Friar David, O.Carm (Byzcath)

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I remember him from back when he was entering the novitiate. He will be sorely missed. I will offer a Mass intention for him this week or next and pray for his soul.
 
I have not been on Catholic Answers Forums since early spring of 2013, so I did not know that Friar David has gone to sleep already. May his memory be eternal! I remember from his forum postings that he had much wisdom. He was one of the few which I consider on CAF to have such a level of wisdom.
 
May his memory be eternal!
Eternal rest grant unto Thy servant Friar David, O Lord;
Let Thy perpetual light shine upon him,
And may he rest in peace–Amen.
 
Is this the Friar David that used to post here? The one that Brother Jay went to visit not so long ago? I believe he had rectal cancer?

If so, I’m shocked. Just the past few days I have been thinking about him, wondering where he has been, and thinking about sending him a PM to ask how he is doing!
 
JReducation said:
Brother was a good friend and he will be missed. The last time I spoke with him we teased each other about who was going to go first, he or I, since we both have terminal illnesses. I remember saying to him that if he got to heaven before I did he needed to hook me up for an interview with Teresa of Avila. Of the many saints in heaven, the two I want to interview the most are Teresa of Avila and Maximilian Kolbe.

We laughed about it for a while. Then our conversation turned to religious life. I remember asking him if his brothers were able to visit frequently, since he was at a healthcare facility a little ways from the priory. He told me that they were there everyday. I was glad for that.

We shared that we could think of no better place to spend our last days on earth but in religious community. Community was very important to David as was the silence of the hermit. He would often go to his room for hours to be alone and pray. This is a very ancient Carmelite custom. I would encourage him to continue to practice it. He often asked me to pray with him as he was alone in those long stretches of time. I was not there, but I would join him in prayer from where I was.

Brother David and I had a great relationship and a strange one as well. He was a Carmelite and I a Franciscan. We cross nurtured each other. He was an American and an Eastern Catholic. I’m Jewish and a Latin Catholic. How’s that for crossing over boundaries? It was an enriching experience and one that I will miss.

I was unable to talk about David’s death until tonight. I still have something of his in my cell. I have a hard time looking at it. I guess that it will remain in a box for a while, until I can find the right moment to open the box. Even with all of our faith and knowledge that God is merciful and that we will see each other again, it’s been hard to think of David without feeling that a piece of me is no longer here. Each person that crosses our path leaves an imprint in our lives.

I will miss his PMs, telephone calls, and emails. I didn’t get up to DC much. But not a day would go by that he and I would not touch base. This went on for at five years or more. Our friendship began when he entered the novitiate, lasted through novitiate, then through simple vows to solemn vows and from there until his death. I walked the journey of the consecrated life with him. It was a privilege and an honor for which I can never be grateful enough.

May Our Lady of Mt. Carmel escort him to her Son.

Pray for me my friend. I hope to see you sooner than you think. Well, I guess that now that you’re there and I’m still here, you know exactly when we’ll see each other. You always said that you wanted to have one up on me, you finally got your wish. Rest now my beloved brother and wait for me.

Holy Father St. Francis, pray for him.
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Well. This answers my question.

I’m shocked. Friar David really has been on my mind often lately.

God rest his soul.
 
Eternal rest grant unto Friar David O Lord
may perpetual light shine upon him
and may he rest in peace. Amen

His was a gentle, truthful voice. He has been missed.
 
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