Bishop Buddy Scrapbook 1938-1940

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LEAVENWORTH DIOCESE MISSIONARY, MARCH-APRIL ISSUE OUR BELOVED BISHOP

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Sermon Preached at the Funeral Mass For the Most Reverend Francis Johannes, D. D., Bishop of Leavenworth. In the c ,,thedral of Immaculate Con-

A wave of sorrow swept over the entire diocese of Leavenworth, Sat- ur day, March 13th, when word came from Denver, Colo., that the beloved Shepherd of this portion of the Lord's vineyard had succumbed to the illness t hat had held him prostrate for months. Though dying in a neigh- boring diocese, Denver, he had about him at St. Joseph's Hospital, Sisters of his own community of Sisters of Charity __of Leavenworth, and his r evered vicar-general, Msgr. Patrick Mclnerny, of Topeka. A solemn pontifical Mass of requiem W:as sung by Bishop Lillis, of Kansas City, Mo., on March 16th at St. Peter's Church, Kansas City, . Kans., at which Bishop Lillis gave his meed of praise to his brother bishop. Standing room in the church was at a premium, the crowd overflowing into the gallery and even outside the doors. Over a hundred priests were in attendance. At the funeral Mass at the Cathe- dral, March 17th, even that immense edifice was crowded to the doors. His Grace, Archbishop Glennon, of St. Louis, of whose archdiocese the see of Leavenworth forms a part, was the celebrant of the Mass. Bishop Buddy gave his glowing tribute of love and appreciation at this Mass. Hundreds of priests, fifteen arch- bishops and bishops, religious of many orders (both men and women), and an immense concourse of lay peo- ple from our oWltl and from neighbor- ing dioceses filled the vast Cathedral, and many stood throughout the lengthy services. The remains of our beloved Bishop were then taken to the cemetery of the Sisters of Charity, St. !,fary College, where Bishop Johannes rests beside his predecessors, Bishop Fink and Bishop Ward. Here he will be certain of obtaining many prayerful remembrances from the good Sisters in their frequent visits to God's Acre. We cannot estimate the good done by Bishop Johannes during his term of office as bishop of Leavenworth. The very eloquent sermon delivered

fered, then, in union with the prayers of my brother priests and as an act of filial devotion, together with the gracious tribute of so many prelates of the Church and the worthy rep• rcsentation from officials of the State and City. In His Divine Providence God chose for Francis Johannes a home ac• quainted with poverty, suffering and privation but where the light of faith burned brightly under the inspiration of good and virtuous parents. In this first school he learned by example to love God and Him only to serve. Even in those early days, the Immaculate Conception Church in St. Joseph, Mis- souri, provided a parochial school, the first of its kind in that city. The saintly pastor, Monsignor Linnen- kamp, whose memory is still held in benediction, recognizing the talent and piety of young Francis, gave him every opportunity for development. Completing elementary branches under those splendid educators, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Corondolet, :th~ future priest and bishop took up academic and collegiate studies in St. Benedict's College, Atchison, where he distinguished hims.elf for stead- fastness of purpose and a love of learning. It is consoling to see here today so many Benedictine Fathers representing that grand old college which has made it possible for hun- dreds of aspirants to the Sacred Priesthood to pursue their studies. In the words of the Holy Ghost : "Blessed are they who do and teach; they shall be called great in the king- dom of heaven." The Rector and faculty of St. Fran- cis Seminary in Milwaukee saw gifts of leadership in Francis Johannes and appointed him prefect during his years in that institution. A brilliant course in Philosophy and Theology prepared him for the priesthood and soon the long looked for day of days

ception, Leavenworth, Kansas, March 17, 1937, by the Most Reverend Charles F. Buddy, D.D., Bishop of San Diego, in California. (Official Copy of Sermon) "I have not hid thy justice within my heart; I have declared thy truth and thy salvation." (Ps. 39,11.) These words from Holy Scripture have their own peculiar fitness when applied to the life and char~cter of Leavenworth's noble high priest whose solemn obsequies we celebrate today. How often the walls of this Cathedral have rung with his elo- quence, pleading the cause of the Savior-justice, truth and plentiful redemption for all. But now those lips are se.:ded forever and instead of bejng seated on his throne where for nine years he presided in regal splen- dor, his remains lie rnk>tionless before the altar while bishops, priests and people are brought low and in mourn- ing. In my last visit with him less than two months ago, your beloved Bishop and my life long friend, robed in his garb of a prince of the Church,. spoke in tones of affection never to be for- gotten words of hope and encourage- ment. Today, behold him clothed in the majesty of death. "Ecce Sacerdos magnus ,:, ~' *." "BEHOLD The High Priest who in his day was pleasing to Goo and was found just." Your Excellencies, would that some one else had been chosen to recall the beautiful lesson of his life and deeds. For one who loved him dearly this is •ndeed a trying ordeal. Let it be of- by Most Rev. Charles Buddy, of San Diego, at the funeral services, gives such a wonderful tribute to our de- ceased Bishop, that words of ours would seem trivial.

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