Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1915-09-23
Memoirs Of the Late
Mathew ThieIen
Interesting Sketch Of His Life Esteemed by All

not think upon the advice of the
doctor, that father, the head OF
the family would die so suddenly.
AS soon as danger showed it
self they hurried for the doctor
of the soul, namely the priest who
takes charge of the soul to prepare
it for it's eternal journey. Yet upon
his arrival he appeared to be dead,
but I have to say this consolation
to the members of the family and
of this congregation that he was
not really dead according to my
judgement for nobody has found
out yet when the soul enters and
leaves the body. Hence l absolved
him from his sins and gave him
the sacrement of Extreme Unction.
Then / said prayers recommend
ing his soul to the mercy of God
and l hope God was merciful on
MIN.
His day Of death was beauti-
full one, for he died on the feast
of the Exaltation of the cross and
the beginning of the feast of the
seven dolors of the Blessed Virgin.
| Last December when a mission
was held | remember the day when
NE was present in the church and
swore an oath with the out stretch
ed arm that from now on until his
death he shall have the b. Virgin,
the mother of God as his mother
and protectress. | hope he asked
ner often for protection and by
| leaving this valley of tears he
should have found the mother of
| God as his intercessor before the
throne of God. Hence the inyoca-
tion of the Holy names of his be-
loved wife Jesus Mary and Joseph
names which are ordered by the
| church to be said often to a dying
i person. l am assured that the Bl.
| Virgin interceded for him before
his divine Sen, because l offered
up the Hoy sacrifice to the moth
er of the seven dolors the follow
ing morning which was feast of
i her.
i Many of us know that our de-
ceased brother had bad habit,
I out let us ask ourselves who of
US is free from bad habits? Our
bad habits may not be known be
fore and to the world, but only to
God Should God anyone of us call
to his nuptials and give an ac-
count of his stewardship, we might
not be prepared for it. Let us
\ therefore cover his fault with
y he mantle of charity and remember
The awful words of our Divine Sa-
viour: Judge not and you shall
not be judged, condemn not and
you shall not be condemned"
1 Our deceased brother was a
4 good natured and charitable neigh
Dor: he was good natured because
we found him in good humor most
of the time ard hence he was be-
loved by everybody. l said he
was charitable because he was a
helping hand to his neighbor when
: ever he could and how charitable
, ne was towards God and his church
is only known to him.
His charitable hand will be miss
ed at home for he was father
of the family indeed. He as a faith
er provided for his household mem
bers day and night and shared
the burden of matrimony with his
wife. And now he has left them
! mother of seven children and
> has gone to the eternal rest.
You, o mother, has become a
mother of sorrow and grief like
the mother of Sorrows, manly
the Bl, Virgin and hence look uI
! to her for your help and protec-
ton. The mother of God lost hel
husband, St. Joseph, early and YET
she took it as the will of God.
And you o children, are missing
I your father, a father who was SC
good and kind to you. Yet remem-
, ber although your father has gone
to his eternal reward and YOU
have to follow him sooner or lat
er, you have a father in heaven
) and hence when you are in need
: and trouble of something, go te
, Him and ask Him for it for oul
Saviour says: "Ask and you shall
: receive"
4 Our deceased brother and father
is gone to the eternal rest sudden
/ ly. We will ask our father il
d heaven that he may spare us from