Vigil
for Br. David Downey, O.S.B.
January 13, 2008
Reflection by Abbot Lawrence and Mike
Rolla – Holy Cross Abbey School ‘69
This
evening, we come to the end of the powerful cycle of seasons in the liturgical
year of the Church – a cycle that Br. David lived with particular intensity this
year as he learned of the spread of his cancer around the beginning of Advent
and passed from this life during the last week of the Christmas season. Ando,
on this Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, we come the end of the season of
contemplation, expectation and waiting that is Advent, and to the end of the
season of completion, delivery and arrival that is Christmas. We also go beyond
the feast that celebrates the revelation and invitation of God’s salvation that
is Epiphany and, like the Magi, we return to our homes by a different way,
having been changed by our encounter with Christ. At the same time, today we
stand on the precipice – a good Rocky Mountain word – on the precipice of the
season that we dub “ordinary,” the season that we mark with the green that
represents life itself. In some ways, we could say that we stand on the
precipice of the season of “Just-get-on-with-it.” This seems to me to be a
perfect evening to keep a vigil of prayer for our confrere, our brother, our
uncle, our mentor and friend, Br. David Downey. In the far too short time that
our monastic community has journeyed with Br. David, it seems that the theme of
“Ordinary Time,” or just getting on with Christian life, is the appropriate
season of the liturgy in which we commend Br. David to the Lord, for it is
perhaps the most appropriate way in which to describe the gentle and faithful
spirit that was at the heart of Br. David.
As
abbot, it has been my privilege to hear many sentiments from many members of Br.
David’s family, friends, former students and monastic communities. Since his
passing, many have written notes and emails, wanting to express a particular
memory or tribute to Br. David. And although it would be impossible to include
them all, I hope to incorporate some of these sentiments in the homily for
tomorrow’s funeral Mass.
This
evening, however, I would like to focus on one letter that I received two days
ago from one of the alumni of Holy Cross Abbey School. The letter is from a
1969 graduate of Holy Cross, Mike Rolla. In reading Mr. Rolla’s letter almost
in its entirety, I do not want to focus on one person’s sentiments at the
exclusion of others. Rather, Mike’s reflections actually encapsulate the
reflections and themes that have been included in almost all the other notes and
letters that have been sent in tribute to Br. David. Mike Rolla writes the
following.
“I amuse myself every time I think of the way I wrote out David’s name. It
always included the postscript of “OSB.” It was just assumed it was a mindless
leftover of the many years of association with the Benedictine order. However,
since David’s passing into glory and spending time in thought about him over the
last few days, it represents more than just an amusing habit. David is what a
monk is. He is a devoted follower of the Order of Saint Benedict and as such
should always be labeled with the monogram of O.S.B.
As so often happens during the time of loved ones’ deaths, those left to grieve
look to the learned for words to bring meaning and comfort to our loss. I found
two such quotations which brought my many thoughts and feeling of David into
focus. The first is from Arthur Schopenhauer an 18th century German
philosopher and student of Kant. Here is his statement, “Faith is like love; it
cannot be forced.” David’s faith in and love of God were never forced nor were
they ever expressed with false piety. David was not one to put on the mask of
fake sanctity or to preach to you. Oh, make no mistake, while at Holy Cross and
put in change of the operations of the cafeteria his words to unruly students
were never mistaken as preaching. The student cafeteria was my first encounter
with that crew cut, extra-large handed monk. Be sure that your silverware was
sorted according to type and that your glass was put in the rack upside down or
else. And later on when I worked with David at Camp Holy Cross during many
summer breaks from college and his hair had grown out a little more I found out
that it was okay for monks to like a sip of scotch every once and awhile and it
was also acceptable for them to smile and be happy; to show affection.
The second words I found summed up David’s monastic life as I thought about him,
his actions and the way he carried himself as a man though the years I knew him…
Manifest plainness,
Embrace simplicity,
Reduce selfishness,
Have few desires.
Lao-tzu (The Way of Lau-tzu, Chinese philosopher, 604 BC – 531 BC, and most
likely a precursor to St. Benedict)
Before searching the written pages and while taking inventory of who David was,
I concluded that he was a simple man: simple being the opposite of complex, not
uneducated. A simple man is someone who says what he thinks and follows thorough
on what he promises. He is not self-absorbed with who he thinks he is or proud
of his actions, knowing that duty is only what is expected of one and not to be
praised. A simple man obeys when given instructions without questioning the
whys. When dealing with David, I knew where I stood. I also knew that I could
joke with him and him being simple he would always let me have the last laugh
over him. I did, however, give him the last word which was, “you bastard.” Ah,
the reaction I was looking for.
After his leaving the student cafeteria and knowing him better we learned of his
love of anything horses, feedlots, cattle, and cowboy, and the cafeteria was no
longer known as Larry’s Lunchroom or David’s Diner. He simply became known
forever after by all Abbey students as “Dude” or if need be in a formal context
as “The Dude.”
Let me take up no more of your time … because I could ramble for several more
pages at your expense on the chronicles dealing with David practicing adagio
processing because he was the cross-bearer for the induction ceremony of Abbot
Edward or him introducing the mountain camp staff to the joys of Rocky Mountain
Oysters. I will leave still with heaviness in my heart at the thought of not
seeing that happy smile, or the example he gave of how to serve through
obedience, or the joy of living life by being a simple man and monk.
God bless and keep you Brother David, O.S.B.”
Indeed, may God bless and keep Br. David, and may God bring us all together to
everlasting life. Amen.
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