I KNEW A SAINT PERSONALLY

I KNEW A SAINT PERSONALLY

FATHER JOHN HYDE SJ

FATHER JOHN HYDE -A JESUIT PRIEST - WAS A REGULAR VISIT TO MY CHILDHOOD HOME.

I WAS BORN IN TULLAMORE, CO. OFFALY, IRELAND AND THE JESUITS HAD A HOUSE OF STUDIES AND A RETREAT HOUSE JUST OUTSIDE TULLAMORE IN A PLACE CALLED RAHAN. THE HOUSE WAS CALLED "TULLABEG".

FATHER HYDE WAS A PHILOSOPHER AND THEOLOGIAN. HE WAS ALSO A VERY SAINTLY MAN WITH A REPUTATION TO BEING ABLE TO HEAL THE SICK.

THE PEOPLE AROUND RAHAN AND TULLAMORE EVEN BELIEVE THAT HE RAISED A YOUNG MAN FROM THE DEAD WHO HAD DROWNED IN THE CANAL.

HE USED TO TRAVEL AROUND OFFALY AND EVENTUALLY DUBLIN ON HIS BIG BLACK PUSH BIKE VISITING HOMES AND HOSPITALS.

HE OFTEN VISITED MY GRANDMOTHER KATE BUCKLEY (BRACKEN) WHO LIVE IN NORTH STRAND DUBLIN. MY GRANNY HAD A TREMENDOUS DEVOTION TO FATHER HYDE. 

HE WOULD PLACE HIS HAT ON HER HEAD TO WARD OFF HEADACHES AND SHE WOULD DRINK THE REMAINS OF HIS CUP OF TEA.

FATHER HYDE PRACTICED POVERTY TO THE LIMIT. HIS BLACK SUIT WAS GREEN WITH AGE AND THAT SUIT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN WORN BY ANOTHER SAINTLY JESUIT IRISH PRIEST CALLED FATHER JOHN SULLIVAN WHO ALSO HAD A REPUTATION FOR HEALING AND MIRACLES.

FATHER JOHN SULLIVAN

ONE ONE OCCASION A YOUNG BROTHER OF MINE WAS GRAVELY ILL AND IN DANGER OF DEATH FROM MENINGITIS. FATHER HYDE WAS SENT FOR TO BLESS HIM. MY MOTHER SAID TO FATHER HYDE: "THE DOCTORS DON'T HOLD OUT MUCH HOPE FOR HIM". FATHER HYDE REPLIED: "LET'S SEE WHAT DOCTOR GOD SAYS" AFTER FATHER HYDE'S VISIT AND PRAYERS MY BROTHER MADE AN IMMEDIATE RECOVERY.

AFTER MY ORDINATION I USED TO VISIT FATHER HYDE AT THE JESUIT HOUSE OF STUDIES IN MILLTOWN IN DUBLIN. ON ONE OCCASION I MISCHIEVOUSLY SAID TO HIM: "WHAT DO YOU THINK OF HANS KUNG"

FATHER HYDE REPLIED: "EVERY TIME I HEAR THE NAME HANS KUNG I GET AN AWFUL PAIN IN ME BELLY. HE'S ALMOST A PROTESTANT".

FATHER HYDE WAS A VERY DEVOUT AND CONSERVATIVE CATHOLIC. BUT I AM QUITE SURE THAT FROM HIS HIGH PLACE IN HEAVEN HE UNDERSTANDS MY CURRENT LIFE AND I AM ALSO SURE I HAVE THE BENEFIT OF HIS PRAYERS AND OVERSIGHT.

Bishop Pat Buckley 29.7.2013