JOURNEY’S END

Southland Times, Issue 20042, 2 December 1926, Page 8

JOURNEY’S END

PRIEST AND FRIEND

MONSIGNOR BURKE’S FUNERAL

SOLEMN REQUIEM HIGH MASS

When ten o’clock came yesterday morning the Basilica was filled to overflowing with those who had come to pay their last tribute to Monsignor Burke, for so many years their beloved priest and friend. Many hundreds had gone to the church each day that his body had reposed before the altar, but they with hundreds more came again to hear the beautiful prayer their Church offers for the soul of its priests whose life is perfected in death.

Priests from all over New Zealand, parishioners from Invercargill and many country districts and not a few whose faith was different from the late Monsignor's but who admired and revered him—all assembled in the Basilica until when the Mass commenced, many had to be content to stand or hear the service from the door.

The obsequies commenced with Solemn Requiem High Mass, at which his Lordship Bishop Whyte of Dunedin was celebrant. Father James Lynch was Deacon; Father Edmund Lynch sub-deacon; Dean O’Donnell (Ashburton) and Father McMullan Deacons at the Throne; Father Hunt assistant priest; Father O’Donnell (Gore) Master of Ceremonies. The music of the Mass was sung by the priests of the diocese, MLss Rose Shepherd presiding at the organ. At the conclusion of the Requiem Mass the panegyric was delivered by Monsignor Power, of Hawera, who as a young man in Waterford, Ireland, was Monsignor Burke’s most intimate friend.

Monsignor Power said that the world in which we live is filled with many sorrows

—sorrows great and sorrows small. There was one sorrow no one escaped, and that was sorrow for the dead. It was like death itself, universal. Both were by divine decree. It was appointed to man once to die; and there was another decree “Weep for the dead for his light has failed.” When a father died there was sorrow in the home, and so in Invercargill there was sorrow among the parishioners that their beloved father had passed away. Monsignor Burke had the same right to look on his people as his children as had a father in a home, and he could look for devotion just as St. Paul claimed it over the Corinthians when he said they might have ten thousand tutors but only one father. It was by divine command that there should be great sorrow in the parish—a sorrow that was evidenced by the thousands who came to the church to pay their last respects to their beloved pastor. That morning at the six o’clock Mass crowds had come to Communion.

After the divine decree that there should be sorrow for the dead came the command to speak words of sympathy for those that suffered. “Wherefore console ye one another” said St. Paul. But he was not content with this, for he said “Console ye one another with words that speak of immortality.”

Death was not the end. The poor mortal body would crumble to dust but the soul gained emancipation. The body was brought down to the grave so that it might gain immortality and rise a spiritual body. He was sure that if ever such hopeful words had a right to be spoken they had so that day. It was easy to speak of immortality where such a man as Monsignor Burke was concerned—a man who with earnestness and zeal devoted his whole life to spiritual things. The body that was put in the grave that day would arise in glory. It was not the Invercargill people alone who were mourning. All over the diocese there was a wave of sorrow because Monsignor Burke was dead. He belonged to all the diocese and was a light and guide to it. The preacher said that he had been in the North Island for forty years and often discussed matters with other priests. It had always been his firm conviction that for enlightment and zeal the Diocese of Dunedin led the way, and he was certain it was through the example and zeal of Monsignor Burke, who was a shining light not only to the people but to the clergy. There was sorrow in the diocese; there was sorrow all over New Zealand.

“I say from my heart with firm conviction —and I claim without arrogance to be as observant as most —that this country has never had a priest to whom it owed more than Monsignor Burke. He was the most scholarly ecclesiastic I have seen in my forty years in New Zealand. He did not keep his knowledge to himself but shared it with all. He was a guide to everyone, and all

should follow the example of his noble character and emulate his learning. The whole Catholic Church is mourning the loss of the most zealous and devoted priest the country had seen in the last four decades.”

Monsignor Power then related how it was that Monsignor Burke came out to New Zealand. Dr. Power, afterwards Bishop of Waterford, Bishop Moran, the speaker and Father Burke (as he then was) were dining together one day in Waterford. Dr. Power was speaking of the wonderful work priests could do in New Zealand. After dinner Father Burke had gone to Monsignor Power’s mother —whom, his parents being dead, he regarded almost as his own mother —and asked her advice as to leaving Waterford and going to New Zealand. Her advice was to serve God in the new country, and so it came about, that the intellectual young priest journeyed to New Zealand. Monsignor Power said that coming down in the train from Christchurch he had heard a discussion as to w'hat year Monsignor Burke came to New Zealand. One priest said 1881 and another said it was 1882, because Monsignor Burke was ordained in 1879 and had been a professor at Waterford College for three years. Monsignor Power said that it was true Monsignor Burke had been ordained in 1879, had been a professor for three years and yet had come to New Zealand in 1881. The reason was that for a year before he was ordained he had been a professor—a unique privilege, for he was the first and the last student who taught in Waterford College without being a priest. Monsignor Burke had won a scholarship but at the request of the Bishop did not take it but remained at Waterford to help in the college. On his arrival in Dunedin Father Burke had taken an active part in the Literary Society in that town. So greatly esteemed was he that when he was moved to Port Chalmers, members of the society insisted on his retaining the presidency. A few years after his arrival the speaker had received a letter from Monsignor Burke and no Bishop or Pope could have written more serious advice. He had declared that priests in New Zealand had no easy time ahead but must be hard working and alwavs studying, for the shepherd must be enlightened if the sheep were to be saved. He was a great and distinguished theologian and philosopher. He had a perfect command over the English language and was fit to rank with the best masters of literature. He also spoke many other languages fluently. All his knowledge was devoted to the service of the Church, and he loved to contribute to the Catholic paper. “Was be a success?” Monsignor Power continued. “I have shown you how he was a success in all these points. There is one point I am not so sure about, and only you, his people, can answer. What affect has he had on you? Are you imitating him, walking in the way he walked? You have the reputation of being the best instructed Catholics in New Zealand. What are you doing with the knowledge your late priest has imparted to you? Are you using it to propagate the faith and fulfil God’s intention? There is a terrific struggle going on in the world to-day between the natural and the supernatural. Look down on the battlefield and see Christ leading his followers against the hosts of Satan. All depends on those who hold the field for Christ. Let them show themselves worthy.’*

The Psalmist had asked who could ascend to the mount of the house of the Lord. What kind of a hand must that man have who ascended to the altar of Christ? What kind of lips must he have who speaks the words of Christ? Even the angels themselves were Aot wholly pure. If their beloved priest carried any stains they were to pray for him that he might be loosed from his sins. He hoped the day would never come when the children of the parish ceased to pray for Monsignor Burke. He had adored children and wherever he went had taken a great interest in tljem. It would be an awful day when the children forgot to pray for him. All priests, parishioners and children should ask from their hearts that God would grant refreshment, light and peace to the soul of their dear Monsignor Burke. The Absolutions were then given by his Lordship Bishop Whyte, after which the coffin was borne out of the church by eight priests, preceded by the Bishop. The Hibernians in full regalia formed a guard of honour from the church door to the hearse. The cortege then proceeded up Nith street and entered Tay street. At the head of the procession were the altar boys and nearly fifty priests. Then came the hearse and private cars containing the chief mourners, the school children and the Hibernians. Hundreds of private cars followed.

At Elies Road those on foot left the cortege, the remainder proceeding to the Eastern Cemetery, where the ceremony at the graveside was conducted by Bishop Whyte. Wreaths were sent by the following:— L. G. Roope, Evan Lyons, Marist Old Boys, Mrs Gillohley (Bluff), Hannah Burke (niece); Miss Hanning, Grove Bush; Mr and Mrs P. Ford, Bluff; Congregation, Bluff, St. Mary’s; Mr and Mrs F. G. O’Beirne; Mr B. Ferry, Nellie and Rosy Maher, Clifton; Mrs Millar and family.