Prayer for the Beatification of
Servant of God Alphonsus Lambe
God, who by your infinite mercy inflamed the heart of your servant, Alphonsus Lambe with an ardent love for you and for Mary, our Mother; a love which revealed itself in a life of intense labour, prayer and sacrifice for the salvation of souls, grant, if it be your will, that we may obtain, by his intercession, what we cannot obtain by our own merits. We ask this through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen
with ecclesiastical approval
Mass of Commemoration for Alphonsus (Alfie) Lambe, Servant of God, JUNE 26TH 2005
Bishop Michael Smith was be chief con-celebrant at a special Mass in our Parish on Sunday 26th 2005 June at 3pm to honour Alfie Lambe, there was a large attendance of members of the Legion of Mary from all parts of Ireland. Refreshments were served after the Mass at the Alfie Lamb House, Arden Road, Tullamore (Beside the Tennis Court)
Mass of Commemoration for Alphonsus (Alfie) Lambe, Servant of God, was celebrated in the Church of the Assumption, Tullamore on Sunday, 25th June, 2006 at 3.30 p.m.
The life of a young man, Alfie Lambe, a native of Tullamore, was remembered and the service that he gave to the Legion of Mary was honoured. As an envoy of the Legion of Mary in South America, Alfie laboured in that vast continent for a period of six years from 1953-1959, setting up branches of the Legion of Mary among lay people and thereby involving lay people in the active work of the Church.
This year was the second year which a Commemorative Mass for Alfie Lambe had been advertised by the Legion of Mary nationwide and held in Alfie’s native town of Tullamore.
A large attendance of approximately 400 people were present, many of whom had travelled to Tullamore from different parts of the country.
The Chief Celebrant of the Mass was Rev. Gerard Rice, P.P., Kilcloon, Co. Meath. He was assisted by Rev. Lorenzo Bracken, a former class mate of Alfie’s in Tullamore, Rev. Oliver Skelly, P.P. Coole, Co. Meath and Vice Postulator of Alfie’s cause, Rt. Rev. Monsignor Marron, Kinnegad and Rev. McGauran, Ballinameen, Co. Roscommon.
Members of Alfie’s family were also present including his brother, Mr. Jack Lambe and his sisters; Mrs. Kathleen Brophy and Mrs. Marcella Horan.
In his homily Father Rice described Alfie as having been of a pleasant and humble disposition, qualities that endeared him to so many people. He also spoke of Alfie’s state of holiness which was the greatest resource on which he drew to carry out his work for the Legion of Mary. Alfie’s work in South America penetrated into areas where people had not been visited before. He set up branches of the Legion of Mary among the Indians, in Leper colonies and in prisons. He was aware of the value of each person’s soul and he saw Christ in every person. Father Rice quoted Alfie’s own words in a letter he wrote home in July 1954 in which he said “The world belongs to him who loves it most. I like the world, I love every City and Pueblo I enter into, I am at home under every sky.”
The extent of the work carried out by Alfie Lambe was extraordinary for a young man; his work was effective in changing the face of South America. To this day Alfie Lambe is fondly remembered there. He died at the young age of 26 after a short but grace illness and his remains were laid to rest in the tomb of the Christian Brothers at the Recoleta Cemetery, Buenos Aires, Argentina. The cause for his Beatification was introduced by the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires in 1978. Prayers are requested for the Beatification of the Servant of God, Alphonsus (Alfie) Lambe.
Favours attributed to Alfie’s intercession should be notified in writing to:
Legion of Mary, De Montfort House, Morning Star Avenue,
Brunswick Street, Dublin 7, Ireland.
Article submitted by B. Hanley.