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November 18, 2004
RIP
Gerard Serafin, the host of A Catholic Blog for Lovers, and of course the library of related, very helpful webpages, passed away very early this morning.
From the comments on his blog:
Sad News!
I'm sorry to report that my brother Gerard passed away at 3AM on Nov. 18. His failing heart just gave away. He leaves behind many friends and a great deal of positive impact.
He managed to do things in his last years no one would ever think a person in his health could do. In fact, he had just returned from a trip to Amish Country with our sister the afternoon of his death.
A funeral mass will be held in St. Benedicts of Baltimore on Monday. Other arrangements are still not finalized.
Bill Bugge
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Comments
I read Gerard's blog almost daily for the last year or so. He seemed a gentle and kind man.
I will miss his entries. Being a franciscan at heart I believe that he has joined his beloved dog, Onion.
May God have mercy on his soul.
Posted by: tom at Nov 18, 2004 11:05:38 AM
Sad news, indeed. I will say a prayer for the repose of his soul.
Posted by: JACK at Nov 18, 2004 11:06:43 AM
May Christ embrace him and welcome him to His heavenly kingdom.
Posted by: Dale Price at Nov 18, 2004 11:13:56 AM
Oh my.
I offer up any good I do today in union with Christ's Sacrifice, for the repose of Gerard's soul.
Such a kind, gentle man.
Posted by: thomas tucker at Nov 18, 2004 11:18:18 AM
Sad news indeed. I profited immensely form his web-site and blog. May the Most Merciful God grant him eternal rest.
Posted by: Ignacio at Nov 18, 2004 11:21:05 AM
How sad. I do believe it was his site where I first heard Ave Verum Corpus.
Posted by: Toni Pacitti at Nov 18, 2004 11:49:57 AM
I'm also sad to hear of his death. I read Gerard's blog too. It was one of my favorites. I feel like he was a personal friend, though I never met him. He inspired me to start a blog.
May he rest in peace.
Posted by: Betty G at Nov 18, 2004 12:01:23 PM
I knew this day would come eventually, but I am extremely saddened by this. Gerard lived a mile or two from my grandparents and I had an opportunity to visit him in his extremely tiny apartment. I'm glad to hear that he had some very nice vacations at the end of his life and got to see some things that he always wanted to see. I'm sure he will be one of the Holy Souls praying for us and I am sure that he will very much want and need ours.
Posted by: Patrick Rothwell at Nov 18, 2004 12:03:49 PM
God rest his soul! I wish I'd read his blog more often. I first became cyber-aquainted with Gerald by reading the Eastern Orthodox Usenet group. In the interest of ecumenical love with our sister church you see. They weren't really interested. They were pretty hard of Gerald actually. He was always so kind and irenic, God bless him.
Posted by: Marty at Nov 18, 2004 12:10:17 PM
May he now be enjoying the Beatific Vision.
Posted by: Donald R. McClarey at Nov 18, 2004 12:24:35 PM
I will pray for this wonderful man' soul and for all who grieve for him.
Posted by: john hearn at Nov 18, 2004 12:43:53 PM
May he rest in peace. I feel that I know him from reading his blog.
Posted by: Lynn at Nov 18, 2004 12:54:54 PM
God bless his soul.
Posted by: Rod Dreher at Nov 18, 2004 1:07:12 PM
I have lost one of my oldest friends. I met Gerry at St. Mary's Annapolis in 1971 or 72. We have never been completely out of touch. He baptized 7 of my 9 children. When he was a priest he was a fine preacher and insightful and gentle in confession. His weaknesses deprived the church of a fine priest. I know his sorrow and his repentance were great and genuine and that he made every effort to get help and to avoid occasions of temptation. Those who knew him understood this and never stopped loving and respecting him. He had many many friends and greatly valued their friendship and support. In a difficult time for me when I was confused,isolated,and unable to afford or travel to any kind of therapy, he carefully answered many long poorly handwritten and somewhat emotionally disturbed letters,I believe keeping me from going over the edge psychologically.
I have pinned up in my cubicle what Gerry wrote under the heading "O Felix Culpa" Part of that reads, "And our sins great as they may be, can become a special claim on the heart of the Savior, calling forth from Him even greater love than if we had not fallen and sinned."
I shouldn't be crying. He is now resting in that love, close to the Heart of the Lord.
I know that there is a purgation most of us need to go through, but outside of time we can't really say that he would be there now and only with the Lord, later. However let us all pray for him to speed him on his way.
SFP
Posted by: Susan Peterson at Nov 18, 2004 1:08:25 PM
I have loved Gerard's website for years and did regularly read his blog. I didn't always agree with him but we needed a voice and presence like his desperately on St. Blog's. It is our loss but I don't doubt that we have gained a heavenly intercessor.
Like C. S. Lewis (to Sheldon Vanauken across a busy Oxford street, causing several cars to swerve), I want to bellow "Christians never say good-by!"
Adieu, Gerard. May we all meet merrily in heaven.
Posted by: Sherry Weddell at Nov 18, 2004 1:15:30 PM
May his memory be Eternal!
This is indeed sad news.
Posted by: Lee at Nov 18, 2004 2:07:35 PM
So sad. I just stopped by his blog the other day and it is poignant to go back now and read the last post.
May he, and all of the faithful departed, rest in peace.
Nicole
Posted by: nicole at Nov 18, 2004 2:28:23 PM
My prayers to him and his family. Such sad news.
Posted by: ita o'byrne at Nov 18, 2004 2:39:51 PM
I was able to meet this kind, gentle man when he passed through Salt Lake City earlier this year. Now I see it as a privilage. Rest in Peace Gerard.
Posted by: Larry at Nov 18, 2004 3:22:50 PM
I was sad to read this. His blog was a daily stop and he seemed to be a good, positive, decent man. May he rest in peace.
Posted by: Gen X Revert at Nov 18, 2004 6:49:00 PM
Though Gerard and I lived in the same city, we never met in person. But I feel like I've known him for years via the internet. I even got to suspend him once (temporarily) from an email list I moderated. I spoke to him for the first time just a couple months ago, when he called me to talk about his visit to France (I had made a couple of suggestions of things he might want to see and he wanted to tell me about them). We talked about meeting for lunch, but hadn't gotten around to scheduling anything.
It's sad news, but joyous in its own way, because in Christ he is now far more alive than the rest of us.
Posted by: Fritz Bauerschmidt at Nov 18, 2004 7:29:11 PM
Marty, he was indeed greatly interested in reaching out to the Orthodox Church. In fact, he founded the Baltimore St. Maximos Chapter of the St. John Chrysostom Society to promote unity and understanding between the two churches. Hmmm I had not realized today is Thursday, the day that all members pledge to pray John 17 for unity. May his prayer today be all the more heard. May eternal light shine upon him. May we all remain one in Christ.
Posted by: Therese at Nov 18, 2004 9:51:13 PM
Oh my! This is sad news. As many others, I only knew him from his blog. He seemed like a very decent & kind man. I enjoyed his insightfulness, information on Christian history, and the stories of his travels. I had no idea he was ill. May he rest in peace with our Father in heaven. God bless his family as well.
Posted by: Peggy at Nov 18, 2004 11:36:35 PM
I called St. Benedicts. He will "lie in state' from 9-11 and the funeral is at 11. St. Benedicts has a web site, so you can find out where it is from that.
SFP
Posted by: Susan Peterson at Nov 19, 2004 3:25:06 PM
Hi,
I had just sent Amy a note with my brother's final arrangements in case she wanted to post it, but I now see she's got something else on her mind. ;-)
Anyway, in case anyone is interested, here they are:
Sunday, November 21:
Ambrose Funeral Home
1328 Sulphur Springs Road
Arbutus, Maryland 21227
(410) 242-2211
Viewing 3PM to 5PM and 7PM to 9PM
Monday, November 22:
St. Benedicts Church
2612 Wilkens Avenue
Baltimore, Maryland 21223
(410) 947-4988
Viewing 9AM to 11AM
Mass 11AM
------------------------------
St. Mary’s Church
109 Duke of Gloucester Street
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
(410) 263-2396
Burial
Thanks to all for the comforting comments.
Posted by: Bill Bugge at Nov 19, 2004 3:56:48 PM
It is Geralds blogs list of Catholic blogs that introduced me to the world of Catholic blogging, he will be missed. May God grant him eternal salvation.
Posted by: John Bianco at Nov 21, 2004 6:25:19 PM
I had not read Gerard Serafin's blog for awhile, but it was his web page that first introduced me to St. Blog's Parish. I am saddened to hear of his death, but will pray for him and ask him to intercede for all of us who through blogging try to counter what Blessed James Alberione called "the bad press" with what he called "the good press." May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Rae
Posted by: Rae Stabosz at Dec 27, 2004 11:34:30 AM
