Francis J. Parater - A 20th century Servant of God
Eagle Scout, Seminarian
USA
1897-1920

Born in Richmond Virginia, Francis J. Parater was a altar server and a boy scout, reaching the rank of an eagle scout.  Frank's commitment to the ideals of the Scouts as well as his practical judgement led the Scout leaders to have Frank serve as a camp director during the summer while still in his late teens.

Thinking he would become a Benedictine monk, Frank headed for Belmont abbey in North Carolina to begin college. Taking his spiritual life seriously, Frank had written a "Rule of Life". Theses were guidelines to help him in his daily struggle to follow Christ more closely.

Eventually he opted to serve the people of Virginia as a diocesan priest. In the fall of 1919, he went to Rome to study at the North American College.  Frank was well liked by his peers.  He had a good sense of humor and a positive, warm attitude.

Frank had only been in Rome a few months when he became ill.  In late January 1920 he was diagnosed with rheumatic fever.  Frank suffered a great deal from the fever. Sometimes the pain made him so delirious that more than one man was needed to hold him down; at other times, he would preach sermons to a 'congregation'. When he finally recovered from his delirium, the spiritual director of the college, Father Byrne, explained to Frank how sick he was.  The young seminarian was given the Last Rites and Holy Communion. He waned to get out of bed and kneel on the floor to receive Christ but he was not able to do so because he was so weak.  So he had to content himself with kneeling on the bed.

As Frank's condition worsened, the teachers and seminarians took turns staying with him day and night. Early Saturday morning, February 7, the nuns called Father Byrne and he stayed with Frank until he died.  Father Byrne later wrote to Frank's mother, 'Frank's death was a beautiful one...Towards the end his lips moved constantly in prayer; his death was like falling asleep."

His illness lasted only 11 days. He had been in Rome a short time and was just 22 years old when he died.  Frank's life and death might have been remembered only by his friends and family if not for an extraordinary discovery made soon after his death.  Going through his friends' personal belongings, a fellow seminarian found a sealed envelope with directions that it only be opened in case of death.  Inside was an Act of Oblation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus written by Frank.  When the rector of the seminary read the Act, he immediately had the seminarians gather in the chapel and read it to them.

The letter had been written in December 1919 when Frank was still healthy. He had offered his life for the conversion of non-Catholics.  He had wanted to die for God and his neighbor.  Had he had a premonitions of he death? He also wrote a letter to his beloved Scouts telling them that his greatest desire had been to die for Love of God and his fellow-man. 

He has been declared a Servant of God, the first step towards canonization.  If canonized he would be the first member of the Boy Scouts to be declared a saint.
To learn more about Frank and others Modern Saints check out:
"Heroic Catholics of the Twenteith Century" By Sister Elizabeth Ann Barkett, SJW
A New Hope Publication.
New Hope KY
or
Sisters of St. Joseph the Worker
Walton KY