MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

Venerable Solanus Casey

ABOUT FR SOLANUS

Father Solanus made himself available every waking moment of the day. Following lunch in the friary, he frequently shot billiards with fellow Friars. "Often as not," a Friar recalled, "he would pick up a cue and start to shoot, and his call bell and start to shoot. The he would put the cure stick right back into the rack, but never give any expression of impatience. When he received that call, we all knew he would never leave his office for the rest of the day until supper."

The relentless pace took its toll. Sometimes Solanus was so exhausted that he went into a corner of his office and collapsed on the floor for a catnap. A Friar remembered: "I would drop in the chapel at midnight or one o'clock in the morning and, sure enough, Father Solanus was there with his fiddle in from of the Blessed Sacrament. At other times when I thought I was alone in the chapel, a figure would rise up form behind the pew and Father Solanus would be there with a grin. He was just taking a little nap after a fatiguing day."

McKenna responded, "I'll off fifty cents for the enrollment" (at that time, the ordinary stipend of the Seraphic Mass Association).

Two nights later McKenna returned, waving his arms: Father, we had overtime yesterday and today, and we heard this afternoon that the company has an order for forty-five thousand machines wanted in thirty days."

McKenna, Solanus concluded, had saved Chevrolet from bankruptcy by enrolling the company in the Seraphic Mass Association.

Politicians, prelates, street people, the poor, the afflicted, the oppressed, the spiritually destroyed, Communists, the vice-ridden-----the whole tide of suffering humanity flowed into Casey's little office. All, from Montreal's Brother Andre (recently beatified) to Detroit's Mayor Frank Murphy, who later became Governor of Michigan and the a Justice of the United States Supreme Court, waited their turns, sitting on metal chairs outside the office. All received the same openhearted welcome. He challenged then to an expression of faith; he sent them all away renewed and refreshed.