Absolved, Abp. Hannan says: ‘Sounds good to me!’

    Archbishop Gregory Aymond reflects on the life of Archbishop Philip M. Hannan, who died Sept. 29 at the age of 98. Archbishop Aymond and Daughter of Charity Sister Anthony Barczykowski arrived at Archbishop Hannan’s room at Chateau de Notre Dame shortly after his death at 3 a.m.

From a human perspective, there is mourning and grief. He is a man who was well loved, and we will miss him. At the same time, we know that Archbishop Hannan would not have wanted to linger on. It was on Sept. 29, 1965 – exactly 46 years ago – that Pope Paul VI appointed him as the 11th archbishop of New Orleans. He served us as a good shepherd – as a dedicated archbishop for 23 years and in his retirement for the last 23 years.
    He was committed to God. He was a man of faith. He was a leader of the church. We also say farewell to and honor a man who truly was a New Orleanian even though he wasn’t from here. He worked tirelessly for this archdiocese and for all it represents.
    We were able to fulfill one of his special requests before he died. He had said he wanted to die in the bed where his mother had given birth to eight children and where he had slept for many years as archbishop of New Orleans. It was also the bed in which Pope John Paul II slept during his historic visit to New Orleans in 1987. While Archbishop Hannan was still in a hospital bed, we were able to move the headboard into his room and place it on his bed, so we feel as though we fulfilled his request.
    On a personal level, he was a mentor to me. He ordained me as a deacon and as a priest, and he was a co-consecrator when I was ordained a bishop. I will always remember him with great love and great respect.
    I believe his legacy will be that he called together and invited people of all faiths and all denominations to work for God and for the good of the entire community. One of his favorite hymns was “Let There Be Peace on Earth,” and in so many ways he was a peacemaker. He brought together people of different races and ethnic groups.
    It was a privilege for me to celebrate the Mass of Viaticum  (food for the journey) in his apartment on Saturday, Sept. 24. He was surrounded by his brother Jerry and several close friends.
    At the time for the homily, I said I wasn’t going to use words. I simply pointed to him and said, “He is the living homily. He is a man of God, dedicated to the church. He not only taught us how to live but also how to grow old gracefully and how to die.” He wanted to keep going as long as he could, and he taught us in many ways how to live. For a man who was very independent and who became totally dependent on others, he never complained about anything.
    During the Mass of Viaticum, the person close to death receives the Body of Christ as spiritual nourishment for the journey. It was a very emotional time for all of us. He had not said much all day, but it’s clear that he knew some of what was going on because after I gave him absolution and forgiveness of his sins, he said, “Sounds good to me!”
    As I was leaving his room, I gave him a blessing, and I didn’t think he was coherent at all, to tell you the truth. But I asked him, “Archbishop, why don’t you give me your blessing?” He heard me and understood because he tried to raise his hand. He had trouble doing it, but in his own way, he made that sign of the cross. I will always consider that an important farewell that we were able to exchange.
    When I reflect on Archbishop Hannan’s life, certainly one of the highlights of his ministry was when Pope John Paul II came to New Orleans. He was so proud of that. I was happy the pope came, but I was even happier that Archbishop Hannan was able to experience it and share it with everyone else.
    I got the word of his death shortly after he died on Thursday morning at 3 a.m. A member of the Chateau nursing staff was with him in the living room adjacent to his bedroom. She heard a slight noise and assumed he was breathing heavily. When she went in the room, he had passed away. With all that he had been through, I would be surprised if that wasn’t the way he wanted it. He’s led a very public life in many ways, and in the last couple of weeks there had been a stream of people coming to see him at the Chateau. It wasn’t a surprise to me that he passed away quietly. At 98, his body just got tired.
    We will miss him, but at 98, he has lived a full life. We truly believe in faith that he will not feast just at table of the Eucharist but at the table of the Lord in heaven.
    From the time Archbishop Hannan came here right after Hurricane Betsy in 1965, he truly made New Orleans his home. This was his parish and his archdiocese, and it had no boundaries. He was there for anyone and everyone. That was his goal in life. He always quoted St. Paul, and he truly believed that his mission and ministry was to preach the Gospel untiringly both in actions and in words.
    Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.
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