The Catholic times. [volume], May 03, 1957, Memorial Issue, Image 14

About The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current

Image provided by: Ohio History Connection, Columbus, OH

                
2
Special Mass In
Nation's Capital
BK 1 WM
OUR BISHOP
The Bishop is dead! May his noble soul rest in eternal
peace!
One would like to stop with these words and leave the
rest to quiet thought and prayer. But the thoughts that force
themselves upon us must needs find expression, as full of
sorrow as they may be. We are human we have loved our
Bishop, and we are, therefore, sorrowful.
Holy Mother Church puts her Ritual in our hands and
bids us assuage our grief in the efficacious charity of her of
ficial liturgy. Through the Holy Sacrifce of the Mass we unite
with the Divine High Priest in praise and thanksgiving to the
Triune God for the many blessings of the episcopate of Bishop
Ready and through the divine impetration of the Mass we beg
eternal rest for his soul.
Sorrow in our Bishop’s passing is shared not just by
the clergy, religious and laity of the Diocese of Columbus
it is also in the hearts of the Archbishops, Bishops and count
less numbers of men and women throughout the nation. More
than this, the whole community is saddened, for he was not
alone a great spiritual leader: he was recognized as a civic
figure of great stature.
Elsewhere in these columns is a partial record of the
life and accomplishments of Bishop Ready. But the story is
evidently and of necessity incomplete. It can, however, be
summarized in selfless, intense labor for Holy Mother Church
and her children for Christ and souls nothing but constant
hard work. It was this that literally brought about his death.
Without doubt the name of Bishop Ready will stand out
In the history of the Catholic Church in the United States dur
ing the past score years. His position as General Secretary
of the National Catholc Welfare Conference in Washington
through eight years made him one of the outstanding priests
of the country. Later as Bishop he served continuously on the
Administrative Board of the Conference. His experience with
all the departments of the NCWC was of inestimable value to
him in setting up the many and varied organizations for spir
itual. social, educational and civic welfare of his people in the
Diocese of Columbus.
1 In his sermon at the consecration of Bishop Ready, Car
dinal Mooney said: “When lhe history of the Church in our
generation comes to be written the role of the National Cath
olic Welfare Conference in making Catholic unity effective for
the welfare of religion and society will loom large in the
annals of these years. In that history the name of Bishop
Ready will stand out both for the position of high responsi
bility he has filled and the quality of service he has given.”
In his sermons and talks he always referred to “my
brother priests,” not just to address them, but to remind
himself that he was always one of them. This is nowhere
more evident than in his hand written document of final
wishes. “I wish to be buried,” he writes, “near my predecossor
and among my confreres in Saint Joseph’s Cemetery, Co
lumbus.”
The sincerity of that last “Memorandum” was evident in
every line. And it is this characteristic of it that makes the
following words strike deep into lhe hearts of priests, Sis
ters, men, women and children in every corner of the Dio
cese: It has been a joy to serve the clergy, religious and
faithful of the Diocese and 1 thank God for His kind Prov
ident e in choosing me to be a Shepherd in this Church of
Columbus.”
Our beloved Rishop will be enshrined forever in the
grateful prayers of his priests and people.
President Sends Sympathy
President Dwight Eisenhower:
Saddened by the news of lhe un
timely death of Bishop Ready I
extend to the clergy and the peo
pie of the Diocese of Columbus
condolences on behalf of Mrs.
Eisenhower and myself we express
our profound sympathies, he high
esteem in which he was held by
so many of our countrymen was in
deed well deserved tribute to his
qualities as a citizen and prelate.
The country will greatly miss and
Jong remember him.
A solemn Mass will be celebrat
ed
by Auxiliary Bishop John Mc
Namaia in St Matthew’s Cathed
tai, Washington. D.C. Wednesday
I 630 S. SIXJH ST. CA. 4-3842
for Bishop Ready so that his
friends in the nation's capital will
be able to pay a last tribute.
This message was received from
Msgr. Howard Carroll, General
secretary of the National Catholic
Welfare Conference: He said,
We at NCWC are stunned by the
news of the untimely death of your
beloved Shepherd. Bishop Ready
and our own esteemed and revered
association with our counsellor
friend and director. The kiss to us
of his wise guidance, warm friend
ship and constant encouragement
is exceeded only by that of his
own flock and the Church in the
U.S. To Your Excellency, to the
Clergy Religious and Faithful of
the Diocese of Columbus with
whom we share so intimately the
burden of sorrow, we offer heart
felt and prayerful sympathy.
Sil W. TOWN CA. 8-5311
Personally, I own no stocks or bonds.
The little personal money I own is in checking
accounts in the Ohio National Bank, Columbus, or
in the IJberty National Bank, Washington, end
I now declare that on my death these monies be
come assets of the Diocese of Columbus through
the action of the Administrator of the Diocese
elected to serve, according to the Canons of the
Church, until my successor as Bishop of Columbut
takes over the jurisdiction of the Diocese.
All my personal property is in books, clothes,
religious articles, and episcopal paraphernalia.
All should be clearly known and identifiable as
personal. If there Is any doubt about the owner
ship of any article I request that all doubt bo
settled In favor of the Diocese of Columbus.
I have one life insurance policy with the Cath
olic Order of Foresters made in favor of Saint
Charles Seminary, Columbus, Ohio. I have no
other policy.
I have set aside a clearly marked fund for
Holy Masses to be offered for the repose of my
soul and the souls of my brother Priests of the
Diocese of Columbus. I have no Mass Intention
Book nor Mass intentions to be acquitted. Since
THE CATHOLIC TIMES Friday, May 3, 1957
iL».
W
1
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and
of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
I submit this statement regarding my personal
belongings which may attach to me at the tima
of my death. Personally I own no real estate nor
real property of any kind. All real estate bearing
my name belongs to the Diocese of Columbus,
whether it is identified as so belonging or not.
Last Blessing
Bishop Ready celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass often in this private chap*
el. His benevolent and dynamic reign from 1944 to 1957 has wrought much good for the
Diocoso both spiritually and materially.
Bishop Ready’s Last Wishes
MEMORANDUM
HI. 4-7811
coming to the Diocese I did not accept intentions
to be offered personally.
All ecclesiastical accoutrements, such as
rings, crosses, etc. should be given to my suc
cessor as Bishop of Columbus.
All watches, medals end similar personal ob
jects may be given as mementoes to my sisters
or their children. The same division may be made
of any personal effects in the class of books,
decorations or ornaments which are clearly iden
tified as personal.
All books may be given to Saint Charles Sem
inary or to any person or persons or institutions
desiring them.
All manuscripts or sermons, addresses'or per
sonal letters or writings of whatever kind should
be kept for whatever use my successor or suc
cessors in office may deem fitting.
1 have had occasions in the past to give gifts
to Saint Charles, Saint Vincent’s and to other in
stitutions of religion, charity and education in the
Diocese. It has been a joy to serve the clergy,
religious and faithful of the Diocese and I thank
God for His kind Providence in choosing me as a
Shepherd in this Church of Columbus.
I wish to be buried near my predecessor and
among confreres in Saint Joseph Cemetery, Co
lumbus.
And may God have mercy on my soul and grant
His abiding blessings to the Priests, Religious and
Faithful of the Holy Church of Columbus.
December 14, 18M.
K -Mi
Michael J. Ready