Obituary Notice
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Conf. Theodore Gavin (1869-1890) fn ee ee ee ee wee et ee 73 Gonfrater Theodore (Gavin) of the Five Wounds. Death had already visited this Province three times during the short space of of two months when it reappeared and took away one of the most talented of our atudents, Gonfx. Theodore. He was called in the world Michael Gavin and was born in Ireland on the 19th of December 1869. Two of his elder brothers had preceded him in giving themselves to God in our Congregation and he very soon after con- edived the design of following in their footsteps. Whilst persuing hie studies in the preparatory eachool at Harborne he disting» aished himeelf in the practice of those virtues for which he was remarkable after his profession. —_ In Qctobex 1886 he was sent to the Novitiate in Broadway and after a fervent year of probation made his religious profeasion on the 2nd of November 1867. He then went to Sutton and made himself conspicuous by his conselentious application to the acquisition of knowledge and not less did he apply himself to his wwn sanotif« feation ae he whehed not only to become learned but also a good Passionist. From these traits of his character may be gathered how useful he would have become to the Congregation, especially by reason of his rare talents. Inflexible in the observance of the Rule, hie Superior and companions attest that no one had ever heard him violate the rule of silence. Not less singular was he in the observance of hie vowa. With regard to poverty he was almost scrupulous, his cell was the poorest in the Retreat and what was not absolutely necessary he did. not wish at any cost to retains His obedience was blind and perfect in a singular degrea for he not only fulfilled whatever wae commanded him but submitted himself intertorly to the wishes of his Directors He was always cheritable and kind to his ¢ompanions and so gained their esteem and affection. This was due in a manner to his great humility. Most guarded lest a word might issue from his lips which would redound to his own praise he had a low esteem of himself, and did not suppose himself to be possesaed of intellectual gifts and rare virtues. Uniting in himself auch beautiful troite of character, 1+ mas painful te his Superiore to notice that towards‘ the end of 1889 his health was beginning to decline. at the end of January this year, he with his companions went to the Retreat in | London where it waa hoped the ehange would do him ge our EG goody but our Lord disposed -otherwiee and culled him to Himeel@ since it might well be said of him "Consuaatue "An brevi explevit tempora mite", (With tie weual fervour he made the spiritual retreat with the communit: although hé was 66 weak he could scarcely atand and vas getting worse day by day $4] at last the doctoxy gaid he was suffering from a rapid cohsumption and that n0- husan remedy could avail hime The Last Bites of the Church were administered to his by Father Provincial atid he rapidly declined in health. He was however, always joyful and recollected in Cod and wee a true model of a Passioniat lying on his ded of ‘sorrow, The vadrifice of his Life he made wost willingly to God and being most resigned to the Divine Will he placidly slept in the Lord on the 11th of March (1890) in the twentieth yoar R of his age, whilst his brethren were reciting the Prayers for he pyings . He retained the use of hie mental faeulties 4111 his last breathy and Stetwtion before he died he dwefred to receive again the Sacramental Gteat sorrow was felt throughout the Province at the death of this greet hoped were entertained by all in his regard, but we are consoled by the thovght that he is already interceding for us before the Throne of Divine Mercy, as he had been during his life a model and exemplar worthy of imitation,
Source: Obituary Notices, Provincial Archive, St Joseph's Province. Passionist Congregation.