Cardinal Foley has Died

[davidc2]

John Patrick Cardinal Foley, Grand Master Emeritus of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, died early this morning.

For over 20 years, he provided the English language commentary heard by millions worldwide for Christmas and Easter Masses broadcast from the Vatican.

He was 76 years old and served as a priest for 49 years. He also served as a bishop for 27 years and as a cardinal for 4 years.

May he rest in peace.

With his death, the number of Cardinal Electors drops to 109 out of 192 living Cardinals.

 

[ringil]

Surely this servant of God is resting with Jesus now.

I thank God for His service.

 

[jmjconder]

**Cardinal Foley was a holy man of God. He rests with the heavenly choir of saints and angels.

I will pray for those left behind - esp. those of my friends that knew him.**

 

[Dale_M]

Thank you, David, for keeping us informed.

Here is part of the Associated Press article:

Cardinal John Foley, who for 25 years was the voice for American viewers of the Vatican’s Christmas Midnight Mass and who led an ancient Catholic order in the Holy Land, died Sunday. He was 76.

Foley died at the Villa St. Joseph in suburban Darby, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia said. The cause of death was not given.

In 1984, Foley was appointed to lead the Pontifical Council of Social Communications, which spearheaded Vatican initiatives under the media-savvy Pope John Paul II to get out the Church’s message through the media…

abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/cardinal-foley-led-order-jerusalem-dies-15133320#.TuTxbvLNlPs

 

[meltzerboy]

Cardinal Foley was indeed a holy man. May he rest in peace with G-d in His presence and eternal love.

 

[barb_finnegan]

He had such a distinctive voice-perfect for radio and TV.

How sad that he died so close to Christmas…and this upcoming Mass was going to be the 25th one he was going to do on NBC. Wonder who will do it now, on such short notice?

I don’t have TV now since things went ‘digital’; but the last Christmas Mass from St. Peter’s I saw on TV was ‘cut short’ just before Communion when the station I was watching it on cut away for a local Christmas program! Oh, I was so mad! I fired off a quick email to the station and gave them ‘the what for?’ !

 

[unafraid]

May he rest in peace. His distinctive voice is a part of my memories of all of those Midnight Mass broadcasts which seem so vivid to me, recalling Christmases past, as well as loved ones since departed. I must admit to feeling choked up recalling him in this context. He will be greatly missed.

He seemed like a constant; a very dear part of our Christmas experiences. His descriptions of the varied archetectural splendors in St. Peter’s Basilica, or the little assides regarding the chalices, or the myriad other details of the event, lent a grandeur to the Mass that always left me proud to be a Roman Catholic.

I hope he is replaced as narrator by a certain British nun (I can’t recall her name, but I have heard her on other broadcasts) whose voice is lilting, calm and cheerful. She emanates vocal radiance like few I have ever heard. If anyone knows of whom I speak, please list her name. Anyway, God Bless Cardinal Foley for all that he gave.

 

[Santi2]

Rest in peace, Cardinal Foley. A most beautiful tribute by his close friend, Fr Thomas Rosica.

youtube.com/watch?v=xJo-hcvq-Fc

 

[Sarabande]

I am sad to hear about this. I met him once as he was a friend to a priest friend of ours, who passed away last year. When I met him, I had no idea of his prominence in the Church. He just was a kind, friendly old priest to me. It was only later that my husband told me. May he rest in peace.

 

[barb_finnegan]

May he rest in peace. His distinctive voice is a part of my memories of all of those Midnight Mass broadcasts which seem so vivid to me, recalling Christmases past, as well as loved ones since departed. I must admit to feeling choked up recalling him in this context. He will be greatly missed.

He seemed like a constant; a very dear part of our Christmas experiences. His descriptions of the varied archetectural splendors in St. Peter’s Basilica, or the little assides regarding the chalices, or the myriad other details of the event, lent a grandeur to the Mass that always left me proud to be a Roman Catholic.

I hope he is replaced as narrator by a certain British nun (I can’t recall her name, but I have heard her on other broadcasts) whose voice is lilting, calm and cheerful. She emanates vocal radiance like few I have ever heard. If anyone knows of whom I speak, please list her name. Anyway, God Bless Cardinal Foley for all that he gave.

You must be thinking of Sister Wendy, the English Carmelite nun who did art programs for PBS. She would be a good one-I think the Brits have the coolest voices for narrations!