My friend, a seminarian, just died

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dizzy_girl

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I’m so sad. Last night two seminarians from Mundelein Seminary died in a car accident while trying to avoid a deer. They came back from being with friends and just took a little drive around the lake that sits next to the seminary. In avoiding it, one (my friend) was killed instantly. The guy next to him was in critical condition and died during surgery. The two who sat up front are in the hospital but are stable.

The one who died instantly I’ve known for over ten years. I just went camping with him and many others over Labor Day weekend.

My mom said that St. Dominic once spoke about how much greater use he would be for all of us up in heaven. I guess she is right and it applies to this situation. But it doesn’t make sense to me that God would take two people who wanted to serve Him as holy priests. These two were so orthodox and good, caring people who loved the Truth and lived it.

I’m so sad and confused and the reality of death is so frightening to me. Our whole lives can be gone in an instant. My heart feels broken. Why is there so much pain and suffering and why does God seem to take the best people? Is it because the rest of us need so much extra time to even get to a place where we could actually live with Him in eternity?

Dizzy
 
Dizzy, sorry this had to be the topic of your first post. thank you for bringing it to our attention. I am sure I Chicago papers will report it, but it is a tragedy that will be with us long.
 
Thanks. A friend told me to come here. She said you all would help me have a better perspective.

The seminarians were both from Kansas City.
 
dizzy girl:
I’m so sad. Last night two seminarians from Mundelein Seminary died in a car accident while trying to avoid a deer. They came back from being with friends and just took a little drive around the lake that sits next to the seminary. In avoiding it, one (my friend) was killed instantly. The guy next to him was in critical condition and died during surgery. The two who sat up front are in the hospital but are stable.

The one who died instantly I’ve known for over ten years. I just went camping with him and many others over Labor Day weekend.

My mom said that St. Dominic once spoke about how much greater use he would be for all of us up in heaven. I guess she is right and it applies to this situation. But it doesn’t make sense to me that God would take two people who wanted to serve Him as holy priests. These two were so orthodox and good, caring people who loved the Truth and lived it.

I’m so sad and confused and the reality of death is so frightening to me. Our whole lives can be gone in an instant. My heart feels broken. Why is there so much pain and suffering and why does God seem to take the best people? Is it because the rest of us need so much extra time to even get to a place where we could actually live with Him in eternity?

Dizzy
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Oh, honey I am so sorry for your loss. I sure wish I could answer all your questions with such words of wisdom that all your sorrow would go away…I cannot, but I am so glad your friend was in your life and is now with God in Heaven. The JOY he must be feeling right now! I know you will miss him, and that you feel so sad right now…but we know HE is doing just FINE, right? So the sadness and the anger is really about what WE have lost - his physical presence on the earth.

Keep close to Our Lady, she knows your sorrow…
 
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LSK:
Keep close to Our Lady, she knows your sorrow…
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Great advice - seeing as today is the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows (Sept 15th)

I will pray for their souls and for peace of mind for you and others who morn the passing of these men.

Prayer in Honor of the Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Most holy and afflicted Virgin, Queen of Martyrs, you stood beneath the cross, witnessing the agony of your dying Son. Look with a mother’s tenderness and pity on me, who kneel before you. I venerate your sorrows and I place my requests with filial confidence in the sanctuary of your wounded heart.

Presenet them, I beseech you, on my behalf to Jesus Christ, through the merits of His own most sacred passion and death, together with your sufferings at the foot of the cross. Through the united efficacy of both, obtain the granting of my petition. To whom shall I have recourse in my wants and miseries if not to you, Mother of Mercy? You have drunk so deeply of the chalice of your Son, you can compassionate our sorrows.

Holy Mather, your soul was pierced by a sword of sorrow at the sight of the passion of your divine Son. Intercede for me and obtain for me from our Lord {mention your petition}, it it be for His honor and glory, and for my good. Amen.
 
I’m so sorry to hear of your loss! 😦 Having lost my mother about 2.5 months ago, I can sympathize with you on the questions you have. There is much pain and suffering on this earth because there is sin here. I have been told, that God takes the people that are most ready to go. They have walked the path of life (though it may seem short), and now it’s time to rest in the Arms of Christ. Your friend must be so happy right now, to think, he gets to see the Face of God! That is what we all should stive for, eternity with God, our Father.
I, too have come to the realization that we can die now, tomorrow, 3 years from now, or even 78 years- the point is, we need to live each day for God as if it were our last day. I’m not worried so much about dying, but I know that I’m not worthy, and don’t deserve to be in the sight of our Lord.

May God grant you peace!! I will be praying for you.
~Christina
 
i’m sorry for your loss… it doesn’t seem fair that someone like that
wouldn’t get a chance to live longer…

but…

i’d be willing to bet, that right now, if he has any questions at all, he is asking God… ‘why’d you wait so long to bring me home?’

this is a portion of this Sunday’s reading… appearently he had
accompolished the labor God had for him, and he got his reward…

Romans 1:20-24,27
Brothers and sisters:
Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.
For to me life is Christ, and death is gain.
If I go on living in the flesh,
that means fruitful labor for me.
And I do not know which I shall choose.
I am caught between the two.
I long to depart this life and be with Christ,
for that is far better.
Yet that I remain in the flesh
is more necessary for your benefit.
(end)

a prayer for you and you friends…

🙂
 
May their souls rest in everlasting peace and may the Light of Christ shine upon them, through the Mercy of God.
 
Others have expressed (better than I could) what I would have wanted to say to you. I just wanted to add my condolences for your great loss.

Life is filled with loss and gain, still the losses are hard to take, no doubt about that. But, God knows what he is doing even when we don’t understand it–that’s what keeps me hanging in there in the bad times.

God bless the souls of these two wonderful young men and may he grant peace and comfort to their families and friends who are grieving over losing them.
 
Thanks to you all for trying to help me.

I am realizing I live in a lot of denial about death. I hate thinking about losing anyone close to me or even my own mortal life. I am scared of meeting God and I don’t have a lot of peace. I plan to go to confession on Saturday and get right with God.

I think LSK really nailed it with what she said. I know that my friend met God early this morning! He met his Guardian Angle and St. Therese and all his loved ones who are deceased and in the communion of saints! Well, if he’s not in purgatory, that is. But even if he is, then he is at least assured of his salvation and knows that his time with God is so near. -----But, even knowing all that, I think about the people he left behind. Then I think about people in my life whom I love so much–my husband, my child, my family–and I don’t know how I would live without my husband or my child. I pray I don’t ever know that sorrow, that my husband and family and I live so many years of happiness together here on earth and then later in eternitywith our Heavenly Father.

This has really made me confront my own mortality and that of others around me. I just feel so sad and scared.
 
Like Della, I just want to add my condolences as well, I was in a similar situation as yours last fall, and let me tell you, God was the only thing that pulled me through it. It’s hard when things like this happen that don’t make sense…sometimes they never will. But just hang on to the Lord, sweetie, and you’ll be ok. My thoughts and prayers are with you and others suffering from this terrible loss. God bless you.
 
I too am sorry for your loss.

Remember always to trust in God.

He alone knows when he’ll call us home. When he does, it will be at a time that’s most beneficial for our souls or those around us.

No one knows what the future held for your friend, but his life up to his death sounded like one filled with love for the Lord and dedicated to his service. Eternally speaking, what a wonderful time to be called home!

Be not afraid!
 
It’s funny you should say that, Ziggy.

He was severely abused as a child. He and his brother were finally put into foster care during elementary school. He had never known what McDonalds’ was nor been to a park or playground. He spent most of his life hiding under his bed from his father.

Eventually, authorities found out and put him in a loving foster care situation. His mother sought help and became independent and took her boys back eventually.

He went to World Youth Day in 94, to see the Holy Father JPII, and his life was forever changed. He met a local priest in the process, became good friends with him, and his faith built exponentionally.

So yes, his life became very happy…once he was saved from the abuse and found God. 🙂
 
dizzy girl:
He went to World Youth Day in 94, to see the Holy Father JPII, and his life was forever changed. He met a local priest in the process, became good friends with him, and his faith built exponentionally. 🙂
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I am sorry for your loss. If I may make an observation, it sounds as if his life has been a continual movement toward God. Although he suffered in his life, he was able to find love, happiness, grace. He was also able to come into your life and the lives of others to provide kindness, wisdom and witness his faith. If anything may come of your friends passing may he be able to intercede to bring a greater sense of peace and quell your fears.

My family has lost quite a few relatives in the past 3 years most recently, my husband’s uncle who was a Franciscan priest, we were all sad, but his funeral was so beautiful with all of the priests, seminarians and sisters that came to celebrate his life at his funeral mass. The homily was so full of hope and love from God that no one left with any sadness in our hearts.
You and your friend is in our prayers.
 
Dizzy,

I knew the other seminarian who died later, and the one you refer to only as an acquaintance. It hit me really hard when we heard news of their death. They were both awesome holy men whom we really seemed to need here on earth fighting the good fight. I think it’s only natural to feel some anger in this situation and wonder why they, their families and friends should have to suffer when their lives would have likely been spent doing more good work for God. There’s a lot of grieving to do, and right now it has not even fully hit me yet. I don’t have any good advice except to walk this with you and offer any support you might need. Feel free to pm me if you need to talk. God bless.
 
Dizzygirl:

Condolences.

For us the Church Militant: your loss is our loss too.

For the Church Suffering: if they’re there, let’s pray for them.

For the Church Triumphant: if they’re there, they’re already praying for us.

in XT.
 
One of the seminarians was from Overland Park, KS. There is no coverage here locally (Kansas City Area) I had to go to WGN online. Does anyone know what parish he was from in Overland Park or what high school he attended?

My son told me his whole Catholic high school prayed before every class yesterday for these men. We have so few who choose the priesthood, what a shame for this to happen to these two who have chosen to this path. But there is a reason behind everything and maybe it will become apparent later.
 
My son who is discerning the preisthood, knew the young man that dizzygirl is speaking of and he is very devistated by his loss. My son shared some of the young man’s email messages with me and what a beautiful human being. He gave my son so many encouraging words. I guess that Lord possibly thought he would do greater work in heaven such as Padre Pio, Therese, and John Vianey.

The young man from Kansas City that you are speaking of is from St. Ann’s Parish in Prarie Village. The wake is Sunday evening…I believe at the church. Mass is at 10:00 on Monday.

He attended Bishop Miege High School.
 
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