"United in life, they were also united in death." Fr. Van
Mierlo and Br. George Miles had been living together at
the residence of St. Charles, Mo., in the early part of their
life in the Society; the last eighteen years were likewise
spent in each other's company at the same place. Worn out
with labors and infirmities, they used to comfort each other
with the hope of the approaching reward. During the last
illness of the Brother, Fr. Van Mierlo kindly volunteered
to stay with him in the same small room, and remained
there day and night for a couple of weeks; administering to
his little wants, until relieved by the arrival of an infirmarian
from the novitiate. The day before the death of Br.
Miles Fr. Mierlo was taken sick. The illness soon developed
into pneumonia, and made such rapid progress that, on the
burial of the Brother, the last Sacraments had to be administered
to the Father. In the meantime the frequent inquiries
of Fr. Mierlo as to the condition of Brother Miles had
to be met by evasive answers, for fear of the bad impression
which the news of the death of this dear Brother might
make on him. Thus the Father was not aware of the loss
of his friend, until they were reunited in death on the third
day, the 26th of January, 1885, when he quietly passed away
in the seventy-second year of his age, and the fiftieth since his
entrance into the Society. Had he lived till next New Year's day,
he would have enjoyed the happiness of celebrating his jubilee.
Father Van Mierlo was born in Sverandonk, Province
North Brabant, Holland, on the 7th of March, 1813. He
made part of his theological studies in his native country,
where he was also ordained subdeacon. In 1835 seven
young Hollanders and Belgians, among whom was Mr. Van
Mierlo, set out for America to enter the Society. Their
voyage from Antwerp to New York together with their
journey to Florissant, Mo., took fully ninety days. After his
ordination to the priesthood in 1840, Fr. Van Mierlo was
exclusively employed in the sacred ministry, chiefly among
the Germans. Portage, Mo., and St. Charles County generally,
an Indian Mission in Kansas, Franklin County, Mo.,
Florissant. Mo., St. Joseph's (St. Louis), Osage County, Mo.,
Portage again, and finally, St. Charles were in turn the scenes
of his labors, and everywhere his memory is held in benediction.
Fr. Van (as we used to call him) was a true Israelite, in
whom there was no guile. Among his many virtues his
charity was, perhaps, the most conspicuous. Those that
have known him, will, I think, agree that to him St. Paul's
beautiful description of charity was applicable in a remarkable
degree : his charity was patient, was kind, envied not,
dealt not perversely, was not puffed up, was not ambitious,
sought not her own, was not provoked to anger, thought no
evil, rejoiced not in iniquity, but rejoiced with the truth;
bore all things, believed all things, hoped all things, endured
all things.-R. I. P.
