From IHM School

Comments 3

1. Brian de la Torre wrote:

   Brother Francis had a lot to say, and a lot to teach, and his students were usually eager to learn. However, not a few of them complained that his accent made his words difficult to understand. Fortunately for me, I had none of that problem, because I had had a teacher in high school, Brother Zino S.D.B., in Rosemead, CA., at the Don Bosco Technical Institute, who taught philosophy. Mine was one of the last classes to benefit from having this class taught the way the Salesians had been teaching it before Vatican II, for well-rooted principles are very slow to change. It was 1970 and I was a Junior. The point is, Brother Zeno’s accent was Lebanese, and he managed to teach me how to understand him in English. Therefore, by the time I started listening to Brother Francis’ tapes, his pronunciation was not an obstacle for me, and his lessons seemed to be a continuation of those classes years before. And yet, while I was so blessed to be able to hear him and know his words, I was never able to personally attend one of his Tuesday Night Lectures. Perhaps there will come a time, as it were, when I will be able to attend one in the next life…. God willing.

   Posted 07 Sep 2009 at 7:27 pm ¶
2. Mariam Maluf wrote:

   During one of my recent visits with Bro. Francis, my father, I said to him, “Talk to me about heaven.” Several seconds of silence passed. Then he answered, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard. . . ” He knew I knew the rest.

   Posted 11 Sep 2009 at 10:45 pm ¶
3. Gary Gearon wrote:

   I work in the medical field and I had just stayed with the brothers, who very graciously provided lodging for me, at SBC so I could attend Mass. I had a morning business appointment at Keene Med. Ctr., where Br. Francis was being hospitalized.

   I had so wanted to visit Br. Francis, who was being cared for by Br. Andre, at that time, during his last days on earth. Well, I was so very disappointed because I realized that after my morning business appointment, I would not be able to seek out and visit this most remarkable gentleman and Catholic Scholar. The very man who was close friends with Father Feeney and participated in the public preaching of the Catholic Dogma, EENS, in Boston.

   God was going to be very good to me that morning.

   I was on my way out of the hospital hurrying to get to my next appointment, in an area that, to my knowledge, was entirely away from where Br. Francis was staying. It was entirely away from where I would have had to travel to, to visit with Br. Francis and Br. Andre, had I been able to seek them out.

   I am hurrying down the hall when I turn to the right, and lo and behold a lone old man on a stretcher, who looked familiar to me. I approached this man, and he, becoming more familiar looking, but I was not completely certain, for it was incomprehensible to me that it could be the one I so wanted to see, so I asked: “Brother Francis”?

   The man looked at me, and I noticed Our Lady’s scapular around the neck of this patient. It was indeed Br. Francis! How good God is. I told him I knew Br. Andre, and that I had just come from the SBC.

   He told me he was not doing well, and that he was suffering greatly. Now he is with the Prince of Peace, our Lord Jesus Christ.

   What an honor to meet such a man before he departed from this world. He is a true Saint. I hope to get all his teaching lectures, so I can have a truly Catholic education and share it with my family.

   Brother Francis, please pray for us!

   Posted 06 Dec 2009 at 1:21 pm ¶

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