Fr James (Dominic) McCouaig, O.Carm.

This homily was preached by Fr Eltin Griffin, O.Carm. at the Reception of the Remains of Fr James (Dominic) McCouaig in the College Chapel, Terenure College, on the evening of Wednesday, January 15^th, 2002.

“No Trimmings . . .”

I was looking for a word or phrase to describe our beloved departed confrere, Fr Jim McCouaig, or Dominic as he was called at times, and the phrase that came to me was . . . . “No Trimmings.” No trimmings in every department of his life, of his religious life, of his professional life, of his life as a priest. Jim joined the Carmelite Order a year in advance of me. We were in the same communities in Ardavon, now Mt Carmel Hospital, I caught up with Jim at Ordination. We were ordained with fifty others, all religious, at Clonliffe College on Sunday July 16^th, 1950 – the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel – at 8.00 in the morning by Archbishop John Charles McQuaid. Mass production those days.

But to come back to the trimmings. We had a very pious prior in Gort Muire who insisted on trimmings, devotional trimmings which he added to an already full round of daily prayer. Mass and Divine Office, all in Latin for over two hours each day. Jim had no time for such trimmings. He found them distasteful and difficult to endure. He was too much of a gentleman to complain in public but some of us knew how he felt. Many of us felt the same but nobody questioned authority in those days, long before the student revolt was heard of.

Theirs not to ask the reason why,

Theirs but to do or die.

Jim hated piousity. But he had his priorities. He had a great respect for the Contemplative Carmelite Nuns at Firhouse and at Roebuck where he was confessor for several years. He had a great ability to listen, to discern where people were at and to give them hope and heart. He was especially dear to Sr Brigid at Roebuck, Prioress for several years. She relied on his advice not only in community affairs, but in the building of their new convent and chapel and in the layout of the grounds. She said to me this morning, ‘we can never say too much in praise of Fr McCouaig.’ He ceased being their confessor over eighteen months ago but he went back again this Advent with Fr O’Hea and said as they came back, ‘I am glad we did that, we must do it again!’

No trimmings either in his role as bursar, teacher, principal of the school, prior or rugby coach. As bursar he got the job done with efficiency and courtesy. He had that extraordinary ability to grapple with the most complex financial situations.

No trimmings either in his teaching. His primary degree was in Philosophy and English. And even though he had no third level qualification in Science he was an outstanding Chemistry teacher. He loved Chemistry and this came across to his students. But again, no trimmings. He stated the material as it was with extreme clarity. Past students remember him with great fondness and as a great teacher. I have stated before in this place, and it’s a deep conviction of mine, that a good teacher has an influence and a spin off that can never be measured. But did Jim have control? Even as he walked the corridors he commanded attention and respect.

His other love was English Literature. He had a gift to penetrate Shakespeare. One of his favourite poets was Tennyson.

He was a very young man when, in 1955, he brought the Leinster Junior Rugby Cup home to the College. In 1958 Terenure won the Leinster double – Junior and Senior Rugby Cups. Jim was still the one who trained the Junior team. What wonderful days! Some of you here tonight may recall them. When it came to rugby, as well as no trimmings it was no messing.

His outstanding characteristic was his gentle approach. He loved the line from Shakespeare’s As you like it – ‘If thou has ever been where bells have tolled to Church let gentleness its strong enforcement be.’ But his gentleness was anything but passive. It had the strength of steel about it. If he was ever angry he was angry at the right time and never angry at the wrong time. It was Ladeslaus Boros, a great theologian, who said, ‘It’s a great fortune good fortune to meet a truly gentle person, it can mark a whole lifetime.’ That was the Christ-like side of his character. And it was combined with fidelity, fidelity to this College and all it stood for, fidelity combined with great love for his family. For his parents, his sisters – Patricia and Moira – and for his nephew – Brian. And of course for his origins – the green glens of Antrim. He always retained that little touch of the Antrim accent.

For the past few years his health was deteriorating. He was going downhill all the time. His strength was diminishing and yet despite the fact that he was unable to stand for any length of time he insisted on concelebrating at Funeral Masses in this Chapel, a gesture that was deeply appreciated by the clients of this College Chapel. It was John the Prophet, a sixth century monk who wrote,

God asks nothing of the sick person

except thanksgiving and patience.

These intercede before God for the sick person’s

powerlessness better than anything.

Patience and thanksgiving was very much part of him in his latter years when he began to feel the diminishments of illness and of the ageing process. He died in Mt Carmel Hospital where he had begun his studies and where among the Sisters of the Little Company of Mary he had friends for whom he was very special.

If he were asked, ‘What do you want for you funeral, Jim?’ I’m sure the answer would be ‘No trimmings.’ But let me add one trimming, appropriately from Tennyson:

From: Crossing the Bar

Sunset and evening star,

And one clear call for me!

And may there be no moaning of the bar,

When I put out to sea.

Twilight and evening bell,

And after that the dark!

And may there be no sadness of farewell,

When I embark;

For though from out our bourne of Time and Place

The flood may bear me far,

I hope to see my Pilot face to face

When I have crost the bar.

Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-1892)