By Father J. Scott Duarte, J. C.D., Postulator
Published in the Alumni Magazine
of the
Pontifical North American College, Fall 2002
On the morning of February 7, 1920 at the Blue Nun’s hospital in Rome, Frank Parater, a young Richmond seminarian of the North American College, died. Eighty-two years later this seminarian is still remembered for the faithful way he followed Christ. Thus on March 24, 2002, after receiving permission to instruct the cause and acquiring the nihil obstat ('nothing stands in the way') of the Holy See, Bishop Walter F. Sullivan, D.D. of Richmond issued a decree establishing a Tribunal “to examine the life, virtues and reputation of sanctity of the Servant of God, Frank Parater, Seminarian.”
Frank Parater’s death was well chronicled by his contemporaries. Upon arriving at the college in November of 1919, Frank was inserted into a small group or band of seminarians, as was the custom at the time, called a camerata. Letters describing his life at the college and giving details concerning his death were largely written by several members of this group which included Leo D. Burns, the dutiful prefect of his camerata and a Richmond seminarian, Francis (Frank) J. Byrne (later Rt. Rev. Msgr.). Father Thomas McLaughlin, a student priest, who was hospitalized at the same time and place, gives details of Frank’s illness and death.
Frank, whose happy nature and perpetual smile endeared him to everyone, became ill on January 22nd, a little over two weeks before his death. He was experiencing rheumatic pains, first in one arm and then spreading. He received medical attention immediately from the house doctor who was visiting that day. With increasing pains in his arms, hands, back and chest, he was sent to the hospital of the Blue Nuns on Tuesday, January 27th. Though at times Frank seemed to be improving and while he expressed the hope of getting well, it became clear a week before his death that he was gravely ill. His prefect and fellow seminarians took turns staying with him night and day. By Thursday Frank was in critical condition and on Friday, Monsignor O’Hern, the Rector of the College, offered the community Mass of the Sacred Heart for Frank’s recovery.
At three o’clock Saturday morning he began to decline rapidly, and the sisters sent for Monsignor Mahoney, the spiritual director of the college, who was with Frank when he died. Frank Byrne describes his final moments: “Frank’s death was a beautiful one. He was fortified by the Sacraments of the Church. When he received communion the morning of his death he tried to get out of bed and kneel on the floor. The last action he made was a slow and labored sign of the cross. Towards the end his lips moved constantly in prayer: his death was like falling asleep” (Francis J. Byrne, Letter to Mrs. Parater, February 13, 1920).
When his death was announced at the college, his prefect relates: “The sad news depressed all, for all knew Frank, and admired him and liked him. The members of the little ‘band’ to which he belonged were especially downhearted, for he was the life of our little crowd” (Leo D. Burns, Letter to Miss Parater, March 14, 1920). The cause of their sorrow would soon change as Frank Byrne describes finding Frank Parater’s will or act of oblation:
… I opened it and read the most astounding document I have yet read or even hope to read. It was headed ‘My Last Will’ and in it, after saying that he had nothing to leave but his life which he offered to the Sacred Heart, Frank went on to speak beautifully of death; of the desire he had had from his earliest years for the conversion of the non-Catholics of Virginia; of his offering every action of his life here and afterwards for that end and declaring that he would die for it if God willed. …This wonderful document was signed and dated Dec. 5, 1919, when Frank was in the best of health and surely had no thought of any serious illness in the near future. The only conclusion that we, or I think any one, can draw from this is that God revealed to him that he was soon to die. A circumstance that shows how dear he must be to the Sacred Heart to which he had such devotion, is the fact that he was anointed on the First Friday. That he was dear to the Heart of Our Blessed Lady is seen in the fact that he died on Saturday, the day of the week dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. She must have begged of Our Lord the favor of leading this soul into Paradise on the day dedicated to her honor (Francis J. Byrne, Letter to Mrs. Parater, February 13, 1920).
Another account informs us:
Brother, you can tell his mother that her boy is certainly in Heaven today. I never heard one spoken of as he was spoken of last night by the fellows who came to see the body. He was evidently the most popular man in the house. …One of the Sisters said to me last night ‘It is not every one that has the privilege of nursing a saint.’ Really he must have been a remarkable fellow, since every one who met him said so. He was so holy and at the same time a regular fellow (Father Thomas McLoughlin, Letter to Father Walter Nott, February 28, 1920).
Frank Parater’s prefect relates:
If he endeared himself to us in so short a time by his manly, solid and optimistic character, we can easily imagine what he must have been to you, his loved ones. That marvelous document which he left dispelled the gloom of his death here more than anything else. Our Rector said that there seemed to be something supernatural about it. That is also the opinion of all who have read it. It shows in a strong and beautiful manner the nobleness of his great soul and the exalted love he had for God and his fellowman. That letter has been read by the students and professors of many colleges in Rome, and has or I am sure will be the subject of a number of sermons or talks to students. All who have read it desire a copy of it. It will ever be especially dear to the students of the American College. The reading of it will always bring to our minds the delightful personality of him who wrote it, while its sublime contents will cause us to strive after such high and pure ideals as he had. …God showed by taking Frank to himself how he loved him and that he listened to his prayer. He will surely be happy in heaven with the Sacred Heart whom he loved and served so faithfully here. … Our whole college feels greatly honored to have had such a student, and the band of which he was a member look upon him as their own. And we know that as he was so thoughtful for all, relatives and friends here, surely he will be a special protector for each of us in heaven (Leo D. Burns, Letter to Miss Parater; March 14, 1920).
As one can easily grasp, Frank Parater was a Servant of God. His faith, purity of heart and living of the virtues endeared him to his contemporaries. Their letters and oral testimony concerning him has been handed down from generation to generation and kept his reputation for holiness alive. Frank Parater continues to give inspiration and example to seminarians and those that share his love for Christ, the Church and the priesthood. Articles in subsequent issues of the North American College Magazine will examine his early years, beginning with his birth and formative years in Richmond, including his education at Benedictine High School. His life at Belmont Abbey College Seminary in North Carolina, his journey to Rome and his experiences as a “new man” at the Pontifical North American College will also be detailed.