Saddened today to hear of the death of old friend Colin Holden. I was at theological college at Trinity College in Melbourne with Colin, and then his colleague as a priest in Western Australia. I met him several times after he returned to Melbourne.
Colin was enormously talented as a linguist, historian and writer. He was a generous but fragile friend. One of the remembrances I still have from Colin is this hymn which he translated as a gift for me in 1974. Reading it again, I am impressed by his skill with metre and assonance, reminding me that he was a musician as well as all the other talents.
May he rest in peace and rise in glory!
A votive offering for Easter for Ted
Dawn fires the east with glowing rays
The heavens rejoice in hymns of praise;
While earth exults, Hell’s furious roar
Proclaims his lord can rule no more,
For Jesus, clad in triumph, leads
The Patriarchs, ransomed from the dead;
Hell’s prey, once chained in bonds of night
Christ frees to rise in life & light.
A stone & seal secured the tomb;
For Christ’s new life it forms a womb;
First-fruits of all that sleep in earth,
He bursts the gates, to vanquish death.
Now mourning’s bitterness shall cease;
Christ’s rising tolls the death of grief;
His angels joyously proclaim
“Death’s end has come; new life now reigns.”
From sin’s dark death, O Jesu, free
Them that again are born of Thee;
Be Thou alone out Spirit’s guest
At this time of our Paschal Feast.
We praise the Father, who is one
With Jesus Christ, His only Son,
And laud as is forever meet,
The Holy Ghost & Paraclete.
(Aurora Caelum purpurat, Office hymn at Lauds from Low Sunday till Ascension – translated by Colin Holden, Easter 1974)
Mind Journeys 
I am sad to here of the passing of a friend, a gentleman and Reverend.
Colin and I met one day when I was very down, I was praying in the emtey church of St.peters, as I was trying not to cry too loud, I was in a serious situation, when Rev.Holden
asked me if I was ok, and I was far from ok.
I was an American traveling to Australia for the first time and got myself into a serious situation with the law, life changing situation.
For the next 8 weeks while I fought for my life in court, Dr.Rev.
Colin Holden became my friend,
he help me stay positive and showed me compassion, welcomed me into his home, introduced me to his friends and colleagues, feed me
and became my friend unconditionaly.
He was extremely humble as well interesting, his knowledge of history and art in Melbourne was amazing, and took my mind off of the 15 yr. sentence I was facing
He never judged me, he was just kind, in an ordenary way but yet very unique and brilliant.
I had never met anyone like him and I sure I never will.
Things turned out for the best as he said it would,and soon I got the break of a lifetime and was cleared of my chargers by God’s grace
we never stayed in touch after as he told me he wasn’t very good at that.
I only hope that he also learned a few things form the American as well, he was an amazing man, I look forward to seeing him in God’s kingdom! God Bless my friend!
A