Sir, - We helped to bury one of our dearest friends in a small village in the South of France last St Patrick's Day. He was an Irishman, a lifelong communist and a most generous, kind and politically astute human being, who lost his life suddenly in an accident.
His family, who had travelled from Ireland, wished for a Catholic ceremony and the village priest was approached. This gentleman, who did not personally know the deceased, agreed to Irish music being played by his friends and to the reading in translation of socialist French poetry at the Mass. He made a very beautiful speech about our friend's life, mentioning his socialism, his non-materialist outlook on life and his humanist qualities.
Our friend went into French soil covered by an Irish Tricolour, shamrock and red roses, to the prayers of the priest and the singing of L'Internationale. All this did justice to his life. We left France knowing that the Catholic Church, the French Communist Party, our friend's family, and his many friends of different nationalities and political beliefs had all participated to their fullest in this final mark of respect. It has made his passing a little easier to accept.
Would the Irish Catholic Church please take note of the humanity displayed by one of their French brothers in Christ who recognised the grief and shock of strangers and who eased our pain by listening? - Yours, etc., Angela Devlin O'Donnell,
St Vincent's Place, Sundays Well, Cork.