Monsignor Francis Meehan Seeking the Face of God

Francis X. Meehan, a young, handsome, star academic athlete came out of West Philadelphia in the early 1950’s; but instead of seeking fame, fortune or a family as many sought after World War II, chooses to answer God’s call to leave all behind and follow Him in a special way. The passion of his life is to seek the Face of God and the Face of Jesus in his lifelong journey on this earth. To answer this deep call and passion and love, he entered a Catholic Seminary in the 1950’s and was ordained a priest in 1961. This year of 2011, the Lord called him Home to be with Him forever after a life of prayer, service and scholarship within a committed, loving, celibate relationship with God and within a life of integrity and dedication to God’s People and God’s Word. During 2010, Monsignor Francis Meehan, or “Father” as he preferred to be called, was told by his doctors that he would have a year to live. Knowing his earthly service was coming to an end, one of his last wishes was to share some intimate prayerful reflections that he had written down during the previous 50 years. Some of these reflections are very simple. Some are very scholarly, since Father Meehan was a Professor of Spirituality and Moral Theology. But all of these reflections came out of Francis’ deep faith-filled prayer life, and his desire to seek the Face of God in all areas of life, relationships, church, ministry, and complex moral questions. This compilation of reflections, dated from the late 1950’s until 2010, are organized into certain themes. It is Father Meehan’s final gift to His God, the Church, the Earthly Community. He leads us to pray, and to ways of gentle, and imaginative, and passionate prayer. He shares with us the many ‘friends’ who have guided him in this life: mentors, retreat directors, scholarly writers, and especially many saints throughout the Christian era. He presents ministry and church with the wisdom of 50 years of experience in the Lord’s Work. He writes as a prophet of the Lord, speaking from his deep, personal prayer life, his listening to God’s Word in the Scriptures, his scholarly wisdom. He is very nuanced and fair and deep in writing of the Church and Moral issues.He champions neither a conservative or liberal camp. He is not given to popular causes. His life and perspective are rich in the Scriptures, Tradition, yet the developing of God’s truth in our history today. As many people were enriched by Father Meehan’s teaching, preaching, retreats, many articles and books, during his 50 years of ministry, so now his written words will be a continued presence to these many people from his past, and a treasure to people of faith and to any person on a journey to seek the face of God in all areas of our lives. As he lived a life of humble, loving service to the Lord and His people without wanting any glory or fanfare directed toward himself, these written reflections are published, not to give any honor or glory to Father Meehan, but to guide any simple, open-hearted person to Know and Love God, as Francis Meehan knew and loved God. Since we all need mentors of faith, integrity, and wisdom to journey through this life, accept Father Meehan’s words and wisdom as a personal guide to mentor us in our life’s journey. The loving spirit of Father Meehan is still with us in these prayerful meditations.