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Eulogy for
Brother Xavier Leonard Boulanger
(September 24, 1915 - August 26, 1987)
Born in Victoriaville-D'Arthabaska, Canada, Brother Xavier Leonard entered St.
Joseph's Juniorate in Tyngsboro, Massachusetts in 1931
.
His investiture took
place in 1935 and he completed his Scholasticate at St. Ann's in Poughkeepsie,
New York. He made the vow of stability in 1965. While Xavier Leonard spent the
past thirty years at Central Catholic High School in Lawrence, Massachusetts, he
also taught in Manchester, New Hampshire; Wheeling, West Virginia; Lowell,
Massachusetts; and New York City. He died suddenly on August 26, 1987 in
Lawrence, Massachusetts the night before he was to move to Miami, Florida.
Brother Thomas Petitte delivered the eulogy at St. Anne Church, Lawrence,
Massachusetts.
This morning's liturgy is both a reflection of Brother Xavier Leonard's life and in
some ways a contradiction to the way he lived his religious life as a Marist Brother.
The hymns, prayers, and readings of the liturgy point to resurrection hope which is
the foundation and core of our Christian belief. Since the triumph of Jesus we are
called not to fear death but rather to embrace it as a freeing, completing force. In
this Liturgy of Christian Burial the church calls us to summon up from the very
depths of our souls the faith to say, "Come, Lord Jesus, we do believe!"
Yes, we do believe that Jesus calls each of us to something greater than what we
experience here and now in this life. We believe that there is a state, an actual
state and not a philosophical notion, that awaits us where there are no tears, no
pain, and no sighing. We believe that death does not end relationships with family
and friends, but rather through the resurrection of Jesus, calls them to greater
intensity and happiness. We believe that Jesus will come again and on that day all
the living and the dead will be united before the Lord in glory and peace. All this
and more we believe as we gather today amidst the tears of human separation
and the joy of a believing community.
All this hope, this anticipation, this joy is what the vowed religious life is all about.
Religious community life does not and in many ways could never hope to replace
the intimacies of family life. Rather, the vowed individual is called to bring his or
her uniqueness to a joint living experience in community and within the Church so
that the depth and breadth of Christ's love can be manifested to all people. This is
what Brother Leonard's life was all about. The symbolism present in today's liturgy
--- incense, processions, gold chalices, and even this beautiful church --- in some
ways would make him feel uncomfortable and out of place.
I was home visiting my mother at the beach along the New Jersey Shore when
Brother Ernest Beland called to tell me of Brother Leonard's death. That afternoon
as I walked along the beach, common everyday items stood out more than usual.
The soothing sound of the surf on the shore, the gen- tie flight of a kite held by a
fragile string in a child's hand, the gliding on air currents of gulls and sandpipers,
the refreshing ocean spray carried by a gentle sea breeze, the laughter of children
as they built castles in the sand and toyed with a baby blue-claw crab were all
sights and sounds that I had experienced hundreds of times since my childhood,
but in the wake of Brother Ernest's call, they took on new meaning. Written across



all these experiences was the word simplicity! Not only the simplicity of everyday
summer occurrences at the beach, but the simplicity of Brother Leonard's life.
Simplicity was the gift he brought to our community and to the Church. Perhaps for
this reason the Lord Jesus called him to be a Marist Brother rather than a member
of any other religious congregation.
From the earliest days of the Congregation, the Founder of the Marist Brothers,
Blessed Marcellin Champagnat, emphasized the virtue of simplicity. To be simple
and humble in service, life style, and acceptance of God's will were to be
characteristics in the life of a Brother in our community. Even the original name
that the Founder gave our Congregation, the Little Brothers of Mary, emphasized
this humble spirit. To be little is to be unknown and hidden in today's society, to be
powerless, taken for granted, and in many cases, put down and broken. Society,
both secular and even religious, says, "What a waste. There is so much to do:
structures have to be changed, institutions confronted, life enjoyed and lived to the
fullest. It's a sin to waste life in the shadows."
In many ways Brother Leonard lived his life in the shadows for fifty- two years as a
Little Brother of Mary. He was never a superior, never a school administrator,
never chaired or was even a member of any province committee, and he was
never a provincial chapter delegate. However, he did work as a laborer on summer
construction projects that helped to build Central Catholic High School in
Lawrence and Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York. He worked with young
children at our summer camps. He taught classes in several different schools and
often had the most difficult students. While most teaching brothers and lay
teachers were finishing summer vacations, Brother Leonard was at football camp
taking pictures for the Fall football program. At an age when many people retire
and relax, Brother Leonard resurrected the high school photography club because,
in his words, "a few of the boys wanted it." When he finally retired from school
work he became the handyman at the Brothers' Queen of Peace Community here
in Lawrence. The community often joked that Brother Paul's list of things for
Leonard to do, if broken down into class periods, would equal fourteen class
preparations. He seemed always to take up each task in an unassuming and
meaningful way. Without words. he gave the impression that each job was his way
of serving the Brothers. Whether it was cutting a Brother's hair, buying the daily
Tribune for the community, picking up a Brother at the airport or climbing a twelve-
foot ladder to change a fluorescent light bulb in the community room, he did all in a
spirit of service.
Those of us who lived with Leonard will never forget how neat and orderly he was.
For me Leonard's identifying mark in the kingdom of the saints will be cleaning off
tables, brushing crumbs from counter tops, and folding napkins. "A place for
everything and everything in its place" was his motto. Perhaps it is not coincidental
that on the night before he died he had all his earthly possessions packaged and
labeled for his trip with ,Brother Alcide and Brother Timothy to his new assignment
in Miami.
Brother Leonard loved his God, his family (he was always speaking of his brothers
and sisters, nieces, nephews, grand and great nieces and nephews), his Marist.
Brothers, the people of Lawrence and Central Catholic High School. The closing of
the Marist Brothers' Queen of Peace Community in Lawrence and the possible
move of Central Catholic High School from Lawrence caused him pain and
confusion. In spite of this, he willingly accepted Brother Provincial's invitation to
join the Brothers' community in Miami. His response was, "If I can help out, then I'll


be happy to go." However, the Lord Jesus granted Brother Leonard his wish to die
in Lawrence and so on Wednesday, August 27, the day he was to leave Lawrence
for Miami, Leonard returned home to the Lord where there are no unanswered
questions and where the simple and humble will be welcomed and exalted.
The French spiritual author Leon Bloy has written that "every Christian has within
his grasp the power to become a saint. All he must do is to simply live his life in the
daily call to be himself with the gifts that God has given him and in the place the
Lord has put him."
Today we celebrate Brother Leonard's acceptance into the fullness of the
Communion of Saints. May God bless us and may Brother Leonard pray for each
ofus so that one day we will be united before the Lord in heaven.
"The Little Brothers of Mary should be like a violet, hidden and unknown." Blessed
Marcellin Champagnat
The violet's humble presence brings an added beauty to the woodland.