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Roland E. Murphy

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Catholic University of America Duke University

Roland Murphy Obituary

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The Rev. Roland E. Murphy, O.Carm. 85, a noted Scripture scholar, died at Whitefriars Hall in Washington, DC on Saturday, July 20. A wake will be held at the National Shrine of St. Therese in Darien, IL on Wednesday, July 24 from 4 to 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered immediately after the wake at 7 p.m. The Very Rev. John Russell, O.Carm., Carmelite provincial superior, will preside at the Mass, along with the Rev. David Murphy, O.Carm., brother of the deceased. The Rev. Quinn Conners, O.Carm., will be the homilist. Interment will be held on Thursday, July 25 at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Chicago. Fr. Murphy, the son of the late John and Marian, nee Haugh, Murphy, was born in Chicago on July 19, 1917. He attended Corpus Christi and St. Cyril Schools in Chicago before enrolling at Mt. Carmel Prep Seminary in Niagara Falls, Ont., to study for the priesthood in the Carmelite Order. He was ordained a priest in Chicago on May 23, 1942. After teaching at Mt. Carmel High School in Chicago, he returned to Whitefriars Hall in Washington, DC for graduate studies at the Catholic University of America, where he obtained M.A. Degrees in Philosophy and Semitic Languages, and an S.T.D. Degree in Scripture. He also received a graduate degree from the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. Fr. Murphy taught Scripture at Whitefriars Hall and at the Catholic Univeristy of America for over 25 years in the 1950's and 1960's. In 1958 he became editor of ''The Catholic Biblical Quarterly''. In 1970 he resigned from Catholic University and the following year began teaching at Duke University. Fr. Murphy authored major studies in biblical literature and is best known for his editorship, with Rev. Raymond Brown and Rev. Joseph Fitzmeyer, of the ''Jerome Biblical Commentary'' in 1968. He also aided in the publication of ''The New Jerome Biblical Commentary'' in 1999. He served as president of both the Catholic Biblical Association and the Society of Biblical Literature. Arrangements by Modell Funeral Home, 630-852-3595.

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Recent Activity

August 5, 2002

John Small posted to the memorial.

July 26, 2002

Robert Appleby posted to the memorial.

July 24, 2002

Chet Delaney posted to the memorial.

9 Entries

John Small

August 5, 2002

One of my heros. As bright, famous, etc as Roland was, he always had time for conversation with "us little guys." He truly listened no matter the topic. I was his student and also his barber for a time in the 60's - we talked. We talked at the University of Missouri where he was visiting in the eighties. I visited him in the beginning of the next century in D.C. Always gracious. Always interesting. Always listening. A great scholar. A great Carmelite. A great man. I remember him with love.

Robert Appleby

July 26, 2002

Fr. Roland gave the best one-minute homilies yet.

Chet Delaney

July 24, 2002

Roland was one of my heroes. He was an enormously bright light in my introduction to the study of theology. He challenged all of us students at Whitefriars to question the conventional answers -- about the Old Testament, surely. But also about other conventional and convenient truths. He not only challenged us to do this but exemplifed what it meant to do so in his own work and teaching. It was an honor to be one of his students.

Finian and Kenny Murphy

July 24, 2002

Roland Murphy was a great teacher, a great Carmelite, a great man. We both considerate it a great privilege to have been taught by him at Whitefriars Hall

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Finian and Kenny Murphy

July 24, 2002

Roland Murphy was a great teacher, a great Carmelite, a great man. We both considerate it a great privilege to have been taught by him at Whitefriars Hall

Phil Kenny

July 24, 2002

I offer my condolences to Father David and to all the Carmelites who have lost an outstanding brother in Father Roland. The Church in America is poorer for his passing because of the great contributions he made to biblical studies.

I had the great privilege of studying under Roland from 1958 to 1962 at Whitefriars Hall and benefited greatly from his learning. One experience stands out in my mind. During the summer of 1962 I was studying Hebrew as part of the admission requirement for a graduate program at Catholic University. Roland agreed to tutor me. After supper each evening during that summer we would take a walk around the courtyard at Whitefriars Hall and he would grill and instruct me in Hebrew. One night after we had walked a long time we got into an unrelated conversation about life and--as a 26-year old student--I asked him how a man could remain alert and alive into old age. His answer, not surprisingly, was "You have to keep studying. Learning, constant learning, is what keeps us alive." Roland kept learning and helped many to remain alive. May God bless him for his long life and good work.

Helen McConnell

July 23, 2002

I met Roland Murphy at Duke Divinity School in 1975 where he was my professor, mentor and friend. To me he exemplified commitment, discipline, loyalty, humility, generosity, kindness and goodness--all grounded in his love of God. My gratitude for having been privileged to know him these 27 years knows no bounds.

Helen McConnell

Dennis Duffner

July 23, 2002

On behalf of all the Duffner family, whose connection to the Carmelites goes back to 1926, I offer to Fr. David and all the Carmellites our sincere and most heartfelt condolences. Although I never met Fr. Roland, from what I have been told by my parents years ago and my brothers, the Carmelites have lost a pillar of the Carmel community.

May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace, Amen.

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, pary for him.

Catherine Gallagher-Causby

July 23, 2002

It has been a priviledge to call this wonderful man, priest & brother a friend.

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7710 South Cass Avenue, Darien, IL 60561