FOREVER YOUNG

SAINTS WHO DIED YOUNG

ELLEN ORGAN 1903–1908 (LITTLE NELLIE OF HOLY GOD)

Ellen Organ, better known as 'Little Nellie of Holy God,' was the youngest of four children born to William Organ and his wife, Mary Ahern. Mary died of TB in 1907 when the family resided in the military fort in Spike Island, where William was soldiering. Following the mother's death, the children were taken into care. Nellie was placed in the orphanage run by the Good Shepherd Sisters in Sunday's Well, Cork. The child was delicate and suffered physical impairment due to a fall in infancy. As a result, most of her days with the nuns were spent in the infirmary. Yet, Nellie, not yet four years old, was a happy, cheerful, uncomplaining little girl.

The Sisters soon observed that Nellie had an exceptional spiritual and prayerful attitude of mind. She loved the chapel, "the home of Holy God." The statues, the tabernacle, the stations of the cross intrigued her. The story of the Passion of Christ drew a tearful response – "poor Holy God, poor Holy God" – and after her carer went to Holy Communion, Nellie asked her for a kiss on the lips as a sort of spiritual communion because she loved Jesus in the "lock-up" – the tabernacle. Nelly had memories of Spike and prisoners being placed in the lock-up.

Having visited her in Sunday's Well, the bishop of Cork attested to her holiness and had her confirmed. Nellie would not qualify for Holy Communion for another six years but having waived all the technicalities, the bishop ensured that the saintly little invalid would have Holy Communion.

The story of Little Nellie of Holy God so impressed Pope Pius X that it influenced his decision on the appropriate age for First Holy Communion, and he might have canonised her but for death overtaking himself.

Reality

Volume 87. No. 1 January/February 2022 A Redemptorist Publication ISSN 0034-0960

Published by The Irish Redemptorists, St Joseph's Monastery, St Alphonsus Road, Dundalk County Louth A91 F3FC Tel: 00353 (0)1 4922488 Web: www.redcoms.org Email: sales@redcoms.org

(With permission of C.Ss.R.)

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