Matthew Deffains, O. Carm.
1905-1999

Obituary

If there is a quintessential Carmelite of the PCM Province who exemplified the best of our ideals, spirit and tradition, Matthew Deffains would have to be highly considered for the honor.

Not only was he a deeply spiritual Carmelite, and a more diligent worker, he was also a  loving and kind person who was never known to speak ill of a fellow Carmelite or any other person.  He lived charity each day of his life in imitation of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.  To a great extent, this was the focus of his life in Carmel. 

His work on the farm at Mount Carmel College in Niagara Falls, Ontario, where he labored for almost 25 years, could be considered by many as little less than Heraclean.  In addition, he raised a pedigree herd of cattle that won numerous prizes for milk production and breeding.

Matthew was born on the Isle of Jersey in the English Channel, part of the United Kingdom (England). He was the son of the late Joseph and Anne Marie (Herve) Deffains.  He grew up on a farm with a family of five brothers and two sisters:  Joseph, Peter, Remy, Walter, Cyril, Adelaine and Anna. They were devout Catholics, and the family traced its origins to Brittany in France.  He attended St. Matthew's Catholic School in Jersey from the age of six until he was fourteen.  This was the extent of the education granted to students of French descent but provided him with an excellent fundamental knowledge which stood him in good stead all his life.

When a younger brother, Walter, decided to emigrate to Canada in 1929, Matthew followed soon after and found work on a fruit farm in the Niagara area.  A devout Catholic from childhood, he felt a calling to the religious life.  After speaking to the late Fr. Fidelis Paulding, then pastor of the Carmelite parish of St. Patrick's in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Matthew entered the Carmelite Order at Mt. Carmel College there in June 1931.

He later professed his simple vows there on 15 August 1933, and then his solemn vows on 15 August 1936. He would remain at Niagara caring for the farm until 1959 when he was transferred to Carmel Retreat in Mahwah, New Jersey, and then to Mt. Carmel Priory in Houston, Texas, from 1969-97. He then retired to Carmelite Carefree Village in Darien, Illinois in June of 1997, until he went to the Brothers of Mercy Home in Clarence, New York, to be closer to his brother, Cyril, and his family, in February of 1999.

The personal story of Matthew's life was related by himself several years ago at Mt. Carmel Priory in Houston, Texas.  The story was on audio tape, and through the good efforts of Fr. John Hertel the story was transferred to a word processor.  The original tape was made during the Christmas season of 1992-93, and edited slightly by Fr. Kevin Shanley.  It was then printed in the SWORD, Volume 58, Numbers 1 and 2, November 1998, pp. 14-22.  Matthew's story reveals his deep faith and his life-long devotion to Carmel.

The final year of Matthew's life was spent in the great and kind care of the Brothers of Mercy of Clarence, New York.  The place was selected not only for its excellent medical and spiritual care, which Matthew increasingly needed, but also because it was near to Mary Theresa Sirianni, his niece and her family, and also to his brother, Cyril, and sister-in-law, Winnie, in Niagara Falls, Ontario.  It also afforded the Carmelite Community at Mt. Carmel Spiritual Centre not only to visit Matthew, but also to invite him to visit the place where he had first entered the Order in 1931.  Matthew did visit Niagara for a final time, and was shown great hospitality by Fr. Malachy Smith, Fr. Frederick Tillotson and the other members of the community.  They also visited him in Clarence, New York.  A photo sent by Mary Theresa shows Matthew happily posing with Frs. Jordan Rooney, Frederick Tillotson, Malachy Smith, Bruce Baker and Br. Gabriel Murray on a visit in February 1999.  He missed his Carmelite Community.

"The Little Flower Shrine is at Niagara," wrote Mary Theresa in November of this year (1999), "Winnie, Cyril, Matt and I spent a beautiful Spring afternoon there. This past weekend when her relics were at the Spiritual Centre I prayed that she would take care of our 'Matt' as he nears the end of his journey."

The end came peacefully for Matthew on Sunday, 21 November 1999, in Clarence, New York.  According to his wishes, and those of his family, the remains of Matthew were transported to Mt. Carmel in Niagara Falls, Ontario. A Wake Service was held in the chapel of Mt. Carmel on Friday, 26 November, from 7:00 - 9:30 PM.  A Mass of Christian Burial was held in the chapel the following morning at 11:00 AM.  Fr. John Welch, Eastern commissary provincial, presided at the concelebrated Mass.  Fr. Jordan Rooney, pastor of Our Lady of Peace Church, was the homilist.  Burial was in Our Lady of Peace Cemetery at Niagara.

Thus was Matthew, one of the most faithful and exemplary Carmelites of the PCM Province, laid to rest near where he joined the Carmelites almost 70 years ago.

May his memory and example continue to inspire.  When asked to describe his almost life-long friend, Matthew, Fr. Kieran O'Hara said, "Just one word:  Charity."

Kevin Shanley, O. Carm.
St. Simon Stock Priory
Darien, Illinois

Homily

Brother Matthew Deffains began his autobiography by writing, "I was born on the Island of Jersey in the English Channel on September 11, 1905.  My parents were farmers.  They farmed about 30 acres of land.  The land bordered the coast.  The commons between the farm and the sea had high cliffs -- 350 feet high, with a sharp drop to the sea.  I remember very well, watching from the top of the coast, the fishermen down below in the bay.  It was good fishing ground. My roots are in Brittany, France. My parents, like many other French citizens, came to Jersey to work on the farms as laborers."

Little did Brother Matt realize that even at that early point in his life, the Holy Spirit was preparing him to open his heart to hear Jesus calling him to follow in His footsteps.

His parents worked very hard to purchase their own farm, and to instill in their eight children the great love that God had for them.  Family prayers, attendance at Mass in St. Matthew's Church, and the family rosary gave them life and hope, especially in the most trying times -- and in particular, at the time of their father's death.

Like his parents and his brother Walter before him, Brother Matt left home to find work and a new life. He came to Niagara Falls and lived with his brother, finding work on different farms.  He never lost his love for the Mass and his devotion to the rosary.

Somehow, Brother always remembered watching the fishermen from the cliff near his home, and began to realize that Jesus, the Fisher of Men, was calling Matt to follow Him -- to come and see where He lived.  The call to religious life inspired him to ask the Carmelites at St. Patrick's Church if he could enter Mt. Carmel as a religious Brother.

Brother Matt accepted the invitation of Jesus to walk in His footsteps.  In July of 1931, he entered Carmel, choosing to live in imitation of Jesus and Mary.  He found his home and a new life in silent service of God and his brothers in Carmel. It was not easy to leave everything and to follow Jesus -- to empty one's self, as John of the Cross advises us, in order to find the love of God within.  It is in the work that God has given us to do that we discover His treasure.

On the farm at Mt. Carmel, Brother Matt took pride in caring for God's land, testing the fields, nourishing the soil and showing respect for the land so that it was never overworked. He also maintained a prize dairy herd. In doing his work, and in his own silent way, Brother Matt taught us the love of God through nature.  He taught us that we must love, care for, and show respect for the earth, the environment and all of God's creatures.  "This is what we are to be busied about.  God has made everything appropriate to its time and has put the timeless into our hearts, without our ever discovering the work which God has done."  Brother Matt realized, more than we know, that the fruits of his labor were a timeless gift from God.

It wasn't just Brother Matt's daily farm chores that inspired the faculty and students of Mt. Carmel College but, most of all, his devotion and unfailing attendance at daily Mass and prayers.  It was at Mass, as he heard the words of consecration, "This is My Body; This is My Blood," that he too offered his life to the Father.  As priests and students prayed the Divine Office in choir -- the prayers of the Church -- Brother Matt prayed the rosary. As we sang the "Salve Regina" -- Hail, Holy Queen -- and the "Flos Carmeli" -- Beautiful Flower of Carmel -- he sang with us.

Recreation with his brothers -- whether it was cards, pool or golf; a shot of brandy or a cold beer -- was where he enjoyed the fruits of his labor.

Because Brother Matt loved the Little Flower, he discovered his own little way to love and serve God, to be a disciple of Jesus in bringing our neighbors and us the Good News of Salvation.  Like the Little Flower, Brother Matt lived in community, following Jesus in obedience to God's will in the service of others.  This is the treasure that sustained Brother Matt when he had to leave Mt. Carmel, the farm and the community he loved.  It was time for him to continue to bring God's Word to others in an entirely new apostolate.  He accepted the will of God, as voiced by his Provincial, by answering the call to use his talents in a different way at Mahwah Retreat Center in New Jersey.

Brother Matt became a vital part of that community because of his willingness to offer his life to God the Father.  It was his love for Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and for the rosary he prayed daily, that inspired him to build the Rosary Way.  It was no small undertaking, but it was made easy because he was totally devoted to Mary in both prayer and service.

God's love also called him to reach out to all the people in the surrounding parishes.  He wanted them to celebrate Jesus' birth, and welcome "The One through whom all things were made," in majesty and splendor.  Brother Matt once again used his talents to grow 10,000 poinsettia plants for Christmas. Because of his silent service in walking in the footsteps of Jesus in a new land, many others came to accept God's Word through him.

Jesus soon found a new place for Brother Matt to follow Him -- Houston, Texas.  His beautiful rose garden, in honor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Little Flower, constantly invited others to prayer.

Brother Matt, was, and is, a true Carmelite who lived his life as a religious Brother in quiet, loving service.  He followed in the footsteps of Jesus and totally devoted his life to Our Lady of Mount Carmel.  He died quietly, with his loving niece, Mary Theresa, at his side.  As the Brothers of Mercy sang the "Salve Regina," Jesus and Mary led him to the glory of God the Father.

Today we raise up our memories of you, Brother Matt.  Today we praise God in joyous song for opening the treasure within your heart. By your life, you brought the Good News of Salvation to all.  In silent service you became the Living Word of God.  We love you, Brother Matt, for the devoted disciple that you are.  We love you, Brother Matt, for who you are and for all that you mean to us.

Jordan Rooney, O. Carm.
Our Lady of Peace Parish
Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada