Deceased Friars
Paschal Robinson, OFM

1870 – 1948
Archbishop Paschal Robinson, OFM, was born in Dublin, Ireland, on April 26, 1870. After a career in journalism, he entered the Franciscans in Allegany, where he was received into the novitiate in 1896. He professed temporary vows the following year and made his profession of solemn vows in 1900. Abp. Paschal was ordained a priest in 1901 in Rome.
His 52 years as a Franciscan were spent in the service of the Holy See. After ordination, Abp/ Paschal was made a general lector of the Order and spent months researching in the Franciscan Archives at Quarrachi and teaching theology at St. Bonaventure Friary in Paterson, N.J., and medieval history at Catholic University.
Abp. Paschal was appointed apostolic visitor to Palestine, served as consultor on two Roman congregations and undertook special missions of the Holy See to Malta and other areas.
In 1927, he was consecrated an archbishop at St. Isidore’s in Rome. From November 1929 until his death 19 years later, Abp. Paschal was the apostolic nuncio to Ireland. He was regarded as an “encyclopedia of knowledge” and revered as one of the greatest Franciscan apologists of the 20th century, as he continued to present St. Francis of Assisi to the world through his writings.
He died Aug. 27, 1948, and was buried in his Franciscan habit and interred in the Franciscan cemetery in Dublin. Abp. Paschal was 78 years old, a professed friar for 51 years, a priest for 46 years and a bishop for 21 years.