Daily Archives: December 16, 2023

Not as extensive as Barnhardt’s memes but things have been so heavy lately I had to share this one…

On Thursday night, December 14, 2023, only 15 days past his 86th birthday, Fr. James Buckley departed this earthly life.

And what a life!

Although it seems impossible, there are probably a few people in the trad world who did not know Father. I would like to give just one quick story to illustrate the love this holy priest had for his people and for the holy priesthood.

Father was instrumental in my own love of tradition and he didn’t even know it. His preaching was flawless. He was a gifted teacher and even in his later years he could preach a perfect sermon off the cuff replete with accurate dates and names of obscure saints and references to literary masterpieces. All the while he was fascinating and humorous and joyful and faithful. I loved hearing him preach.

But I loved even more finding myself in his confessional.

Father would frequently reference St. Ignatius and quote him. “When you wake up in the morning, ask yourself, ‘Christ died for me. What have I ever done for Christ?’” He would assign seemingly harsh penances but always explain why. “When you pray your rosary over the next ten days,” he would say – the assumption being that you would be saying your rosary daily, “I want you to pray three decades of it with your arms outstretched in the manner of Christ on the Cross.” He would then explain that he wanted me to not only come to imitate Our Lord perfectly that I might grow in holiness but also, “so you can perform true penances in this life. If you have to do them after you die, it’s going to be worse for you. Also, read the nineteenth chapter of John’s Gospel every day.”

I am sure he had seen it all in his life and I only came to know him over the past few years. But boy did I love seeing him walking across the parking lot on his way to the church to hear hours of confessions.

Tonight, traveling, I found myself at an FSSP parish in the northeast. At the beginning of Mass, the young priest announced that this would be a requiem Mass for Fr. Buckley.

And sitting in the back of this beautiful church as Mass progressed, I cried for Father and for the beauty of his life and the magnificence of the traditional Latin Mass he loved and that he offered so reverently.

Please pray for Father’s soul.

Our Lady, Mother of Priests, pray for us!