Father John Melnick, OSA, the "Mad Monk" has died

Father John Melnick, an Augustinian Friar known to his large family on Facebook as John "Stone: Melnick has died. He was admitted to the hospital on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. His post on Facebook was, "I might die tonight." That was him. He was always ready and accepting of God's will. Father had a severe lung condition and was awaiting a decision on a possible transplant. 

Father was at Marylake Augustinian Monastery north of Toronto and was instrumental in a "clean up" there He eventually served as a Master of Ceremonies to Aloysius Cardinal Ambrozic, Archbishop of Toronto. He was in the same league as Fathers Stephen Someville and Liam Gavigan with regards to the celebration of the traditional Latin Mass during the "indult" period and was scorned for it. We had many chats and he told me some stories about Toronto which must go to the grave with him. He also assisted at St. Demetrius Ukrainian parish as he was bi-ritual. He was encouraging to me for my work in the liturgy and this blog. I will miss him. May God rest his sweet soul. 

Eternal rest and blessed memory. 

The official announcement from Brother Martin:

In the summer of 2015, Fr. John was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

In late 2021, he began to experience a sharper decline in his health, needing to sit even while offering Mass.

This continued to the point that in late 2022, his oxygen saturation levels would drop to the 60s and 50s after walking just a few steps.

On December 8th, 2022, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, Fr. John was rushed to the hospital at 3:30am because he was unable to achieve oxygen saturation levels above the 40s.

He was diagnosed with Covid and admitted to the ICU.

On December 20th, his breathing became extremely labored, risking the failure of other vital organs, whose health he needed to qualify for a lung transplant which he had decided to pursue around Easter 2022. The best hope for maintaining his health for a lung transplant was to be put him on a ventilator, which took place on Dec. 20th.

Fr. John tested negative for Covid on January 3rd, 2023. However, the lung transplant program required a PCR test which detects Covid deep in the lungs, whether the virus is dead or alive. Testing positive for having the virus (dead or alive) in his lungs, he was not yet permitted to transfer to Omaha for a lung transplant.

Shortly after, his kidneys began to fail and his blood pressure began to be extremely low. He was placed on dialysis. This became another obstacle to a lung transplant.

Having been on dialysis for over a week, Fr John’s blood pressure remained very low and he was still unable to produce a satisfactory level of urine.

On Sunday, January 15th at 6:05pm CST, I received a phone call from his attending nurse that his blood pressure had dropped extremely low to 50/20. I had adamantly refused to change his code status from full code to DNR, so I informed the nurse I was on my way and hung up.

Shortly thereafter, Fr. John Melnick passed from this life prepared by Extreme Unction and the Apostolic Benediction, both given to him prior to intubation and sedation.

Please join me in praying for the repose of the soul Fr. John Melnick.

-Br Martin

PS I regret the dissemination of this news on social media prior to the notification of his entire family. I only informed the contact person I had for his family, his doctors, very few close/immediate friends, and those whose participation he requested in his funeral.

Don Minutella: these penalties are "medals of honor"

https://www.catholicfamilynews.org/blog/2017/12/5/resist-resist-resist-cfn-exclusive-interview-minutella

CFN: How do you view your penalties of (de facto) suspension, or excommunications?

Don Minutella: For me these are medals of honor, like when a simple soldier carries out meritorious actions, and the commander rewards him. I hope, however, that one of the Cardinals who remain Catholic, will recognize it. I'll need this [support], even though Cardinal Burke and Cardinal Sarah have already encouraged me privately. The best spoils for the priest are souls. Saint John Bosco told Our Lord: Da mihi animas et coetera tolle! “Give me souls, and take the rest!” It is said of St. John of the Cross that Jesus appeared to him, saying: Ioanne, quid vis pro laboribus? “John, what would you like [as a reward] for your labors?” The Spanish saint responded: Domine, pati et contemni pro te, meaning “Lord, to suffer and to be despised for Thee.” It is something that I have expected since my time in the Seminary, and despite the heavy weight of suffering, I experience the supernatural joy of the Cross.

Father Nicholas Gruner, Requiescat in pace

When the curtain is raised upon the darkness of this age and the light sines forth it will be because of the faithfulness and labouring in the vineyard of priests such as this man.

O LORD, have mercy on the soul your priestly servant Nicholas. Forgive him for his failings and reward him for the mercy he showed to his flock. O Mother of Priests, Mary of Fatima, intercede for this priest, your son, before your Son.

It is almost as if the LORD has preserved him from what is to fall upon us.

Rest in peace Father Gruner.

Thank you for what you have done. May you rest in the peace of Christ.

No justice for the victim priest and the burning incense at the altar of the insurance gods

A few days ago, I posted some news stories which included the ongoing miscarriage of justice against Father Gordon MacRae - even the Wall Street Journal reports on it. The full details can be found at These Stone Walls. 

The situation regarding Father Gordon MacRae is not lost when we consider a recent essay by Richard P. Fitzgibbons, M.D., a Psychiatrist who has written and spoken much on the subject of homosexuality on EWTN and elsewhere. It is worth reading his expert analysis and opinion on the subject. Of course, connected to the matter are the tragic cases of men who were homosexuals and who came into the Catholic priesthood to prey upon their victims and did enormous damage to the lives and souls of these victims and the Church. 

Dr. Richard P. Fitzgibbons

Yet, as with Father MacRae, not all priests that are accused are guilty and not all are homosexuals. Some are unjustly accused and their lives and service to the Church ruined. The leading Catholic expert on the subject, Dr. Fitzgibbons writes in the January 29, 2015 issue of Homiletic and Pastoral Review on the Accusations against Priests and the need for more justice and psychological science. 

In the February 24, 2015 issue of the same magazine, California attorney David A. Shanefelt who represents policy holders against insurance companies and Joseph P. Maher, president of Opus Bono Sacderdotii, which I have previously supported, have written on the sacrificing of priests to satisfy insurance companies.

The witch-hunt that has been undertaken by some bishops is as reprehensible as their cover-up of the crimes of previous generations of priests. They were cowards then and they are cowards now. They have learnt little.

The failure of the episcopacy to the victim-priest and the victims of some priests has been a failure of responsibility and charity. It is a lack of courage and justice of the first order. One can think here of Raymond Lahey the now laicised and disgraced former Bishop of Antigonish in Canada who whist putting together settlements for victims was engaging in his own fantasies with child pornography on his computer. We are still reminded to this day that "Lahey is known as a kind and gentle pastor, particularly sensitive to the needs of those who have suffered the scourge of sexual abuse." Except of course those who suffered the abuse that occurred during the filming and photography of child pornography on his computer of this kind, gentle and sensitive pastor.

How was this not known by the Canadian episcopacy?

It's time for more Catholics to speak out on this continuing injustice and hypocrisy and I say this as someone with his own personal perspective on the matter that goes beyond the events of the last few weeks.