 ‘tite + “We have tot heré@ lastirig city.” “Superidts, for variotts reasotis, thange their stibfects froni ofié Retreat to another, and véry tarely ptiest ot brothet temains for 4 prolonged period in a definite place. Fr. Matthew, however, was an exception to this iule, and his long Passionist life, extending over fifty-thiée years, was passed in only three Rettedts of the Order. In Patis he was very fopular and universally beloved. There he devoted himaelf especially ts thé watchful care of thé English-speaking girls, employéd in various occupations, tany of whom came from his tative city. In the year 1895 his health became somewhat impaired and he was transferred to Broadway. He celebrated his Silver Jubilee in 1904. Soon after this event, which was fittingly hottouted and afforded his host of friends an opportunity to prove their affection, Fr. Matthew went to Highgate and labottted there fot neatly a quartet of a century. Ft. Matthew was never prominent as 4 missionet; but this was due to his adaptability for other work, as well as to his lack of robust health. His preaching, : simplé in style, had a peculiat attractiveness arising from an intensé earnestness afid a vivid personality. His work in the confessional was moré than ordinary. Hundreds of people from all parts came to him for Spititual advi¢e atid consolation. His profitiency ii French and Spanish made his labotirs as a cotifessor, if ot nore arduotis, at all events more extended; but this wofk, so dear to the Sacred Heart, was thé delight of Fr. Matthew, and when he could hardly walk he would drag himself to his little “box” imder the shadow of Our Lady's statue. Here he made his last visit on this earth, ' As 4 Passionist, Fr. Matthew was a tiodel of observance and was never knowt to be a tioment late for the performance of any duty: Singularly tnambitiotss, - hé had tho désire for the honotits of office, yet fione ever loved his Order with 4 moté absorbing devotion than he did. This love was filial to a degree, as his own words amply testify— our dear Mother the Cotigrégation.” His piety, unostentatiotd aiid triobtiusive, was solid and sitceré. He possessed tate sensé of itmocent’ huiout and 4 gift of tepattee, which always élicited getitine amusetnent without. ver calisliig paiti. So to-day all who kiew hini tiotitt theit loss in his death, beeaiise all were his frierids—he hevér had an enemy, The Requlern Mass was sung at St. Joseph's on Motiday, May 14th, by the Very Rev. Fr. Malachy, C.P. (Rector), assisted by Fre, Eugene and Augustine. Fr. Hyacinth 48 M.c., and Fre. Cuthbert (Proviticial Consultor) and Herbert (Vicary weté Catitors. Besides the Conmitthity, Canon Tynan, Fts. Howlett, Browne, - MeCabeé, McCarroll, atid O'Neill, O.S.M., wete in the Sarictuaty, aiid a large con- prevation attended the Mass arid obseqtties which took place in the mausoleum of » the Retrest, HERBERT GREENAN, CP.
Source: Obituary Notices, Provincial Archive, St Joseph's Province. Passionist Congregation.