Pope Praises Cardinal Cormac's 'Distinguished Service'
Cardinal wrote special blessing to his Chiswick parishioners the day before he died
Photo: Mazur/Catholicnews.org.uk
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Pope Francis has written to the Archbishop of Westminster to offer his personal condolences to the Catholic Church in England following the death of Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor this Friday (1 September) saying he was 'deeply saddened' to hear the news.
In his letter the Holy Father praises the late Cardinal's 'unwavering devotion to the preaching of the Gospel and the care of the poor, and his far-sighted commitment to the advancement of ecumenical and interreligious understanding'.
The two men were elevated to the College of Cardinals at the same Consistory in February 2001. As a liberal-minded cleric he has been credited by some as being a key influence behind the election of Pope Francis even though he was too old to vote in the conclave that elected him.
The former leader of the Catholic Church in England had retired to a house in Dukes Avenue, Chiswick and regularly said Mass at Our Lady and St Edwards.
He was a popular celebrant both for his easy manner and eloquent and erudite sermons and was well-known for being down to earth and approachable despite being a man who had been on speaking terms with five Popes.
The day before his death he wrote a note to Father Michael Dunne the parish priest in Chiswick which said, "please extend my special greetings to the people of the Parish of Our Lady of Grace and St Edward where I have lived very happily among them over the past eight years and thank them very much for their friendship and encouragement. Give them my special blessing and I ask for their prayers for me at this time."
He was born in England to Irish parents with two of his brothers also becoming priests. He had been a keen rugby player in his youth with his tall stature giving away that he played second row.
The Cardinal, who was also the Archbishop of Westminster and President of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, was born on 24 August 1932. He began training for the priesthood in 1950 at the Venerable English College, Rome. Whilst at the College, he took a degree in philosophy (PhL) and theology (STL) at the Gregorian University, Rome. He was ordained priest in Rome on 28 October 1956.
He was installed as tenth Archbishop of Westminster on 22 March 2000. In November 2000 he was elected President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. In February 2001 he was created a cardinal by Pope John Paul II, and assigned the titular church of the Basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva. The Basilica houses the relics of St Catherine of Siena, doctor of the Church and one of the Patron Saints of Europe, the tomb of the Dominican Friar Blessed Fra Angelico, the Patron Saint of Artists, the renowned 'Figure of the Risen Christ' by Michelangelo and frescoes by Fra Filippo Lippi.
He was particularly interested in youth work, sacramental programmes and the development of small communities. His previous diocese of Arundel and Brighton was the first English diocese to initiate the 'Renew' programme.
In September 2000, he invited Lord Nolan to chair an independent review on child protection in the Catholic Church in England and Wales. The Nolan Review published their First Report in April 2001 and their Final Report, A Programme for Action, in September 2001 out of which a new independent office has been established called 'COPCA' to oversee the protection of children and vulnerable adults.
In January 2002, at the invitation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor was the first member of the Catholic hierarchy since 1680 to deliver a sermon to an English monarch. This took place at Sandringham, the sovereign's country residence in Norfolk, during the Anglican morning service. Present with the Queen were members of her family and her household.
In April 2005 he was one of 125 cardinals who elected Pope Benedict XVI following the death of Pope John Paul II.
He was the author of The Family of the Church (1984) and At the Heart of the World (2004), and editor of Faith in Europe (2005) and Faith and Life in Britain (2008).
In 2009 he retired to Chiswick although he was prominent in the organisation of Pope Benedict XVI visit to Britain in 2010.
Cardinal Cormac has given a unique honour to Chiswick in that he has requested that before the national obsequies at Westminster Cathedral that he have a Vigil Mass in Chiswick parish, in and among the community with whom he was so happy over these last eight years.
Cardinal Cormac’s remains will be received into Our Lady of Grace and St Edward’s at 8.00pm next Sunday 10 September. The Church will remain open until 10.00pm for parishioners and visitors to pay their respects. (The reception is a very short service but we will also have the rosary and at 9.50pm, conclude with Compline, which is to say, the Night Prayer of the Divine Office.)
At 12.00noon the next day, Monday 11 September, Bishop Mark O’Toole will celebrate Mass for Cardinal Cormac, presiding and preaching as detailed before. After Mass, the Cardinal’s remains will be removed to Westminster Cathedral. This is a change from the times originally announced.
On Tuesday 12 September, from 10.00am, the Cardinal’s body will lie in state at the Cathedral until 5.00pm where there will be Solemn Vespers with Cardinal Vincent presiding and Archbishop Longley preaching. The Cathedral will remain open until 8.00pm.
On Wednesday 13 September, at 12.00noon, the Cardinal’s funeral will take place. Cardinal Vincent will preside and Archbishop Stack will preach. Access is by ticket only.
On Wednesday 4 October at 5.30pm there will be a memorial Mass for Cardinal Cormac at the Cathedral with unreserved seating, the Mass being intended for those who were unable to attend the funeral.
Full details are on the Our Lady's parish web site.
September 4, 2017
