The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-04-20

(EWIO
 At least four physicians were be- Neved in attendance and their au- tomobiles were drawn up before the Cardinals great gray stone resi- dence that stands on knoll within sight of the spires of Boston Col lege.
 A special squad of policemen under the supervision of Captain William D. Donovan was placed on duty around the house and grounds on which are located the Diocesan House with its business offices and St. Johns Seminary at which priests are trained.
 Policemen were stationed at each of the four gateways leading into the grounds and barred all persons expect those directly concerned with the care of the Cardinal.
 Lights blazed from every window in both his residence and the diocesan house and observers in the street occasionally could see black-robed clerics and laymen in consultation within.
 The Cardinals residence is situ- ated some POO feet back from broad Commonwealth avenue, heavily travelled highway over which street cars run. To avoid any sort of dis turbance of the gravely-iu prelate, policemen were on duty in the street. forcing both automobiles and trolley cars to travel slowly and quietly for perhaps a quarter mile past the grounds.
 Announcement of Cardinal O'Con. nell'S illness created a sensation in the archdiocese since 1t was the first time that bulletin concern. ing his health ever had been issued. Once or two previously he had suf- fered illnesses but on each occa- sion the facts had been withheld for many weeks until after he had regained his health.
 About a month ago, he was seen In his automobile being driven along a parkway that winds with the Charles river through Cambridge. However, his last official public ap- pearance was Jan. 2 at the cathe- dral of the Holy Cross when he addressed the Holy Name society dutin gthe celebration of the Feast of the Holy Name.
 Though he appeared somewhat drawn and tired at that time, the Cardinal spoke eloquently from his throne and led the singing of the first verse of his own famous hymn to the Holy Name.
 Because the day was cold, his eminence remained at home on Easter Sunday although he previ- ouSly had planned to make his cus- tomary appearance at cathedral Mass.
 In the past year he had given up many customs Ae inaugurated during his 36 years as head of the archdiocese including his annual birthday interview Dec. 8 on the Feast of the Immaculate Concep- ton.
 AS senior cardinal priest of the Catholic church, Cardinal O'Connell is spiritual head of more than H. 100000 Catholics in the Boston archdiocese.
 A descendant of the famed Irish patriot Daniel OConnell, the car- dinal was the youngest of II chil- dren born in Lowell to an immi- grant mill-worker. He was chris tened William Henry O'Connell and was but four-years old when his father died.
 Showing unusual scholastic bril- liance as a boy, Cardinal O'Conne!l graduated from Lowenis public schools at 16 and decided to become priest.
 He attnded St. Charles college in Baltimore, where he showed re- markable musical ability. and com- pleted his studies at Boston col- lege and the American College in Rome. It was there, in the Basilica of St. John Lateran, that he was ordained to the priesthood on June 6, 1884.
 On return to the United States, the young priest was assigned as assistant pastor at St. Joseph's church in Medford and two years la- ter was transferred to 8 parish of the same name in Bostons west end.
 Cardinal O'Connell remained there until 35 when he was called to became rector of the American College from which he had gradu. ated only ten years earlier.
 He became Q monSignor in April 1901 while in Rome and was named third bishop of Portland, Me. a post he held until 1905 when Pope Plus x appointed him an assistant to the pontificial throne and sent him on a goodwill mission to Japan.
 It was the second time in the history of the Catholic church that a non-1talian had bene chosen for c diplomatic mission and aS . Te.