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LEO CAESAR

Born: 28 May 1895  –  died: 17 Jul 1981
Clothed - 29 Sep 1919
Solemn Vows- 1 Oct 1923
Priest - 4 Oct 1925

In 1895 he was born Julius Caesar, his father belonging to a line of Caesars going back allegedly to the 'Caesar' Adelmare who came from Italy to be appointed court physician to Mary Tudor and then to Elizabeth I. Educated at Dulwich School his keen intellect won him an exhibition to Worcester College, Oxford. It was in his Oxford days that Julius was drawn to the Catholic faith, and he sought instruction from Fr Bernard Vaughan SJ at Farm Street. His act of joining the Catholic Church was enough to enrage his father. Julius found himself dispossessed of any fortune. This was early in World War I. Throughout his life Julius displayed shrewd perception, devotion to duty, unfailing courtesy to friends, high respect for tradition.

When the war was over he joined the Benedictine noviciate at Ampleforth Abbey in 1919 and was given the name Brother Leo. His studies in philosophy and theology went forward quickly enough for him to be ordained priest in 1925. By that time his mother and sister had followed his example and themselves become Catholic. One brother had died on active service. His sister Veronica married into the Thwayte family with St Teresa of Avila as an ancestor through the Spanish link Sanchez da Pena.

Dom Leo's classical upbringing found little outlet in the classrooms of Ampleforth College. His superiors preferred him to shoulder the labours of a priestly apostolate first at St Mary's in Cardiff and then in the Parish of St Anne's, Liverpool. But it was in the streets of Cardiff that Fr Leo first met the grim poverty that reigned as a result of the depression. In later years he was heard stating that if he were to write an exact account of the horrific doings that were endemic to life in the city as he knew it, no one could be expected to give him credence. Presently he was posted back to Cardiff where he began his 18 years as chaplain to the Catholics in the University. At first he found small rooms in Colum Road until the generosity of the Curran family provided a house in Park Place, and the existing chaplaincy continues to be based on that original unit. Now it cannot be stated too clearly: that unfortunate priest was living and achieving an astonishing work on what can only be described as a shoe-string. Leo was the kind of man who was prepared to slog, and, if necessary, starve himself in this task. The evidence of that astonishing work is to be seen in the packed files that retain the notes he prepared (with synopses printed for students' use) for the series of deeply studied lectures lasting 24 weeks which dealt with such topics as Turning Points in the History of the Church and Symbolism in Religion. For his students he would organise the Pax Romana pilgrimages, or find his way to Lourdes or St Nons, or to Usk in honour of the Welsh Martyr, St David Lewis. His deep spirituality owed much to the teaching of that Martyr's uncle, Dom Augustine Baker. His integrity of mind likens him to another hard-working upholder of the truth, Charles Peguy. Ever since his contact with Wales Dom Leo developed a keen interest in its Celtic culture. He haunted the National Museum and was exemplary in supporting the University Ensemble playing string quartets of a Tuesday evening.

First and foremost he was a Christian apostle. He would speak at one or other of the two 'pitches' of the Catholic Evidence Guild in Cardiff: in the Llandaff fields or in Grangetown. The number of converts made by Fr Leo runs into hundreds. And to help a devout layman undertaking the apostolate of the Cotswolds - by name Georges de Sérionne - he would find time to assist with Mass at the tiny chapel, the first to be established at Stow-in-the-Wold. Fr Leo's last years as chaplain to nuns at Bartestree near Hereford gave him scope for further ecumenical practice. In conjunction with the Anglican authorities in Hereford he was instrumental in founding Madonna House for homeless people, adjoining the convent of his Sisters of Our Lady of Charity. For several months his disabilities have made his saying of Mass almost too taxing an effort. With exemplary charity these nuns have spared no pains to ease the declining years of this gifted and saintly monk. May he rest in peace.

L.B. [Fr Laurence Bevenot]


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Details from the Abbey Necrology


JULIUS GIBSON LEO CAESAR     17 Jul 1981
		
1895	28 May  	born Tulse Hill  London
1907-14 		edc Dulwich
1914-18 		Oxford  Lit Hum   Worcester College  Called up before
		 final exam
1916	15 Jan  	Received into Church at Farm Street  London
1919	   May  	Postulant at Ampleforth
1919	29 Sept 	Habit at Ampleforth       Abbot Smith
1920	30 Sept 	Simple Vows                 "     "
1923	 1 Oct  	Solemn Vows                 "     "
1924	 4 Apr  	Tonsure                     "     "
1924	11 Apr  	Minor Orders                "     "
1924	20 Apr  	Minor Orders                "     "
1924	 6 Jul  	Subdeacon        Bishop Shine
1924	 2 Nov  	Deacon              "     "
1925	 4 Oct  	Priest              "     "
1924-28 		Librarian at Ampleforth
1926-28 		Served Kirbymoorside
1928	 5 Oct  	Cardiff - Assistant
1934	   May  	Liverpool  St.Anne's  - Assistant
1941	   Mar  	Liverpool  St.Anne's  -  PP
1948		Cardiff - Assistant   Chaplain to University
1969	   Sept 	Chaplain at Bartestree (Our Lady of Charity of Refuge)
1981	17 Jul  	died in St.Winifred's  Cardiff
1981	24 Jul  	Buried at Cardiff

 

Sources: AJ 86:2 (1981) 27
Contact   25 Jan 2000   Top