Dear friends, readers of Gottesblog and supporters of Gottesdienst, we have just received word of a dreadful and tragic death.

On Saturday last, Leo Beane, the teenage son of our beloved associate editor and fellow-blogger Fr. Larry Beane, died. Fr. Larry and his dear wife Grace have suddenly lost their only child Leo at the tender age of 15. We are all shocked and greatly dismayed by this news, though we sorrow not as others who have no hope. Fr. Larry and his wife, with whom we have been in communication, of course remain firm in the faith, confident that their son is now in the blessed and loving arms of the Good Shepherd and Guardian of our souls. Fr. Larry has said that he and Grace are grateful for fifteen wonderful years that the Lord gave them with their faithful son; and they are now comforted to know that he is safe with Jesus.

The chairman of his congregation in Gretna, Louisiana, with Fr. Larry’s approval, has set up a GoFundMe page to help the family through this crisis and defray expenses, and the editorial staff of Gottesdienst endorses this effort. From the page: “We would like to raise funds to cover the funeral expenses and burial place.  Rev Beane has served Salem Lutheran Church, and the Gretna community tirelessly.  Hopefully, we can ease some of their burden by covering these expenses.”

Dear friends, in life we are in the midst of death; though much tribulation we enter the kingdom of heaven. Yet in the midst of all our sorrows, our Lord has also said, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” And we know that he who said this is risen from the dead, alleluia! Truly, he shall wipe every tear from our eyes.

R.I.P. Leo Beane, age 15.

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