18 November 2008
Feast of the Dedications of
Feast of the Dedications of
the Basilicas of SS Peter and Paul
Dear Friends
When suffering in this Vale of Tears, we look to heaven for succour and for consolation in grief, only to acknowledge that there is no solace that can compare with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, where, in an unbloody way, the death of Our Lord is made present on our altars. Every new day's Mass has a special Lesson and Gospel assigned to it. In the Mass for 18 November, which is that of the Dedication of a Church, the Holy Scripture speaks directly to the hearts of all who mourn the death of our young Bowen. It says: "et absterget... And God shall wipe away all the tears from their eyes: and death shall be no more. Nor mourning, nor crying, nor sorrow shall be any more..." (Apoc. 21:4) As sinners, we feel the weight of our lowliness and we hope that Our Lord will notice us, not disown us, and even have a merciful word in our regard. Of course, today in our sorrows, ever providing for us, Our Lord has just such a kindly word that we may rightly apply to Bowen. In today's Holy Gospel, Our Saviour notices Zacchaeus who had perched himself up into a tree in order to catch sight of Him. He looks up to Zacchaeus, speaks kindly to him and personally associates Himself with Him. Even more than this, He defends Zacchaeus publicly saying to the crowd: "eo quod et ipse filius sit Abrahae ... he also is a son of Abraham." (Lk. 19:9). This day that brought sorrow, grief and mourning to us who are Bowen's family and friends, also, in the Mass brings us hope and spiritual consolation. This earthly life that the Church so rightly calls a Valley of Tears, is, nevertheless greatly brightened with the light that comes from the gift of Faith. That light penetrates human darkness and allows us to see beyond this life. As a child of God, a son of Abraham, a baptised Catholic, Bowen entered into eternity fortified by the Sacraments and the rites of our holy Mother the Church. He died clothed in the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, to which is affixed the promise,'Whosoever dies clothed in this Scapular shall never suffer eternal fire.' Our Bowen went to God supported by our prayers and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Now he has entered eternity. We cannot leave him there, as it were, by himself; no, we accompany him by our prayers, rosaries and especially by having the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass offered for the repose of his soul so that, should he be in purgatory, he may quickly be entirely cleansed and enter into the joys of heaven. The Holy Mass will be offered for the repose of his soul on several altars; our love for him continues beyond the grave because he still exists, he is an immortal soul; once born in time he will always exist in eternity. Therefore, although we mourn his passing, we do not mourn like those who have no hope; but with love and confidence we pray for Bowen's soul: Eternal rest grant to him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Bowen Holgate, R. I. P.19 years of age
"...eo quod et ipse filius sit Abrahae ...
he also is a son of Abraham. (Lk. 19:9)
Bowen Holgate, best described as having a 'gentle and quiet' character, was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the Timaru hospital on Sunday 16 November at 7.00 a.m. He received Extreme Unction at 10.00 a.m.
By 2.00 a.m. Monday his condition began to deteriorate.
Clothed in the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, beside the image of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour and with the holy Rosary in his hand, Bowen Holgate passed into eternity at 10.30 a.m. NZT on Tuesday 18 November, the feast of the Dedication of the Basilicas of St Peter and St Paul in Rome. Requiem Mass will be offered for the repose of his soul in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Timaru, at 11.00 a.m. on Friday, 21 November, Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Temple.
We gratefully thank you, our friends, who, in your charity, kindly offered prayers for Bowen when you heard of his plight. Now that he has passed into eternity we ask you to still remember to offer a little prayer for his soul and another for the consolation of his dear parents and sisters. May God reward your compassion.
We unite our sorrows with the Sorrow of our Blessed Mother who lost Her Divine Son and held his dead Body in Her arms at the foot of the Cross. In Her lament She cried out:
"O vos omnes.. O all ye that pass by the way, attend, and see if there be any sorrow like to my sorrow...." (Lamentations 1:12).
May our Blessed Mother who knows the sorrow of mothers
comfort the mother and father of this boy.
Fr. Michael Mary, F.SS.R.
Dear Fr. Michael Mary,
ReplyDeleteGod bless you for this beautiful elegy. Bowen's family is blessed to have you there in spirit (though separated by many miles of land and sea) to support them and to show them the Light of Christ in this their hour of darkness.
May the eternal soul of young Bowen be washed in the Precious Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. May our Mother of Sorrows comfort and console Bowen's parents and sisters at the foot of the Cross, as they await in hope the Resurrection of their beloved who has died in Christ.
Dear and Rev Father,
ReplyDeletewith profound sadness i learned that Bowen has passed to eternal life. Please receive my sincere sentiments and promise of prayers for the repose of his soul. Also please pass my sentiments to your dear sister Angela and the whole family. My prayers are with them. I certainly will remember Bowen, and am please that i had a chance to meet him while he was still alive. Requiescat in pace.
"O GOD of spirits and all flesh, Who by Thy death did trample down upon death and give life to those in the tomb; do Thou, that selfsame Lord, grant rest to the soul of Thy servant Bowen in a place of light, of refreshment, of rest, where pain and grief and sighing are no more. Grant to Thy servant pardon and remission of sins, for no one lives and sins not except Thee alone. For Thou are the resurrection and the life of Thy servant Bowen, and to Thee do we ascribe glory, † to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, One God, in both worlds unto the Aeon of aeons.
ReplyDeleteAmen.
Memory Eternal!
Dear Fr Michael Mary, Very, very sad to hear of Bowen's death. Sincere condolences to his parents and his sisters, and of course to yourself. I have started a novena of Masses for Bowen's intentions, and will continue with this for the repose of his soul,also to pray for divine consolation for his grieving family. 'Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted'
ReplyDeleteDear Father Michael Mary....
ReplyDeleteIt is with great sorrow that I learned of your dear nephew's death. Please know that I will offer a requiem Mass for his repose tomorrow morning (November 19th).
Please take comfort in these words of St. Augustine: "Just as God did not loose them when He gave them to us, so we do not loose them when we give them back to God."
Fraternally,
Fr. John, S.S.A.
Today we remember Blessed Grimoaldo, a young Passionist, who died at 19 years of age on 18th November 1902, in Italy.
ReplyDeleteA young teenager, Catholic, great lover of the Virgin Mary.
Unfortunately, in November 1902 he was diagnosed with acute Meningitis. He was perfectly resigned to the divine will. This is all remembered in our liturgy of the Blessed Grimoaldo.
And today I remembered the young Bowen all morning and in the Mass. He died on Blessed Grimoaldo's feastday, with his age and with meningitis.
I hope and I believe that he is well now. That he is being prepared to face God in His Glory. And I am sure that Mary is with him because she never fails.
Bowen is knowing what we don't know. And now we have another friend praying for us.
-A Passionist Monk
< "Quando corpus morietur,
ReplyDeletefac, ut animae donetur
paradisi gloria" >.
Bowen Holgate, R.I.P.
Dear Fr. Michael Mary,
ReplyDeleteMy sincere and deepest condolences to you and your family at the death of Bowen. You remain in my prayers. I will remember Owen at the Altar of God and offer Mass for his repose when obedience allows.
I remain, ever your brother in the Most Holy Redeemer,
Fr. Scott Bailey, C.Ss.R.
Memory Eternal!
ReplyDeleteMay his memory be eternal!
ReplyDeleteI am truly grateful to all that have offered Mass and Prayers for our darling son and brother Bowen Alexander Holgate who died Nov 18 of meningitis. He knew only love, he had a heart of gold and right to the end he gave us respect and love ...we have been truly blessed and honoured to have had him for 19 years - I know he is in Heaven which is comforting but his physical presence has been taken from us - no more funny stories at the dinner table or hugs before bed...he is greatly missed by so many...
ReplyDelete