No Common Loss

the following article was first published in the parish bulletin the weeks of March 1, 8 and 15, 2020.  The italicized paragraphs are the verbatim obituary for Fr. James Canavan from The Milford Journal originally published on Tuesday, August 16, 1904.

On the morning of August 16, 1904, the people of Milford rushed to their jobs to hear the bells of Saint Mary’s tolling at 7:45 AM.  They were the bearing the sad tidings that they had been awaiting and dreading, the untimely death of their dear pastor, Fr. James Canavan.  Overcoming pain and sickness for much of his life, they knew that the rheumatism that ached his body was gaining on him and in recent weeks had confined him to bed, his strength waning.  While he did not gain the notoriety or headlines of his predecessor, he had clearly won the hearts not only of his flock, but of the larger community of Milford.  The Milford Journal of August 16, 1904, records tenderly the influence of Fr. Canavan on the parishioners of Saint Mary’s, the people of Milford and those of the surrounding community.  It is worth quoting in its entirety for the insight to the personality and example of Fr. Canavan to his flock and the larger community of Milford and its surrounding towns:

“The mere announcement that so well known and esteemed a citizen of Milford, so prominent a factor in its public affairs and so exemplary an exponent of the great church of which he was so devoted and pious a member, has passed beyond, is of far more than ordinary significance to this community.

So much of his life had been given to the parish of St. Mary’s. so large a proportion of his vitality, his energy, his purposes and his ideals had been occasioned by its needs and for its betterment, that his departure is no common loss.

The beloved pastor died surrounded by those who were dear to him, within the shadow of the Temple of God, where his life work had been done, resigned to the will of the Maker.  About his bedside when the end came were Rev. James N. Supple, pastor of Saint Francis de Sales’ church in Charlestown; Rev. James V. Hanrahan, curate at St. Mary’s; Miss Eliza Canavan of Worcester, his sister; members of the household, his physician, Dr. J. J. Duggan and Rev. John P. Phelan, acting pastor of Saint Mary’s church.

A change for the worse in the pastor’s condition became apparent to those near him about 11 o’clock last night.  At that hour, he began to gradually lose consciousness and he did not regain his senses afterward, dropping, as it seemed, into a calm, peaceful sleep.  The last rites of his beloved church were conferred upon the dying priest yesterday morning at 10 o’clock, by Rev. John P. Phelan.  The pastor breathed his last this morning just as the curate concluded the final words in the prayer for the dying.

Yesterday the pastor spoke to his senior curate and in the seven weeks since he was confined to his room and bed he seemed to be as thoroughly conversant with general affairs as one in perfect health.  His vitality was most remarkable and his wonderful will power, characteristic of him, was most truly manifested during the days of his sickness.

That the revered pastor of St. Mary’s was stricken with mortal illness was not unknown to his parishioners or to Milford citizens generally, for the gravity of his illness had been recognized widely and his prominence in the community necessarily precluded continued misunderstanding and, as the sad conviction became a general public certainty, sympathy for him pervaded the whole community.

For years the deceased had suffered greatly with severe physical infirmities, of which chronic rheumatism was only one, and for the past few months he had been in much pain.  Notwithstanding his physical suffering, he had assiduously endeavored to attend to his pastoral duties so long as he was able.  For years he had labored with scanty respite from incessant duties until physically he broke down.  Loving and loyal assistants lightened much of his burdens but even their willing hearts and ready hands could not lift from him the crushing burden of his infirmities and he calmly and confidently awaited the end.  For years past he had been cheered and comforted by the presence and consolation of his fellow servants of God, whose companionship was to him most precious and helpful and the ties that united them were strong and tender.

All that could avail to mitigate his sufferings or relieve his pain was done by skilled attendants swift in his service.  No effort was spared to comfort him mentally or physically and the prayers of the Christian people of Milford, not alone those of his parish, united with those from friends elsewhere, to the Divine throne on his behalf.

For a generation, he had ministered to the spiritual and moral needs of old and young of the people of St. Mary’s.  He had served them at church altars and at their homes; he had increased their joys by sharing them and had assuaged, the sorrows inseparable from mortality with unceasing sympathy and kindness.

The priests who have ministered at the altars of St. Mary’s for nearly 60 years have been noted for their learning, their spiritual diligence and material industry and Rev. J. T. Canavan was worthy of his associates, an excellent embodiment of priestly dignity and fidelity.

He was born in Worcester, July 5, 1849, was educated in Worcester public schools, in which he attained high rank, and prepared for the priesthood in St. Charles seminary at Baltimore, and the provincial seminary, Troy, N. Y.  He was ordained Aug 15, 1873, in the Springfield cathedral, by the late Rt. Rev. P. T. O’Reilly, and Sept. 1 of that year was assigned to this parish.  He was appointed pastor of St. Mary’s Dec. 12, 1898, after the death of Rev. P. Cuddihy.

The deceased held the affection of the people of Milford, not only of his parish, but of the citizens generally as well, in an especially strong degree.  He practically spent his life in the priesthood here, for, excepting his service as pastor of a parish in West Fitchburg for three months in 1880, he has labored with and for the members of this parish and town ever since his ordination.

When appointed to the parish at West Fitchburg he left behind such a public sense of appreciation of his work here that within three months he was induced to resume his duties here at the urgent personal solicitation of the late Rev. Patrick Cuddihy and the persistent wish of all of St. Mary’s parishioners.  He has been a kindly, but keenly watchful guardian of the spiritual and moral welfare of his large flock, swift to promote all wholesome pleasures and movements for its material benefit and happiness, and equally responsive to every legitimate appeal for the advancement of the welfare of its citizens.

The reverend gentleman had always warmly advocated the interests of Milford as a community.  He was quick to rebuke whatever tended to give public offence or to injure public morals.  He strove to maintain a high standard of life, not only among his parishioners but for the whole town as well.  Nothing that could promote the welfare of its people or beautify the appearance of the town he loved well, ever found in him an unwilling listener.  He was prompt to aid, to counsel and to assist all movements for public good, and many found in him a true friend and a loyal well wisher.

In the last months of his life, when pain was his constant companion, he unselfishly sought to comfort those who were in trouble and sore afflicted, touching with tenderest sympathy their afflictions.  His personal sympathies were broad and his natural affection was strong and true.  His was a kindly nature, and in spite of pain and anguish, even to the last, he gave unstintedly what he could to all who could claim either by friendship or duty or religion, his attention or ministration.

But a few weeks ago, one of Milford’s well known citizens, suffering deeply in the loss by death of a very dear one, was inexpressibly touched by a most tender letter of personal sympathy from the reverend pastor of St. Mary’s, who from the midst of his own suffering sent his condoling message to comfort an afflicted friend, thought not of his parish.  It was characteristic of his regard for others.

He gave his whole adult life to the parish of St. Mary’s and Milford. The best of his ability, his devotion and zeal have been expended here.  So faithfully and so unreservedly that his best monument lives in the hearts of his parishioners and in the esteem of his fellow townsmen.

He served the town of Milford ably and earnestly as a member of the school committee from 1874 to 1880, and on July 4, 1876, delivered at the celebration by Milford of the national centennial an admirable eulogy of the American public schools, in response to the toast, “The American system of common schools – the bulwark of American liberty.”

The other public occasions on which he has assisted in the past 30 years by inspiring utterance and presence on public platform to lend strength and character to worthy causes are too numerous to detail.  An important occasion was in 1898, in Milford town hall, when the citizens of Milford and Hopedale sent forth to the Spanish war the soldiers of Co. M, and his forceful and fearless language made a deep impression on all who heard him.  The last important public occasion at which he addressed the citizens was at President McKinley’s Memorial service at Milford town hall, Sept. 19, 1901, in earnest eulogy of the martyred president.  It was a dignified expression of admiration for his pre-eminent public and private virtues and of sorrow at the nation’s loss.  On his return from Europe in August, 1902, he was given an ovation in which hundreds participated, and which terminated in a reception in front of St. Mary’s parochial school.  His response to the oratory and the enthusiasm was eloquently simple and unaffected.  In August last year he was given but much less formal reception in the parochial residence on his return from Ireland.

Personally, Rev. J. T. Canavan was urbane, dignified and courteous.  His presence and manner were considerate of others, and his very impulsive and fearless temperament was guarded and governed by tact. He was an excellent judge of men, and although considerate of their frailties, had no hesitation in administering salutary admonition or cordial commendation

He left two sisters – Eliza and Catherine – and two brothers – Thomas, who has an important position in the U. S. railway mail service, and Hugh.  All reside in Worcester, but have for weeks been devoted servitors at his bedside.

Arrangements for the funeral service are not yet fully completed, but it is announced that the service will be at 10 o’clock Friday morning at Saint Mary’s church.  A solemn pontifical mass will be celebrated by Rt. Rev. Dr. Thomas D. Beaven of Springfield, bishop of the diocese.  Many priests will attend the service which will be most imposing and impressive.  Bishop Beaven was immediately informed of the pastor’s death this morning.  Rev. John P. Phelan has charge of the funeral arrangements.

By special request, parishioners and friends will not send floral pieces.

Tomorrow evening the remains will rest in the reception room of the parochial residence, where parishioners and friends will be permitted to look upon the face of the deceased.  Tonight none but members of the family and relatives will be admitted to the house.

On Thursday, the remains, accompanied by many priests, will be borne with impressive ceremony, from the house to St. Mary’s church. And there, in front of the altar rail, the remains will lie in state until the hour of the funeral.  A meeting of all the Catholic societies of Milford has been called to take action on the death of the pastor and to make arrangements for attending the funeral.

The remains will be taken to Worcester for burial, in St. John’s cemetery, beside the graves of the father and mother of the deceased in the Canavan family lot.

Tuesday, August 16, 1904 The Milford Journal

This column was published in the parish bulletin on the weekends of March 29 and April 5, 2020.

That Wednesday, August 17, 1904, was busy in Saint Mary’s Parish.  Family and relatives of Fr. Canavan had gathered at the parish house the night before to share their sorrow and their memories.  Now, it was the public’s turn to look upon the face of their beloved pastor one more time as over 700 people passed through the reception room at the house on Winter Street to show their respects. Most were parishioners, but there were town officials and admirers from surrounding communities who were noted in the line offering their sympathies.

The parish’s associations, the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) Divisions 7 and 15, the Knights of Columbus (Valencia Council # 80), Charity Court # 169 of the Massachusetts Council of Foresters met to organize the honor guard as well as each society’s participation in the funeral rites of their pastor.  Once their duties had been determined, each group as a body, dressed in black with mourning badges, passed the simply casket of black broadcloth containing their beloved pastor robed in the vestments of his office.  The next day for the funeral, they would adorn each of their respective banners with black bunting to be carried in procession as an expression of their common sorrow.

Then on Thursday, at 5 o’clock the procession organized at the parish house, and led by a cross bearer, followed by the attending priests reciting the Office of the Dead, they led the procession across the parish grounds to the church.  Two delegates from each of the parish’s four associations served as pallbearers as the pathway was lined with silent parishioners, heads bowed as the bells tolled to accompany the prayers of the priests.  The procession made its way to the front of the church where, as the prayers ended, the body of the priest was placed solemnly on a catafalque before the altar.  The parish sodalities would provide an honor guard through the night until the funeral services the following morning.  The Milford Journal reports that over 8,000 passed through the church that night to show their respect and affection for their fallen leader.  The number is staggering when reminded that the 1905 state census records the population of Milford as 12,105!

At 7:30 on Friday morning, Fr. James Supple, (a native of St Mary’s Parish and close personal friend of Fr. Canavan) was the celebrant, assisted by Fr. John Murphy of Grafton as the deacon, Fr. James Cruse of Upton as the sub deacon, and Fr. Daniel Devine, curate in Milford as the master of ceremonies.  This Mass was intended for the children of the parish who had a special affection for Fr. Canavan as did he for them.  “Hundreds of the young people of the parish in whom the deceased pastor was deeply interested, attended this service.  The choir rendered special music and after the service the children took a last look of the face of the departed priest.  The 7:30 service was also attended by very many older persons, including in the number workmen who later went to their daily toil.”

By 9 o’clock almost every seat in the church had been filled and hundreds more stood on the grounds surrounding the church.  The center of the church had been reserved for the family and relatives of Fr. Canavan, town officials and members of the parish organizations.  The side aisles had open seating for the general public and the priests were stationed in the sanctuary to the left of the main altar.  At 10 o’clock the parish organizations filed in and took their seats in the body of the church.  For 15 minutes the bells of the church tolled as the priest gathered in the sanctuary prayed the Office of the Dead and all in the church knelt and joined in the prayer by their silence.  At 10:30 M, Bishop Beaven ascended the stairs to the high altar and began the Pontifical Mass assisted by the Very Rev. John T. Madden, Vicar General as assistant priest and other priests serving minor roles in the liturgy.  The choir was directed by John Wall and was augmented by the presence of many voices from Fr. Supple’s parish in Charlestown whose organist, Daniel J. McAuliffe also assisted.

The service concluded with a rendition of “Pie Jesu” whereupon Monsignor Thomas Griffin, pastor of Saint John’s Parish in Worcester offered the eulogy.  He spoke briefly but effectively about the brief life and example of the dearly departed pastor.  Msgr. Griffin noted the date of Fr. Canavan’s death only a day beyond the anniversary of his priestly ordination remarked, “how much he had reason to rejoice that the anniversary of his ordination came upon that glorious feast day of our church, the feast of the Assumption.  We all know and every priest within this sanctuary thanks Almighty God that when it was time for the pastor of St. Mary’s to die, he went resigned to the will of the Maker to his reward – calmly and peaceably on the anniversary almost of his ordination.”

Following the Mass, the parish organizations organized an escort from the church to the depot where the remains of the priest would travel by rail car to Worcester to be buried alongside his parents.  Leaving the church, the parish organizations marched to down Winter Street to Main Street as far as Lincoln Square where they lined the streets in silence as an honor guard.  The cortege passed from Main to Central Streets to the depot.  The railway had added special cars and offered special round trip tickets (a limited number at a cost of ninety cents) to Worcester for the journey.  There were 178 Milfordians who took advantage of the opportunity along with another hundred from Fr. Canavan’s boyhood home of Worcester.  The rail car departed on time at 12:55, and with a transfer in Framingham arrived in Worcester on time at 2:44 pm. 

this article was originally published as the second half of a bulletin article on April 5, 2020

When the funeral party reached Union Station in Worcester, the procession regrouped along the same organization that it had in Milford.  It made its way up Front Street to Main Street and then to Franklin Square.  From there, the group boarded electric cars for the final leg of the journey to Saint John’s Cemetery in Worcester.  There were 20 priests along with the relatives and parishioners from Milford who made the journey to Worcester.  At the cemetery, they were joined by several hundred others already waiting in attendance for not having been able to make the trip to Milford for the morning services.  Fr. Supple, close friend of the deceased priest offered the prayers for the beloved pastor. 

At the conclusion of the committal rites, the group from Milford knelt at the grave and offered a common prayer.  They then processed a hundred yards away to the grave of their former associate, Fr. Thomas Fitzgerald.  His funeral had been celebrated the morning that Fr. Canavan died t the parish where he was pastor in Sheffield, Massachusetts on August 16^th.  Fr. Fitzgerald had served as a curate in Milford with Fr. Canavan and was the priest who introduced him to the cheering throng just five years earlier on his return from Europe in August of 1899. 

Now their graves were in close proximity in Worcester.  Though the group from Milford had discussed and organized this show of respect, no one outside their group knew and therefore was unaware of this planned homage.  The parish sodalities then knelt and formed a square around the resting place of Fr. Fitzgerald.  The remaining Milfordians who followed then knelt outside the leaders of these organizations as they prayed together for their priest. “One hundred or more Milford men all in black, kneeling in the form of a square made a significant spectacle.”  Fr. Fitzgerald’s sister was present for the committal rites for Fr. Canavan and was surprised but also deeply touched by this affectionate tribute to her brother, who only a few days before had preceded his brother priest to the heavenly sanctuary. 

“Parishioners of St Mary’s paid due and reverential honor to the memory of the good priest and then made the scene more effective by the tribute paid another loved priest.  Pastor and curate, reared in the same parish, taught in their religious belief by the same teachers, now rest within the shadow of each other’s grave in their native city.”  The article ended with the hope that “Yesterday’s events will long live in the memory of St. Mary’s parishioners.”

The local paper reported that on August 25, 1904, Clifford A. Cook of Milford filed in Probate Court the will of Rev. James Canavan.  The bulk of his belongings was left to Miss Elizabeth Canavan of Worcester, his sister.  There were no public bequests; there were two individuals:  to Hugh Canavan, his brother, he left $500 and $1000 to Fr. James Supple.  The will was dated May 10, 1904, and was witnessed by Clifford Cook, Michael Edwards and Rev. John Phelan.  Fr James Supple is nominated as the executor.