20 replies to this topic

[cmotherofpirl]

http://www.fatherbyles.com/byles.htm

[BG45]

Amazing story. Hearing Confessions and giving blessings to the end after helping load the lifeboats.

[AnneLine]

Apparently there were THREE priests, and each one was a hero and a perfect example of what a Catholic Priest should be!

http://www.osv.com/t...he-Titanic.aspx

I wonder if anyone has ever suggested proposing them for consideration for beatification...?

Edited by AnneLine, 14 April 2012 - 06:57 PM.

[r2Dtoo]

None of them told anyone, "Your heart will go on.", did they?

[cmotherofpirl]

Since they willingly gave up their lives for others Annie, we should consider it. They wouldn't be martyrs.

[AnneLine]

Agreed. Might be able to make a case for very holy confessors, however....

[arfink]

Well, if that terrible Titanic movie is to be believed, alot of people on that boat needed a good confessor. Bravo for our priests!

[r2Dtoo]

The whole fascination with the Titanic (both the ship and the movie) is ridiculous. Why is it so special that a ship sank? Because no one back then thought it would? Who cares?

[FuturePriest387]

Since they willingly gave up their lives for others Annie, we should consider it. They wouldn't be martyrs.

Not martyrs per say, but they did sacrifice their lives. Saint Maximilian Kolbe wasn't a martyr in the strictest sense of the word since he didn't die for the faith, but the Pope announced him a martyr for the Faith. Perhaps these Priests will fall under the same category?

[arfink]

The whole fascination with the Titanic (both the ship and the movie) is ridiculous. Why is it so special that a ship sank? Because no one back then thought it would? Who cares?

Well, it's just a great example of how the mass media is capable of twisting popular imagination. It's easy to be "fascinated" by the deaths of others, especially in large quantities. Barring gladiator fights, the next best thing to hungrily focus our bloodthirsty minds on is lots of people dieing on boats, in earthquakes, etc. As vividly, graphically, or melodramatically as possible.

The older a tragedy becomes, the more appropriate it seems to drool over it, make a show out of it. The Greeks were especially fond of this in their popular tragic plays.

But ultimately it's all being manipulated by the media. Otherwise everyone would be like you, R2, saying "Why am I watching and enjoying a movie about all these people dieing?"

Edited by arfink, 15 April 2012 - 10:45 AM.

[homeschoolmom]

The whole fascination with the Titanic (both the ship and the movie) is ridiculous. Why is it so special that a ship sank? Because no one back then thought it would? Who cares?

Well, it's just a great example of how the mass media is capable of twisting popular imagination. It's easy to be "fascinated" by the deaths of others, especially in large quantities.

Okay, I must confess, I am interested in Titanic and other disasters. Not obsessively interested... just, interested. I'm not at all interested in the details of the sinking, per se., and I didn't think the 1997 movie was all that great-- it was okay.

I am very interested in who those people where. People from all walks of life who, unbeknownst to them, were heading towards disaster.

[Archaeology cat]

Same here, HSMom

[jaime]

Okay, I must confess, I am interested in Titanic and other disasters. Not obsessively interested... just, interested. I'm not at all interested in the details of the sinking, per se., and I didn't think the 1997 movie was all that great-- it was okay.

I am very interested in who those people where. People from all walks of life who, unbeknownst to them, were heading towards disaster.

Yeah I'm a big fan of Kardashian marriages

[Strictlyinkblot]

Here's another article on the priest along with a photograph of a small stained glass window that's in the church where he served.

http://www.bbc.co.uk...-essex-17583535

There was another priest on board. According to the priest who gave the homily in mass today, a priest was a passenger on the ship from Southampton to Cobh, Co. Cork, Ireland (which was the Titanic's last stop). Another passenger on board offered to pay for his fare to go to New York. The priest sent a telegram asking permission from his bishop. The bishop promptly sent one back saying 'You are not to get back on that ship'. He obeyed and went back to serve in his parish. I don't remember the names but I'm sure the priest wouldn't lie in his homily.

[homeschoolmom]

Yeah I'm a big fan of Kardashian marriages

I was talking about people who walked into disaster unaware...

[r2Dtoo]

I was talking about people who walked into disaster unaware...

But why stop there? Watching people destroy themselves because they want to is a blast.

[jaime]

I was talking about people who walked into disaster unaware...

touche

[Autumn Dusk]

The whole fascination with the Titanic (both the ship and the movie) is ridiculous. Why is it so special that a ship sank? Because no one back then thought it would? Who cares?

i dont care for the movie but after hearing a titanic survivor when I was small (she was only 2 and didnt remember)...must of been very early 90's I was always facinated with what she discribed as the "end of innocence" and the beginning of true globalization.

What differed from her and the WWI pilot, the holocust survivor and the african freedom fighter was that the world awoke after the titanic. News was on 24/7 and never again did something happen that wasnt recorded somehow and given to the world. The titanic survivor imparted a truth on me the others didnt...we are fragile and we are not perfect.

Ships sank all the time. To have the "unsinkable" sink was a sign that humans science would never fully control the elements.

[Lisa]

If only they made it into the movie! Someone posted a link the other day- maybe cmom?- that talked about the real stories on the titanic. It would be fantastic if those stories were made into a movie. The problem is that with historical events, we either get terrible acting/low-budget documentaries or unnecessarily sexualized dramas.

[homeschoolmom]

If only they made it into the movie!

Actually, Fr. Byles *is* depicted in the James Cameron movie. As the ship is upending, he is pictured leading the Rosary. (I think-- I haven't see it in 15 years, he may have been granting absolution).

Also, in the recent movie on ABC, Fr. Byles is again depicted as he is finishing up Mass in the second class lounge.

So, while he's not the focus of the movie, they didn't completely omit him/them.