Father Ernest Larkin, O.Carm.
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Short Bio:
Ernest E. Larkin was born in Chicago on August 19,1922. He entered Mt. Carmel College, Niagara Falls, Ontario as a high school seminarian, and graduated in June, 1939. He went to the Carmelite novitiate in New Baltimore, PA, made first profession of vows in 1940, and graduated from Mt. Carmel College with a B. A. in philosophy in June, 1943. He was ordained a priest on June 8, 1946. Larkin’s theological studies at Whitefriars in Washington, D.C. were completed in June, 1947. He did post-graduate work in English literature at Catholic University during the summers. Larkin completed his graduate studies in theology at the Angelicum (St. Thomas University), Rome, and was awarded the STD in 1954.
Father Larkin was assigned to Whitefriars, the major seminary of the Order, where he served as teacher, spiritual director and, eventually, master of students from 1951 to 1959. During this period, Father Larkin also gave retreats, taught scripture and theology during the summers at Corpus Christi, TX and St. Mary’s College in Winona, MN, and served as director of the Lay Carmelites associated with Whitefriars Hall. In 1959, Larkin was appointed lecturer in ascetical and mystical theology at The Catholic University of America where he continued as assistant and then associate professor until his resignation in 1971. During this period, he also taught in the M.A. program for novice mistresses at St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, and presented his first paper to the Catholic Theological Society of America, “The Role of Creatures in the Spiritual Life” (1962). At this same time he was consulting editor in the ascetical-mystical area for the New Catholic Encyclopedia in which several of his articles were published.
Father Larkin made a last “pilgrimage” the summer before his death. With his brother Jack, O.Carm., they visited Avila and Granada where his beloved Teresa and John had lived and labored. He returned “home” to Phoenix where he began treatments for cancer which proved to be too widespread to be contained. His Father, Abba, as Ernie prayed, called this beloved son to Himself on the morning of 26 October 2006.