SUBJECT: PERSONAL!!!

Rest In Peace, Fr. LeBar

This morning, I learned of the death of Fr. James LeBar. Fr. LeBar was a close friend and mentor to my own dear friend Fr. Ken Yossa. He was, for many years, the chief exorcist for the Archdiocese of New York, and was one of the most prominent figures in this very specialized ministry in the entire world.

My friend Fr. Yossa is a Byzantine Catholic priest (Romanian Rite) who is godfather to my son Philip and who was present at my own reception into the Church. He forwarded to me this prayer which seems most appropriate for the occasion. It is taken from the Byzantine Funeral Office for a Priest:

O Lord, our God, we see your departed priestly servant James and all the works performed by him in your Church. Now that he has departed by your will, we beseech you O solicitous Master, in your loving kindness, forgive him all his transgressions—committed deliberately or through human frailty—and that you admit him to the region of the living, to the place of light where all the saints repose. For you are the resurrection, the life and the repose of your priestly servant James, O Christ our God, and we glorify you, together with your eternal Father and your all holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen.

Papa Z