Some exceedingly sad news today.

Last night I found out that Fr. Richard John Neuhaus was gravely ill.  This morning I found out that he passed away at 10 AM. I met him at a book signing. A very gracious person. He nearly died once and wrote reflections about it in First Things, the magazine which he started and was editor-in-chief of. Here is a link to an essay he wrote called Born Toward Dying.

We are born to die. Not that death is the purpose of our being born, but we are born toward death, and in each of our lives the work of dying is already underway. The work of dying well is, in largest part, the work of living well.

Later today I was shocked to learn that my closest friends lost their unborn twins due to umbilical cord strangulation. It’s so tragic…I can hardly believe it. Just the other day I saw how happy and excited they were, glowing with eager anticipation for the birth of their first babies. The 3d ultrasound picture of the face of one of the girls (I guessed that there were girls… just beautiful) I cannot forget. Please keep the family in your prayers. They have two more intercessors before the Throne.

For the dearly departed: Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord!