The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-08-19
Father Hussey Pays
 Tribute To Late Nun
Life Service of Love of Sister Margaret Loretta of St. Mary's School Inspire Eloquent
 Sermon - Teacher 28 Years

|
 An eloquent tribute to the lat Sister Margaret Loretta, teacher a St. Mary's parochial school for q years. was paid by Rev. Philil Hussey in recent sermon at tht Church of the Immaculate Concep. tion. Sister Margaret Loretta diec at Paterson, N. J., after a shor illness.
 In response to a number of re. quests, The Democrat tonigh prints the text of Father Hussey'! sefmon. It is as follows:
 SISTER MARGARET LORETTA
 Come, Spouse of Christ, receive the crown which the Lord hath prepared for thee forever"
 My dear friends, during the past week one of the most beloved mem- bers of our parish departed from our midst. From out the fevered depths of an aching body, purified in the consuming fires of burning pain afflicting her every member Sister Margaret Loretta surrendered her soul to God.
 Yet, hers was no mere death- bed surrender, no last minute act of resignation to Gods will. No, hi- deed. For, almost thirty years ago. Sister Margaret Loretta, spoke thus to Christ her spouse, What have I in heaven and besides Thee what do I desire upon earth? For Thee my flesh and my heart both faint ed away: Thou art the God of my heart, and the God that is my portion forever" Not when the last cruel pains of death began to stiff en each member of her body in Afelessness; not when her heart was slowing up after a ceaseless conquest for the pleasures of this earth. but early in life, while still a girl in her tWenties, while tine zest for living was still flaming in her youthful body, then it was that Sister Margaret Loretta yielded up both her soul and body to God. Then, it was that she wrapped herself in the black robes of death, death to the flesh, death to earth ly pleasures, even legitimate pleas ures, death to motherhood, death to all the joys and happiness of family life.
 And why? Why did she give up all this2 Because she was disil- lusioned with life? Because she wished to escape the duties of motherhood? Because she knew no. how to love? Not Sister Margaret Loretta. Her cheerful, smiling coun- tenance gave proof that. she 'sn- joyed this life and the people in it. Her earnest desire to labor only in the lower grades of St. Mary's school gave proof that she loved the little ones. Not to escape moth- erhood did she become a nun, but that her children should number a thousand rather than five or ten did she forego the consolation and happiness of family life. Great too was her capacity to love, ex- ceeded only by Christ's, Who took her for His bride.
 How endlessly How tireleSsly did sine labor to prove that love. For twenty eight years did she work in the household of Christ's Kingdom here upon earth, Her field of en- deavor was the old st. Mary's school. Her flock the little children sent forth from your own homes. Day by day did ste watch over her flock, patiently and lovingly. leading them gently but firmly through the fields os reading, writing and arlth. metic, stopping frequently Go rour- ish their youthful souls in the de. ilghtfil, yet nayslerlous pastures Of Gods holy religion. Long since have many cf Sister Margaret Loretla'n