On writing straight with crooked lines
by Fidelis Rice, C.P.
This article was taken from The Church World, Maine's Official Catholic Weekly, Apr. 27, 1973. An editorial introduction is followed by the text of Father Fidelis' story:
One of the most widely-known religious priests born in Maine is Fr. Fidelis Rice, the Passionist Father who originated the inspiring radio program, "The Hour of the Crucified," nearly 20 years ago. [1954] The program has been heard by millions of listeners all over the world.
Philip Rice was born in Berwick, Maine, on Dec. 8, 1908. He was baptized at Holy Trinity Church in Somersworth, N.H., and moved with his family to Biddeford during the First World War, following the untimely death of his father. It was at St. Mary's parish that he attended his first Catholic school, with Sisters of Mercy as teachers. The family soon moved to Saco where they became members of Most Holy Trinity parish. It took young Philip quite some time to get used to the sloping floor of the old Colonial Theater which served as the parish church—but it was there that he served as an altar boy for the pastor, Fr. Timothy J. Mahoney. It was thanks to Father Mahoney that the youth became acquainted with the Passionist congregation. It is at this point that Philip (later known as Father Fidelis) begins his narrative.
About the year 1922, Father Mahoney invited a wonderful Passionist missionary, Father Mark Cotter, C.P., then stationed at St. Gabriel's Monastery, in Brighton, to come to Saco to preach a Passionist Mission. It was the first time in my life that I had ever heard of the Passionists. I was completely overwhelmed by the wonderful personality and preaching ability of Father Mark.
After I had heard only one or two of his magnificent mission sermons, I sensed deep within me that more than anything else on earth I wanted to become a "Mission Father", like Father Mark, though at that time it was only an idle speculation. On Friday night when I heard him preach the unforgettable sermon on the Passion and Death of Christ, my whole life was changed. I resolved that night, that with the help of God, some day I, too, would preach a sermon on the Passion of Christ, and how I prayed that I might preach with just a little of his eloquence. The more I think it over, the more easily I understand why it was that when the "Good News" or the Gospels first came to be written, the first parts to be written contained the proclamation of the Passion and death of Christ. How that story must have torn at the heart of the primitive Church, and the People of God.
In the meantime, through the good offices of Father Mahoney, and the late Monsignor George Johnson of Portland, I had been admitted to the old Catholic Institute, which had been the seed from which Cheverus High School would grow. I used to go back and forth between Saco and Portland, each day on the old street cars, and later on the Boston and Maine Railroad. I used a monthly commuters' ticket, and each month there was a family scramble to try to put together the money needed for "Philip's Train Ticket." (I had been baptized Philip Jerome, but became "Fidelis" when I became a Passionist.) At that time in the Catholic Institute I was in the same class with two other future priests; Father Harold Butler, of Bath, and the late Father Christopher Hagan, O.S.B., who died a few years ago at St. Anselm's Abbey, in Manchester, N.H.
Although I still wanted to become a Passionist Priest, the desire did not torment me as much as it had at first. I toyed with the idea of writing to Father Mark Cotter, who in the interim had been chosen Rector of St. Gabriel's Monastery in Brighton, asking to be accepted as a Passionist. But I did NOT write, and kept putting it off.
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