HE WAS A FRIEND, GURU AND SPIRITUAL GUIDE

In hindsight, you safely navigated the manifold dangers, toils and snares you encountered with Marie by your side and Jesus, too, as we believe in holy matrimony

- By Keith Noyahr

It's one year since you passed away, Louis. We have heard you sing the moving hymn Amazing Grace. You interiorised the lyrics that came straight from your heart. You always believed that Amazing Grace saved your wretched life when you lost your livelihood and the will to live as your world crashed out.

One of John Newton's verses stand out:

“Through many dangers, toils and snares

I have already come:

“tis grace has brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.”

In hindsight, you safely navigated the manifold dangers, toils and snares you encountered with Marie by your side and Jesus, too, as we believe in holy matrimony.

But the verse that stands out to me is:

“Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,

and mortal life shall cease:

I shall possess, within the veil, a life of joy and peace.”

May the joy and peace that comes with the Beatific Vision be yours. A college mate and fellow subeditor at the Daily Mirror Russell Casie Chitty, who wrote a moving tribute to you, passed away this April. Two years back, I penned an appreciation of Prema Cooray, your classmate at St Benedict’s College.

Daily Mirror Associate Editor Features Susitha Fernando requested an appreciation of my former colleague Louis Benedict with the instruction “pen something from your heart.”