The time-honored axiom, "Behind every great man there is a great woman," is long out of date, at least in advanced societies where women are as professionally engaged and as successful as men. Nowadays the saying could just as easily read, "Behind every great woman there is a great man."

But there is a second possible variation on the line, namely, "Behind every great man there is another great man." I shall explain.

The University of Notre Dame, founded in 1842, just marked another important milestone in its long and generally illustrious history. Its former executive vice-president, Father Edmund (Ned) Joyce, a member of the Congregation of Holy Cross, passed into eternity on May 2, at age 87. He had served as executive vice president for 35 years, before retiring in 1987.

Ned Joyce was the quintessential number-two man in any large organization. He did his job faithfully and exceedingly well, but without fanfare or drawing attention to himself. That is the way he wanted it, and that is the way he did it over so many years.

Some of those who know the great man with whom Father Joyce served for so long a time might ask, "What choice did he have? He could never have matched the number-one man in national and international prominence and achievement, nor in force of personality."

The man with whom Ned Joyce collaborated over so many years happens to be one the greatest educators of our time, one of America's most productive and highly respected citizens, and one of the most credible and effective leaders that the Catholic Church in the United States has ever had.

That other great man, of course, is Father Theodore M. Hesburgh, also a Holy Cross priest, who was president of the University of Notre Dame for the same 35-year period that Father Joyce served as executive vice president.

Upon their retirement in 1987, the two friends took a cross-country vacation together by motor home and later to South America and then around the world as chaplains on the QE2. Father Hesburgh wrote about their adventures in a book published in 1992, "Travels with Ted and Ned."

In his eloquent funeral homily in Sacred Heart Basilica on the Notre Dame campus, Father Hesburgh revealed that the two had a pact. Whichever one of them died first, the surviving friend would deliver the sermon at his funeral.

Father Joyce, who was always meticulous about his preaching, never doing so without a carefully written text at the ready in case of a lapse of memory, prayed that he would precede his famous friend in death. And so he did.

"I've never known anyone in my life," Father Hesburgh said, "that was as wonderful a human being as Ned Joyce....I can't possibly thank him for what he has meant to my life. He has been a good half of my life and probably more. I was so close to him as a dear friend and confidant.

"I went to confession to him several times a year. And he didn't spare the penance." [Laughter from the congregation.] "I felt he knew my faults, probably better than I did. It was that kind of relationship."

Father Hesburgh quoted from a letter from one of the country's great football stars, Pete Dawkins, pointing out the lasting contribution Father Joyce had made to collegiate athletics. He constantly reminded those at other universities and colleges that athletes are students first. It is not enough that they should excel on the playing field; they must also derive full benefit from their studies --- and they should graduate.

Dawkins noted that many did not want to hear such words, but things are beginning to change because of Father Joyce's courage and integrity.

Father Hesburgh added that a lot of things had changed because of his friend, including the university to which both men were totally dedicated.

"I guess the best I can say is thanks, Ned, for those long days of caring, those long nights of work in the cause of Our Lady's school, to make it better and more worthy of her.

"And I thank you, Ned, for just being my brother for so many years, and for putting up with me when I needed putting up with. For just always being there and always being helpful."

Father Hesburgh did not have a text to rely upon for his funeral homily. Because of macular degeneration, he can no longer read. His words flowed directly from the heart.

Father Ned Joyce could not have had a more touching tribute from a more devoted friend.

Father Richard P. McBrien is the Crowley-O'Brien Professor of Theology at the University of Notre Dame.