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John W. O'Malley, S.J. - d. Sept. 11

09/14/2022 11:34 AM | Anonymous

The CTSA remembers John W. O'Malley, S.J.,
who died on September 11. 

See the Catholic News Service's, "Jesuit Fr. John O'Malley, church historian, teacher, author, dies at 95" (NCROnline, Sept. 12, 2022) <https://www.ncronline.org/news/people/jesuit-fr-john-omalley-church-historian-teacher-author-dies-95> to reach a beautiful reflection on Fr. O'Malley's life.



Eternal rest grant unto John, O Lord, 
and let perpetual light shine upon him. 
May he rest in peace. 
Love always, in the name of Jesus.


Comments

  • 09/14/2022 12:04 PM | Dr Peter C Phan
    I knew John since 2003, especially after he joined Georgetown University. He was not only a world-renowned historian of Jesuit history and the Renaissance but also a perfect gentleman. I used to visit him almost every day at his office and told him that my daily visit was tantamount to the visit to the Blessed sacrament. If ever I failed to visit him, he would remind me that "Jesus" is quite lonely in the tabernacle. When I received the John Courtney Murray Award, he insisted on coming to the ceremony though I told him not to waste his precious time. At that time, I said that he was a perfect gentleman and now I repeat that description with deep gratitude. John, may you rest in peace. We will see each other again on the resurrection of the dead.
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    • 09/14/2022 2:12 PM | Leo D Lefebure
      I thoroughly agree with Peter's comments. John had a delightful sense of humor. John wrote an essay in honor of Peter Phan entitled, "Dialogue and Reconciliation in the Renaissance and in Vatican II," which is an outstanding example of his deep knowledge of the interreligious awareness of Renaissance humanists and its importance for us today.
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      • 09/14/2022 2:42 PM | William George
        I'm so glad John did come to the ceremony, since this was the last time I saw him, and spoke with him briefly, after having had him for two courses at Weston School of Theology in the early eighties. He was living proof that someone can be at once a great scholar and a gentle, witty, wise, and even light-hearted presence in the classroom. He would put a very simple outline on the board, and then lecture without notes, explaining, e.g., how it was that the Holy Roman Empire was not holy, Roman, or an empire. He taught me, at least, the value of the "open book" exam--three big questions given well in advance (for which we spent hours preparing), and then picking one for us to write on for up to two hours, as I recall. And that was just John as a great teacher. He was a blessing in so many other ways that call for gratitude now
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  • 09/14/2022 2:15 PM | Margaret Mary Moore
    The last time I saw John was at Christmas, 2021. He flew to St. Louis for the funeral of his beloved friend of over 60 years, John Padberg, SJ who died on Christmas Day. Months before they had given a presentation to their Jesuit confreres on "Jesuit Friendship". John gave the eulogy for his friend, ending by saying that when John Padberg left, he took a part of our hearts with him. While we can rejoice that two dear friends are together again, we can say: John, when you left, you too took a part of our hearts with you!
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  • 09/17/2022 4:02 PM | Emily Reimer-Barry
    I introduced myself to Fr. O'Malley when I arrived at Weston and he kindly asked to call him John. I still remember the conversation we had in his office when I was conducting research for the paper I wrote for his course on Trent and Vatican II. He was generous and supportive, encouraging me to reflect on the importance of understanding the social contexts in which documents are situated and the people/personalities that shape them. His scholarship has been a gift to the church. May he rest in God's eternal peace.
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