Pro Hominibus ad Deum (Ordained for men in the things that appertain to God)
Joseph Francis Flannelly (October 22, 1894—May 23, 1973) was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New York from 1948 to 1969.
Biography
Early life
Joseph Flannelly was born on October 22, 1894, in New York City to Michael J. and Mary A. (née Considine) Flannelly.[1] He attended Cathedral College in Queens, New York, and made his theological studies at St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers, New York.[2]
Priesthood
Bronze doors, St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York CitySt. Patrick's Cathedral, New York City
Flannelly was ordained to the priesthood in New York on September 1, 1918, by Bishop Thomas Walsh.[3] The archdiocese assigned Flannelly as curate at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Yonkers.[4] He supervised the parochial school at Our Lady, taught singing, and organized and coached the school baseball and basketball teams. He also served as chaplain of the local fire department.[4]
In 1938, after 20 years at Our Lady, the archdiocese transferred Flannelly to St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan, where he served as an assistant to Monsignor Michael J. Lavelle, the rector of the cathedral.[4] The following year he succeeded Lavelle as rector, a post he held until his retirement in 1969.[2]
Under Flannelly's guidance, St. Patrick's underwent extensive changes; these changes included the installation of a new altar and a rose window in the west wall of the edifice, major improvements of the organ, and the completion of five sculptured bronze doors facing the Fifth Avenue entrance.[4]
The Vatican named Flannelly as a papal chamberlain in 1941 and a domestic prelate in 1943. In August 1948, he celebrated the requiem mass at St. Patrick's for the professional baseball player Babe Ruth.[1]
At his consecration, Flannelly wore the vestments used by Spellman and Pius XII at their own consecrations.[5] He received the episcopal ring of Cardinal Patrick Hayes and the pectoral cross of Archbishop John Hughes.[6] Flannelly selected as his episcopal motto: "Pro Hominibus ad Deum," which, freely translated, means, "Ordained for men in the things that appertain to God" (Hebrews 5:1).[5]
In 1950, Flannelly issued an admonition to be read at each of the seven Sunday masses in St. Patrick's Cathedral:
"We note with alarm and regret the growing custom of holding parties in business offices on the days immediately preceding Christmas. We caution the faithful against such parties for the following reasons: 1) these parties ignore the sacred character of Advent, which is a time of becoming preparation for the coming of our divine Savior; 2) the days immediately preceding Christmas are invariably days of fast and abstinence...3) at many of these parties there is excessive use of intoxicating drinks. These sinful excesses cause untold harm in various ways to the participants and their families. They corrupt the morals and lower the morale of the community and the nation."[7]
Flannelly was an ardent proponent of the restoration of religion to the public school system, and was once quoted as having said that
"...in the face of Communist activities bent on taking God out of government and business, the most important first thing we have to do is put religion back in education."[4]
After reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75, Flannelly resigned as auxiliary bishop of New York on November 8, 1969.[3] He died on May 23, 1973, at St. Clare's Hospital in Manhattan at age 78.[4]
References
^ abc"FLANNELLY NAMED AUXILIARY BISHOP; St. Patrick's Administrator Will Be Titular Bishop of Metelis by Pope's Appointment". The New York Times. 1948-11-11. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
^ abCurtis, Georgina Pell (1961). The American Catholic Who's Who. Vol. XIV. Grosse Pointe, Michigan: Walter Romig.
^ abcd"Bishop Joseph Francis Flannelly". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
^ abcdefg"Joseph F. Flannelly, 78, Dies; Auxiliary Bishop of New York". The New York Times. 1973-05-25. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
^ ab"CONSECRATION SET FOR BISHOP-ELECT; St. Patrick's Administrator Joseph F. Flannelly, to Be Elevated Next Thursday". The New York Times. 1948-12-11. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
^"FLANNELLY CONSECRATION; Cathedral Administrator to Be Made a Bishop Dec. 16". The New York Times. 1948-11-17. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
^"Religion: The Christmas Party". TIME Magazine. 1950-12-25. Archived from the original on January 31, 2011.
