Please give a summary of "The Ballad of Father Gilligan."

"The Ballad of Father Gilligan" concerns an extremely
humble and pious priest who is exhausted from trying to care for all of his flock and
meeting their needs. In particular, he seems preoccupied that his job involves dealing
with the death of so many of his flock:

readability="11">

"I have no rest, nor joy, nor
peace,

For people die and
die";

And after cried he, "God
forgive!

My body spake, not
I!"

Note here how in this
stanza we see his exhaustion combined with his natural humility and piety. In a moment
of weakness he reveals his frustrations, talking about his inability to find any form of
peace or rest, but then quickly feels guilty for this outburst, saying that this was his
"body" speaking rather than his soul. However, kneeling to pray, he finally finds the
rest that he has been looking for.

A while later he wakes
up, stressed, because one of his flock is near death. He rushes to the house, only to be
greeted by the wife who tells him that her husband died an hour ago "as merry as a
bird." Father Gilligan realises at this news how God in his infinite mercy cared for him
by giving him rest and taking care of his flock so he could
sleep:

"He
Who is wrapped in purple robes

With planets in His
care,

Had pity on the least of
things

Asleep upon a
chair."

Note Father
Gilligan's humility in considering himself "the least of things." He has learnt how his
God helps him in his time of need and cares and provides for his needs, as he tries to
meet the needs of those that God has given to him.