in january 1920, parater became very ill with rheumatic fever. he received last rites and died on february 7. after his death, his "act of oblation," a sort of prayer and spiritual testament he had written, was discovered. two popes have asked for copies of it, and it has been published in english and in the "l'osservatore romano" in italian. his body is interred in the mausoleum of the north american college in rome's campo verano cemetery.