"In silent prayer, I say: I am a candle Christ is the flame — Consume me with the flame of your love."
(Roanoke Newsletter, Mar. 1, 1994)
Madonna House staff worker Kathleen "Kay" O'Herin died Saturday, January 24, 2004 at home at St. Mary's in Combermere. Kathleen was well-known in the Ottawa Valley for her generosity in sharing her handicraft and sewing skills, especially with the St. Francis Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. She was a long-time member of the Combermere Women's Institute.
In July 2003 Kathleen celebrated 50 years as a member of Madonna House. Originally from Vermont, she was nursing in Cook County Hospital in Chicago when she first heard the foundress of Madonna House, Mrs. Catherine Doherty, lecture. When they met after the lecture, Mrs. Doherty invited Kathleen to come to nurse with her in the Ottawa Valley. Within weeks, she did so, arriving just before Christmas in 1952.
Kathleen joined Madonna House on July 23, 1953 . In June 1954 she and two other staff, Mamie Legris and Louis Stoeckle, drove to Whitehorse, Yukon, to open the first Madonna House field house. Kathleen also served in missions in Carriacou, West Indies; Haifa, Israel; St. Joseph 's Rural Apostolate in Combermere, ON; and Roanoke, VA. She was posted at the Madonna House training centre in Combermere, Ontario for most of her 50 years of service.
Before coming to Madonna House, Kathleen studied at the Traphagen School of Fashion on Broadway in New York City . After years of working in design, she studied at Princeton Nursing School in Chicago.
Kathleen was born September 12, 1905 in Barre, Vermont to the late George Michael and Margaret Newton Marrion. She is predeceased by sisters, brothers, and her husband, Maurice O'Herin. She is survived by cousins Pat Spiegel of Rouses Point, NY, and Robert Neverett of Chazy, NY and numerous nieces and nephews.
Prayer and wake services for Kathleen were held on January 26. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Tuesday January 27, at Madonna House St. Mary's chapel, with interment at the Madonna House cemetery. A reception followed.
The following are articles and poems Kathleen submitted for publication in our monthly paper Restoration. They share a bit of her life and faith as well as her Irish roots. (Provided courtesy of Madonna House Archives)
In shadow, mist and darkness
A crippled, nail-pierced hand
Slowly reached for mine.
In hesitation -
I drew back.
Then sunlight outlined
Beauty in every stained fold,
Forward I leaped
And crushed it to
My cold, unyielding heart.
— Restoration, March 1957
As the Christmas season approaches, we are reminded of the Scriptural fact and story of the angels who attended the birth of Christ.
Today many people have little knowledge of the 'Angel World' although the Church's teaching on angels is beautiful and consoling. Many do not realize their presence, show no confidence in them and do not call on them for help when encountering difficulties and danger. So many blessings they forfeit, and fall victim to accidents that easily could be avoided.
In Sacred Scripture, Angels are pictured as helping Abraham and Jacob, Elias and Daniel, Agar and Judith, Peter and Paul - all were adults. The great St. Thomas Aquinas tells us that the moment a child is born, God calls one of his glorious spirits and gives the new born babe into his special care. It is not when the soul is created and united to our bodies, which takes place before our birth, for then the child is one with its mother and protected by the mother's angel, but it is when we are born into the world that our angel begins his care of us - even before Baptism!
God in his infinite goodness has given to each one of us a special angel, an angel who is all our own, whose great duty, henceforth will be to watch over us day and night, asleep or awake, alone or in the midst of company, in our homes, on the street, working or resting, everywhere, every moment of our lives, in joys and in troubles. He never abandons us for a single instant, and at our death will stand with us before God at our judgment. He knows us as no one else does, next to God, even when we did or did not take his inspiration. When we forget him he never forgets us. (Paul O'Sullivan O.P.)
Ever since I can remember I've had a deep love of angels. Why? They were a great influence in my childhood and adult life. I was introduced to my Guardian Angel very young as I listened to Irish stories that were told. How he protected me from danger and taught me to be good. When I was naughty, I'd console him and say, "I'm sorry, don't tell God what I did." There was a famous painting in my bedroom of a beautiful angel protecting a young boy and girl from falling over a high cliff. That picture reminded me to say my prayers and to remember my Guardian Angel. When I was older I would read anything I could find on angels. One of my favorite books was by Fr. Leonard Feeney S.J. I even enrolled as a member of "Society of the Angel Guardian" in Boston .
I would pray to the Assisting Angels who were always before God, the Seraphs, Cherubs and Thrones-light, light, light and blaze of glory! I loved the ministering Angels, the Dominations, Virtues and Powers. I knew they guarded the greater things of the Universe. Each Angel had its own work to do. When at night I looked at the stars, I knew that every star had its protecting angel to guide it on its path. Instead of stars I saw the angel of each star in glory and as each star has its own personality, so does each angel, some small, some large.
My special love was for the angels that care for us - the Principalities, Archangels and Angels. The Principalities watch over our countries, cities, and villages - each church has its own angel - each family or home and each person. The virtues that please the angels most in men are purity, humility and love of God.
Have you ever asked your Guardian Angel his name? Try it. Before you go to sleep and ask him to disclose his name! Maybe in your dream or on waking he will tell you - it may be in another language - but remember it and look it up. He may be a little shy and may not tell you for a week or so, but don't give up for he really is proud of his name - if you persevere, he will also! Remind him that it would be fatal if you called him John and his name was Methodius!
In Ireland , angels were treated as real citizens. The old folks tell the story that the fairies and mischievous Leprechauns were the neutral angels when the big fight was on between Michael and Lucifer. So they tell - God banished them to Ireland until the great day of the Resurrection when they will be reinstated and taken to Heaven. God picked Ireland - the most beautiful spot on earth to remind them of their future home. When you see a bush growing all alone - a fence encircles it, as the fairies like to dance around it. If you remove it, they become angry and may do some little misdemeanor to you or your sows or chickens. Even the fireflies are little angels who fell from the stars (so they say) as they were anxious to be near to study man, especially since Christ became man.
I have a little prayer tucked into my bible that I often say - it expresses my love for God's Messengers of Love.
Dear Guardian Angel
Praise God for me
While I sleep.
Kneel and adore Him
For me when I am awake.
Walk by my side
During life.
Show me the beauty
Of Heaven
At every step
Of the way.
— Restoration, Dec. 1976
One day at Mass, a woman next to me in the pew began to be disturbed after the reading of the Gospel. It was the famous passage from Matthew 25 - where the King will welcome us into his kingdom, after questioning what acts of love we did on earth.
I asked the reason for her upset. She replied" "I am afraid that I will be found wanting when the Lord asks me those questions on the last day. I have done none of these."
She said that she was "only" a housewife and a mother, with a husband and six small children to care for. She had "no time to engage in social action" outside the home. My reply caused her to smile. It was as follows:
And you think you'll be found wanting? You feed your family three meals a day plus snacks in between. You stand in line at the market for hours and spend time planning for economical food to fit your budget. You do up lunches at midnight for the children who take the early bus. You often send a hot dish to the old man on your street who broke his leg. You went without your lunch today and gave your two sandwiches to the Brother Christopher who came to your door. You spend hours preparing your baby's formula. This is "feeding the hungry" whom God put in your path.
You don't clothe the naked? Last week, you put aside a few dollars to purchase some jeans that your teenager needed. You spent hours mending socks, making over a warm coat for Sally from Mary's out-grown one. You washed, ironed and packaged clothing that your family didn't need, to give to the poor.
You say that you haven't visited the sick? Who took care of John when he had the flu? Who got up in the night to be sure he took his pills? Who heated his broth and made up an attractive sick tray with flowers, a funny saying and a toy? You know, the Lord isn't blind. and He has a perfect memory.
You say you never visited a prisoner. Well, who listened for two hours on Thursday to Mrs. Bell, whose husband ill-treats her, whose arthritis is keeping her in pain. She was a prisoner in her mind before you opened the gates of her despair and let in the light of your love. You even said a prayer with her and at the family rosary - she was mentioned in the 'trimmings'. When Bill, your husband, came home from a grueling day at his office, you took 10 precious minutes away from preparing supper to listen and compassionate his sufferings and frustration. Oh there were many others whom you released from tension and worry.
I suppose you'll say, When did I bury the dead?" I remember yesterday, when Jane had a quarrel with Bill, you said: "Come, children. Admit your mistakes to each other. What does it matter who started the fight. Now bury your hatchets and kiss and make up." They laughed and were at peace again. God's all seeing eye never misses your wise advice to your husband, children and neighbors.
My dear, your days and nights are filled with carrying out the message of this scripture passage. God will say on your last day: "Come, my beloved, into the kingdom I have prepared for you and my angels
— Restoration, May 1984
I want freedom to love!
Flowing free
From my whole being!
Restrictions . begone!
When a seed bursts forth
From Mother Earth,
Does it ask permission?
With its life force
It breaks its shell,
Pushes earth aside,
Will even burst through rocks
Sending forth its shoots to reach to light.
I want to burst forth
With the love God gives me,
To encompass
My neighbor,
My brother,
My friend.
Restrictions!
To long
They've chained me down
To an old, outmoded past.
Give me pure air to breathe,
Pure notes to sing, And a pure heart to love.
— Restoration, Sept. 1989
Jesus, last night I was lonely and discouraged. I wanted to visit you. But the church doors were locked. You were a prisoner in your tabernacle. I was a prisoner in my pain.
I wanted to lay my burden at your feet. I wanted to tell you how much I love you and need you. So I sat on the cold church steps and wept.
This was more than you could take. So you broke your prison walls and entered my heart. You asked me to pray for the conversion of sinners, for the release of the holy souls in purgatory, for salvation of the dying.
Then you lifted my burden upon your aching shoulders. You gave me peace before entering again your prison of love, the tabernacle.
— Restoration, Oct 1990
One evening we were called to Madonna House to get our flu shots. Afterwards, I sat beside B (intimate family name for Catherine) on the bench. We greeted each other in unison, and she said to me.
"The trouble with you is that you're afraid of death." I replied "Sure I am. Who isn't?" "I'm not," was her quick response. "No wonder," I added, "it's because you are so holy." She didn't answer that.
Then I began to think and to pray that I might be able to understand the wisdom of death. Early one morning I meditated on the parable of the prodigal son, and death became dear to me. This is my meditation:
I am the prodigal son. I asked God, my Father for life. He gave it to me in all its fullness to do with it as I desired.
Some days I put to good use, but so many I squandered through selfishness, pride and sloth. I let opportunities to do good to my neighbors slip by, and I used up the time my Father had allotted to me.
A fear then took hold of me as I realized that I must account to my Father for the great wealth he had entrusted to me. I knew of nothing to do except to go to my Father and say: "Father, I have sinned against heaven and you. I ask your forgiveness. May I cross the line of death and come home to you?"
Then to my surprise, there was my Father waiting for my return. He had a beautiful robe to place on my drooping shoulders, water to wash my hands and feet, angels to guide me home, sandals for my bruised feet and perfume to anoint my head.
The bells were ringing. The air was heavy with incense and the fragrance of flowers. There was joy everywhere as my Father took my hand and led me to his Son, my Brother, and to my Mother.
Where was the fear of death that had haunted me? It was the mirage that I left behind.
— Restoration, April 1990.
Kathleen Marrion O'Herin
September 12, 1905 – January 24, 2004
Madonna House First Promises: July 27, 1953
“So that we might exist for the praise of his glory.” — Ephesians 1:12
2888 Dafoe Rd • Combermere ON • K0J 1L0
If you received this newsletter from a friend and would like to subscribe, click here.
This article is free to use under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs License.