Baltimore archbishop remembers his mentor (Cardinal O'Connor)

The Narthex at The Catholic Review ^ | Feb. 12, 2011 | George P. Matysek Jr.

[MDJohnPaul]

“The priest I am today is largely due to his example.”

That’s how Baltimore Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien remembered the late New York Cardinal John J. O’Connor during a panel discussion at the 12th annual Cardinal O’Connor Conference on Life Jan. 23.

Archbishop O’Brien paid tribute to his mentor’s courage in speaking out for truth and the cardinal’s pastoral sensitivity in serving priests and laity alike.

“To accompany him to the bedside of a priest in the hospital who was dying was a retreat for me,” said Archbishop O’Brien, a former New York clergyman who served as Cardinal O’Connor’s first priest-secretary.

“He’d speak to the priest about this bed … now (becoming) your altar,” Archbishop O’Brien remembered. “There’s nothing more wasted than wasted suffering. Christ saved the world not by his miracles, he would say, not by his words but when he was helpless on his cross. That’s when salvation came to us.”

[the invisib1e hand]

Heard O’Brien speak once. Very strong.

[philly-d-kidder]

Bishop Obrien head of Military Diocese came to Kuwait because they wouldn’t let him into Iraq for Christmas Mass.Camp Arifjan was the Booby Prize.. Nice Chap! He Got to appreciate the 2 hour waits at the Front gate..