Ralph McInerny… RIP

13 Comments

1. Fr. Andrew says:

   30 January 2010 at 9:50 AM

   I met him last Spring on my priesthood retreat at New Mellory Abbey in Iowa. What a great and holy man. RIP.
2. TNCath says:

   30 January 2010 at 10:33 AM

   He was one of the last of the “old guard” of Notre Dame. He and old Professor Tom Stritch were the part of the “laymen’s brigade” that helped make Notre Dame the Catholic university it used to be. They don’t make them like that anymore. I wonder if Notre Dame will even bother taking notice? Sad, sad.

   Professor McInerny published a wonderful article he wrote back in March of 2009 about the invitation of President Obama to speak at the Notre Dame graduation. It’s well worth reading even now:

   http://www.thecatholicthing.org/content/view/1346/

   Prayers for his soul and for the soul of Notre Dame.
3. RichR says:

   30 January 2010 at 10:47 AM

   Dr. McInerny had a great three-part series on EWTN called What Went Wrong With Vatican II. I also enjoyed his book, The Red Hat.

   He will truly be missed, and he was a loyal Son of the Church.

   May he truly rest in peace.
4. Dr. Eric says:

   30 January 2010 at 11:41 AM

   May he rest in peace.
5. jmgarciajr says:

   30 January 2010 at 12:03 PM

   Réquiem ætérnam dona ei Dómine; et lux perpétua lúceat ei. Requiéscat in pace. Amen.
6. wmeyer says:

   30 January 2010 at 12:08 PM

   He was an excellent writer, and staunch defender of the faith. May he rest in peace.
7. Pedantic Classicist says:

   30 January 2010 at 1:17 PM

   Thank you for the news, Father Z. I will remember him in my prayers.

   I remember reading his novel The Red Hat in the winter of 2004-2005. As it happened, reading it helped me prepare psychologically for Pope John Paul II’s passing (since there is a conclave or two in the story); born in the late 70s, I had never known another pope, so this was of some comfort. I also enjoyed the characterization of the hero professor, who, I remember, was frustrated at the culture wars and being categorized as a “conservative” by fellow academics when he was, if anything, in the mould of late 19th century Catholic (Classic) Liberals like Belloc. Was the character perhaps semi-autobiographical?

   Thanks to the others for the links to some of his writings; there’s much of his work I haven’t read.
8. irishgirl says:

   30 January 2010 at 2:00 PM

   Oh, how sad….

   May Professor McInerny rest in peace.

   I had forgotten that he wrote the Father Dowling Mysteries. Always liked watching the TV series based on them.

   Gee, I wonder if my former boss knew him when he attended ND-he graduated in 1953….
9. Hidden One says:

   30 January 2010 at 2:37 PM

   Dr. McInerny was, until his death, one of the very, very few living Catholic intellectuals for whom I have great respect.

   Réquiem ætérnam dona ei Dómine; et lux perpétua lúceat ei. Requiéscat in pace. Amen.
10. TJerome says:

    30 January 2010 at 4:37 PM

    Ralph McInerny was one of the finest voices of authentic Catholicism on the Notre Dame campus. He was also my neighbor for many years when I was young. It was a privilege to know him. Requiescat in Pace! Tom
11. robtbrown says:

    30 January 2010 at 5:56 PM

    Ralph’s brother Dennis is a friend and former colleague.

    RM left a serious Catholic footprint.
12. ndmom says:

    1 February 2010 at 5:23 PM

    “They don’t make them like that anymore. I wonder if Notre Dame will even bother taking notice? Sad, sad.”

    His funeral was held this morning at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. There were several dozen CSC and other priests on the altar, including the current and former presidents of the University.
    I think that Notre Dame noticed.
13. Geremia says:

    2 February 2010 at 12:50 AM

    One can read online his excellent translation of St. Thomas Aquinas’s Scriptum super Sententiis.

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