Four years ago today, 7 October 2012, the world lost the greatest man I ever knew. Father Luke William McCann was my campus minister in college, became my undergrad seminary residence director, life’s mentor, and a second father to me. His dinner table was my university. Luke held multiple graduate degrees in Theology, in English and Philosophy, and a Ph.D. in English Literature from Columbia University. He was a man of great culture, having sung in the Metropolitan Opera chorus in New York City as a child, and was a devotee of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and every other art museum in New York.
Even greater than his erudition and civility, or great good humor and laugh that came up from the bottom of his feet, was his incredible faithful witness to the truth of the Church’s moral magisterium back in the 80’s and 90’s when Humanae Vitae was the butt of every joke on campus. As a member of the faculty at St. John’s University, and then at Marist College, Luke gave faithful and forceful witness to the truth at a time when the clergy were collectively losing their minds.
Not only did Luke give me the vision to become a Ph.D. in the biomedical sciences (at a time when I laughed at my chances of doing so), but he insisted that I do my pre-med work at Columbia University. All that I am, and all that I have I owe this blessed saint. Most of all, through the example of his fearless witness and absolute trust in God, Luke gave me the gift of his courage to confront the culture of death.
In his early 70’s Luke was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, and just when I was through with my scientific training and early years teaching, the years I had thought we would have together with my family were spent in a long letting go and goodbye. It will forever be a mystery to me how for the last eight years of his life, the Church was deprived of one of its most faithful priests and finest minds.
I have no doubt that he is in Paradise tonight, but ask that in your charity you offer a prayer for the repose of his soul. He brought many back to the faith, and in the confessional he took people of great self-loathing and instilled in them a renewed self-love and love of God. His great admonishment to us every week:
“We become what we think we are.”
On that he built the identity of sons and daughters of God who are loved unconditionally, and who learned to carry themselves accordingly. How blessed we were to have had him in our lives, and how grateful I am to God for his fatherhood and friendship.
Eternal Rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let Perpetual Light shine upon him.
May he rest in Peace. Amen +++
This is a beautiful witness to Father Luke, a holy Priest. Dr. Nadal, thank you for sharing this story. We need to recognize such goodness and give thanks to God for giving mankind both you, Dr Nadal and your spiritual guide. God bless you for recognizing the good Priest you found in Father Luke.