s loss of strength
caused the heart to work badly and to give an occasional sudden
alarm. Internal congestions followed, relaxing the bowels and causing
much bodily annoyance. Meantime he was hardly ever out of his room
and many days he spent entirely in bed. His fits of depression of
spirits were more frequent than usual and more saddening. He no
longer rested at all, what sleep he got being produced by drugs and
serving but to pass the time unconsciously. From the beginning of
December he was apt to fall into a semi-comatose state, though
generally in full use of his faculties. Some days before he died he
seemed to realize that the long struggle was nearly over, and he no
longer talked to the doctor or others of the medicines or of his
bodily ailments, nor did he seem to think of them; and his mind
appeared to have suddenly grown peaceful. The Scriptures as well as
other books were read to him, as usual, up to the very evening before
he died. On the night of the 20th of December, two days after his
sixty-ninth birthday, the last sacraments were administered, Father
Hecker receiving them without visible emotion but in full
consciousness. During the following day he was quiet and apparently
free from acute pain, the benumbed body refusing to suffer more; but
the mind calm and attentive. When the morning of the 22d came all
could see that his time was near at hand. In the middle of the
forenoon the members of the community were gathered at the bedside,
the prayers for the dying were read and the indulgence was given. As
this was over the doctor arrived, and Father Hecker, who had
gradually lost advertence to all around him, was roused by him into
full consciousness, and gave the community his blessing, feebly
raising his hand to make the sign of the cross and uttering the words
in a light whisper. Then he sank away into unconsciousness and in an
hour ceased to breathe.

And so Father Hecker died. Our beloved teacher and father, so
blameless and brave, so gentle and daring, so full of God and of
humanity, entered into his eternal beatitude.

Dying on Saturday, and so near Christmas, the funeral was delayed
till Wednesday, the feast of St. Stephen, the body being embalmed.
Christmas afternoon it was placed in the church and was visited and
venerated by great throngs of people. A vast concourse attended the
Requiem Mass the next morning, which was sung by Archbishop Corrigan
surrounded by many priests, an eloquent sermon