Obituary Notice
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~~~ Fr. NICHOLAS Harbinson (1898-1952) FACHER NICHOLAS (HARBINSON) OF HE SEVEN DOLOURS Saint Saviour's Retreat, Broadway, witnessed both the beginning, in the spring of 1898, and the ending, in the winter of 1952, of the religious life of Father Nicholas. thus more than fifty-four years, spent faithfully in religion, had gone by since that day when Francis Harbinson, born on the 2Ist February 1878 in Loup, County Derry, had entered the novitiate of the then Anglo-Hibernian Province. He made his profession on June 7th 1899, after which he was sent to Saint Paul's Retreat, Mount Argus, where his student days were passed. He was ordained priest by Most Rev. Dr. Donnelly at Clonliffe College on September 22nd 1906. Never holding any office in the Congregation, except for a short time (again in Broadway) that of Director of & ‘Students, his priestly life of forty-six years was spent in a humble capacity in the various houses of Saint Joseph's Province, mainly, however, in Sutton and Broadway. ‘There was little, if anything, of the spectacular in his life, and he was never very much in the public eye. His health wasbfar from robust, and, perhaps for & this reason he gave very few missions and retreats. In various other ways, however, he worked for souls as obedience called and occasion offered, and there are those, both religious and lay, in various scenes of his labours, who still recall with gratitude and affection asa kindly and simple ministrations among them. He could hardly, by any stretch of the imagination be called a preacher, but his carefulness in preparation and his earnestnass in delivery were certainly two admirable qualities worthy of imitation. His personal piety was externally manifest in his devout offering of the Holy Sacrifice, and in the care he gave to the recitation of the Divine Office and other vocal prayers. He was an enemy to anything that savoured of haste in thesemx spiritual duties. Always a loyal and devoted son of the Congregation, he disliked any departure from ancient custom and tradition. Three days before his death, for in- stance, the Christmas Novena being in progress, he fulfilled all the usual acts, including the taking of his dinner on the floor, which latter was no insignificant thing for one in his condition of health. Though, probably because of physical reasons, he was naturally prone to irritability, yet, as will be remembered well by those who knew him, he could be most humbly apologetic if he had offended in this way. He did not consider it beneath him to say he was sorry, even to one much younger in age or religion or inferior in status. Closely allied to thid, there was in him that not-too-common quality of the sense of appreciation for a kindness done or a thoughtfulness shown. His brethren will recall how, in spite of his usual seriousness, Father Nicholas would, on occasion, display a spirit of great joviality and simple fun. In
2. this respect he probably excelled himself during his last Christmas on earth, and in the recreations at this time he was a source of much ‘amusement to his companions. On such occasions he could usually be relied upon to produce one or other of his oft-repeated stories, or to endeavour to puzzle his hearers with his simple conundrums. His memory for details, not always relevant, was much to the fore in his recountal of incidents whether of the recent or the long-distant past, and had long since become proverbial in the Provinte. In March of last year, Father Nicholas had a severe heart-attack, and the doctor diagnosed coronary thrombosis. He was seriously ill for some time, but gradually recovered from the worst effects, and from about August on he appeared comparatively well. However, on the evening of Wednesday I7th December, he complained of slight indisposition and retired to bed early. The next morning, as he felt much worse, the doctor was called and he pronounced his condition serious. The Last Sacraments were administered in the afternoon, with the community, both professed and novices, present in his cell. During the night, at about 1.30, he himself asked the priest who was waiting in attendance, that the prayers for the dying be said. The members of the community were once again summoned to the sick-room, and all recited these prayers together. After a time he seemed to rally somewhat, and all, except those watching, retired. The end, however, came peacefully at about 5.45 that same Fréday morning, December I9hh. The obsequies took place on Monday 22nd December, Father Xavier and Father Linus of this retreat being respectively celebrant and deacon, and Father Brendan of Saint Patrick's Provimee subdeacon. | Very Rev. Father Patrick, Provincial, and representatives of most of the houses of the Province were present to pay their last respects to the earthly remains of Father Nicholas. May it be the earnest prayer of all his religious brethren, that. eternal rest in peace be grantedkm to his soul. Chrysostom of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Rector.
Source: Obituary Notices, Provincial Archive, St Joseph's Province. Passionist Congregation.