BLESSED EDMUND IGNATIUS RICE by Br Len Noronha

BLESSED EDMUND IGNATIUS RICE

Why would a rich businessman attempt to become a teacher ?  Why would he choose to teach  “wild”  children who had never been in a school before, children who had no interest in being disciplined ?

If we are talking about EDMUND RICE, the answer is that he was  INSPIRED :  God had a very  SPECIAL  PLAN  for him.  Edmund had been born in a country where privileges were granted, or denied, to people by virtue of their religion.  He himself was born into a family that  HAD  what they wanted, but thousands of other children had nothing.  Their only recreation was to fight on the filthy streets.

Then Edmund got married ; his own life sounded like a fairy tale  -  surely it would be  “happily ever after”.  But he was in for a rude shock :  his wife died.  In his  LOSS, he struggled with  GRIEF,  and deep SADNESS, and even  QUESTIONED  the value of his life.  He had the inestimable gift of wise people to whom he could turn, to talk his frustration through.

Only then did he come to the decisions that would give lakhs of children, for over  200  years, the conviction to believe that they, too, were children of God ;  and the opportunity to believe that they, too, could dream of a better life ;  and the assurance that they had a role to play in the development of their respective countries.

Over the last forty years, this story has been repeated in St. Joseph’s, with pride and joy :  first by the Christian Brothers who had been inspired to give their lives to the same cause,  and then by the other members of the staff who have, in their turn, made Edmund their guiding star.  Every person has to cope with Sadness, Loss and Grief at some stage of life  -  and they are always difficult to grapple with.  But, with the inspiration of the life of Edmund Rice, it is possible to remain grounded in the faith that God has a  SPECIAL  PLAN  when success is hidden behind failure, hope gives way to disappointment, joy is replaced by sorrow, and happiness is masked by a curtain of sadness.

It is no great feat to accept success.  But this world needs people who, when success eludes them, can applaud those who have succeeded, and move on with life, and grow because of the experience.  The overwhelming sorrow of Edmund Rice bore fruit in his love for the students who had nobody ;  and it continues to bear fruit in young people who recognize that they have been privileged, and reach out to those that have less.

The staff and students of St. Joseph’s P.U. College have been inspired by his message of  HOPE  because of the presence of his Brothers.  Now Edmund Rice will inspire them through the people who have made it their own  -  the Correspondent, Principal and staff who continue to proclaim the message of hope by their lives of faith.

May he continue to live in our hearts, forever.

Br Len Noronha