CATHOLIC TRUTH SOCIETY, 69 SOUTHWARK BRIDGE ROAD, S.E.; 245 BROMPTON ROAD, S.W.; 22 PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C. 1898. 49090 FATHER THOMAS BURKE, O.P.1 (1830-1883.) NICHOLAS ANTHONY BURKE was born in the city of Galway on September 8, 1830, and. was baptized on the 10th of the same month, the Feast of St. Nicholas of Tolentino, after whom he was called, the name Anthony being added because of his mother's devotion to that saint. His parents, Walter Burke and Margaret Mac-Donough, were poor in this world's goods, but rich, virtue, and devoted themselves to the training of, their children. Walter Burke was a baker by trade, the "Master of the Rolls," as his son used to call him. An ill-natured critic once pronounced Father Burke's sermons to be "flowery." "No wonder I am floury," he replied, "was not my father a baker?" As a child, Nicholas was delicate but full of spirit, and early showed that love of music and power of mimicry which later distinguished him. His fondness for playing pranks and practical jokes more than once got him into trouble, and he received in consequence many severe chastisements from his mother, who regarded such corrective acts as sacred, and always began them with prayer. Direct, O Lord, our actions, and carry them on by Thy gracious This biography is mainly based on-(1) The Life of Father Burke, by William J. Fitz-Patrick, F.S.A; (2) The Inner Life of Father Burke, by a Dominican Friar of the English Province; (3) Lectures and Sermons, by Father Thomas Burke, O.P. (P. M. Haverty, New York). |
