Rest in Peace, Fr. Jerome

Listening to this song while writing this.  Click on this link, go to #93 on this song list, "Ned of the Hill."

It really hurts, I can't believe he's gone.  Fr. Jerome lived with cancer for at least 8 years--perhaps more. In talking with one of my classmates, we both think he was diagnosed a little earlier than that, and the seminary community didn't know.  When I had him for Moral Theology, he frequently missed class because of the treatments.  It's a shame, too; he was one of the wisest people I've ever met.  He'd often stop in the middle of his lectures (which he generally read) and cite a work of literature.  It impressed me so much!  I don't have the best memory and I don't always retain what I read.  He was incredibly smart and learned--a Harvard man.

In this I also wanted to share some memories.

-He was an amazing confessor!  He really knew me.  As an example... when I confessed something having to do with self-confidence problems, he gave me the following penance: write down 50 gifts you have/things you're good at.

-He was very holy, and said Mass beautifully.  I never saw him any more serious than he was while celebrating the Mass.  Yet it wasn't a bad thing.  For me, it had connotations of awe, gravity, and humility; not sterility, rigidity, or mechanichity (??).

-Man, did we laugh.  Our spiritual direction appointments during the last four years we joked and laughed so much!  He had a great sense of humor and our senses of humor were similarly geeky.  He was sharp and had a great wit.  During one year at the seminary, he was vice rector for the college.  He wasn't a good fit for that... didn't have a lot of patience for the college guys.  During a seminary conference (this one a housekeeping kind of meeting), he got up, made the announcements he had to make, and then said, "I'd like to thank the residents of 2nd floor Anselm for shortening my stay in Purgatory."

-He loved Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and many other things.  We once watched "Jonah," the Veggie Tales movie.  He actually put Lord of the Rings on the suggested spiritual reading list.  I'm really grateful that he did!  Not only is LOTR a fun series that's a good story... enjoyable even on the most superficial level.  It's a profoundly Catholic work.  I thank Fr. Jerome for introducing that to me!

-During the summer of 2006, I was working at my summer assignment as a hospital chaplain intern.  The preceding school year hadn't been a smooth one.  I had a couple months' worth of nasty cell phone bills; I talked with Fr. Jerome about all the anguish I was having, wondering about whether or not to continue as a seminarian.  He wisely guided me through that; he was also firm with me, pulling no punches.  (yet in the gentlest way)  I have told this to Erin before, and it bears repeating: if not for Fr. Jerome's guidance, I wouldn't be married to Erin today.

-I got to hear him give talks many times in the seminary, whether it was a homily, a conference, or part of a retreat.  In one particular retreat, he gave a talk on suffering.  I can't really remember the contents of it, but it was probably the best talk I've ever heard on the subject.  What made it so good is that it came from authentic human experience (as opposed to fake human experience?  or robotic human experience?  you know what I mean).  One time after his Ash Wednesday talk, I asked him for a copy of it.  I still have it today, and it was great!  Just about a month ago, after rereading the talk, I emailed him and asked him for a copy of everything he'd ever written.  Why not shoot for the moon?  He said he'd want to go through things before doing that but thanked me for the compliment.

-He just missed the premiere of "The Hobbit."  :)  If I had the chance to see him before he died, I would've told him that and he would've laughed.

How beautiful it is that he dies on the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, the day he was ordained a priest!  If I knew how to sing it, I'd sing the Te Deum.

I can't thank God enough for the blessing that Fr. Jerome was to me.  Please pray for us, Fr. Jerome!