Thomas Kearney

[L Verge]

Thomas, are you okay? For those of you wondering what I mean, Thomas lives in or near Ellicott City, Maryland, the wonderful old town that suffered such severe flooding a few days ago. If you have not seen the photos of the devastation, it is horrific. They received six inches of rain in two hours that wiped out most of the historic downtown. The town was also an early railroad hub, and there is a wonderful B&O Railroad Museum there. I have not heard as to whether or not it sustained damage. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb3JGfGrqU4

Ellicott City's original name was Ellicott Mills, and it was here that John Surratt, Jr. received an education at St. Charles Borromeo before leaving upon the death of his father in 1862. Google Wikipedia for St. Charles Borromeo College in Ellicott Mills, Maryland, and you will get a full history. So, who was Saint Charles Borromeo? See the following:

Charles Borromeo, the son of Count Gilbert Borromeo and Margaret de Medici, the sister of Pope Pius IV, was born on October 2, 1538 at Lake Maggiore, Italy and educated in the Benedictine abbey at Arona. When his uncle became pope in 1559, he named Charles a cardinal and appointed him as his Secretary of State and the administrator of the see of Milan. Charles was not yet a priest and he was not ordained until 1563. He became a vigorous administrator, active in the last session of the Council of Trent. He oversaw the writing of the catechism, breviary, and missal called for by the council. He reformed his diocese, instituting seminaries for the training of priests and many other innovations. Once he became a priest, he dedicated himself even more strictly to religious matters, praying and studying long hours. Many opposed his reforms; at times his life was threatened. Throughout he remained determined. He died the night of November 3-4, 1584 in Milan after traveling on apostolic visits throughout his diocese. He is the patron of learning and the arts, including music for he loved to play the lute and the violoncello. He was canonized in 1610; his feast is November 4.

In finding this information, I also found lots of Saint Charles Borromeo institutions in the U.S. as well as a Catholic medal issued in his name as a patron of learning and the arts. Makes me wonder about that Catholic medal that they took from the body of John Wilkes Booth... Could it have been a gift from the Surratts due to Booth's role in the arts?

Now, after that history lesson, back to my original question: Thomas, are you and your family okay? Please let us know if you have access to this forum.