A Visit With Frank Duff

A Visit . . .

For the past few years, we of Montfort Pilgrimages have been invited regularly to an informal visit with Frank Duff at De Montfort House, headquarters of the Legion of Mary, in Dublin, Ireland.

Kind and gracious as ever, this man of God and humble servant of the Church, now in his 91st year, is always a joy to meet and a most pleasant conversationalist.

As one would expect, his conversations generally revolve around the Church and the Legion Apostolate around the world. One can sense his great love for and loyalty towards the Church. Yet he is never boring or “preachy.” Perhaps it’s because he has the gift of going to the heart of the matter of things and persons and events. And, of course, there is that ever present Irish wit of his that lets him see the lighter side of things also. He’s the kind of man who can laugh at his own jokes – even if the joke is on him!

On October 11, 1979 our group had the privilege of celebrating the Eucharist in the Legion Chapel there on North Brunswick St., in Dublin. “Brother” Duff not only attended the Mass but gladly consented to address our little contingent from America after the Mass.

After giving us a brief “tour” of the Chapel, he proceeded to invite us to be seated while he stood (for at least a half hour) describing to us his visit last June with the Holy Father, in Rome.

. . . With Frank Duff

Of course, it was a delightful account that he gave us – I might say, one that only Frank Duff could give of such a personal and warm encounter with the Vicar of Christ on Earth, Pope John Paul II. As he related the details of that historic visit, one felt that one “saint” had met another, and that a great exchange of love and admiration had taken place as these two great servants of God and of the Church met for the first time.

His humorous description of the “big hug” which the Holy Father had given him at the end of their two-and-a-half hour “audience” (which had included attending the Pope’s Private Mass and breakfasting with him), gave us an inkling of the Holy Father’s, affection for this humble servant of the Church and slave of Jesus and Mary, Brother Frank Duff.

A visit with Frank Duff is always a privilege, a joy and an inspiration!