Fr Antonio on the Other Side

Death has come to our house. I have been protected most of my life from death – the only deaths I remember were my four grandparents, my Godfather, a neighbor who was run over by a car, and John Paul II. But now someone very close has passed to the next world. Fr Antonio Izquerdo died of complications from cancer on December 30th.

Just over a year ago, he was our vigorous professor. I remember his classes in introduction to Sacred Scripture. He would stand behind the lectern but gesture with his hands and his voice. He came across as having a complete mastery over the material. Even more, many brothers in the community found a spiritual father in him – his list for spiritual direction filled up fast.

He was one of the best preachers for spiritual exercises. He combined his knowledge of the scriptures with a deep knowledge of the spiritual life. You could see how he prayed assisting at his mass.

You could see he was suffering recently; one day at breakfast his head fell forward onto his food and several had to wake him up and take him to see a doctor. I didn’t see much I could do but pray.

Now he is gone. I don’t know if I am better off to pray for him or pray to him. Right when he died, one brother came through the computer lab inviting each of us individually to pray a “Hail Mary” for him. I invite you to do the same now.

About Fr Matthew P. Schneider, LC

In 2001, I traveled from Calgary, Canada to join the Legion. Since then I’ve been all over North America and spent some time in Rome. I currently reside in Washington doing a bunch of writing and taking care of the community while studying my Licentiate in Theology (between Masters and Doctorate). I’m most well-known on Instagram and Twitter where I have about 6,500 and 40,000 followers respectively.
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One Response to Fr Antonio on the Other Side

  1. Jem says:

    May God comfort you in your loss. The passing of a good man is a loss to all of us in the Church militant, and it sounds as if this priest was a good man. It is sad to lose a priest–there are so few of them, but he has finished the race and reached the goal. I have said the Hail Mary you requested and will continue my prayers for his soul.

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