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1
Vol. 44, No. 21
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U. S. Bishops Say
Is Mankind’s Loss
President’s Death
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1963
Pope Paul Expresses Grief
VATICAN CITY (NC)—Pope
Paul VI expressed his grief at
the “tragic and sad news'* of
President Kennedy's assassi
nation in a formal statement and
in separate messages to his
widow, his parents, his brother,
President Lyndon B. Johnson
and Richard Cardinal Cushing
of Boston, who celebrated Mass
at the President’s funeral.
The Pontiff again spoke of
his sorrow when he received
delegates attending a Rome
meeting of the United Nations
Food and Agriculture Organi
zation.
Pope Paul said in his state
ment:
“We have been greatly
stricken by the tragic and sad
news of the killing of the Presi
dent of the United States, John
Fitzgerald Kennedy, and of the
serious wounding of Gov. John
Connally of Texas.
“We are deeply grieved by
this exercrable crime, for the
grief which has struck the great
and civilized country and for
the suffering which Mrs. Ken
nedy, her children and her rela
tions suffer.
“We deplore this event with
Our whole heart. We express
the hope that the death of this
great statesman will not bring
damage to the American people,
but will strengthen its moral
and civil sense and sentiments
of nobility and concord. We
pray God that the sacrifice of
John Kennedy may help the
cause promoted and defended by
him of the liberty of peoples
and of peace in the world.
“He was the first Catholic
president of the United State's.
We remember that We had the
honor of his visit and that We
noted in him great wisdom and
high purpose for the good of
humanity. We, shall offer Holy
Mass tomorrow (Nov. 23) for the
peace of his soul, for the com
fort of those who mourn his
death and so that, not hatred,
POPE PAUL VI
but love shall reign in humani
ty.”
The Pope’s message to
President Johnson said:
“To Your Excellency and to
the beloved American people We
offer the expression of Our
sincerest prayerful condo
lences on the death in parti
cularly tragic circumstances
of President John Fitzgerald
Kennedy, whom We had known
personally and whose intrepid
character and high qualities We
admired. We pray God to grant
Your Excellency as you accede
to the presidency of the nation
His choicest graces of guidance
and strength.”
The Pope told Mrs. Kennedy:
“We hasten to send you, be
loved daughter, the assurance
of Our heartfelt sympathy in
your deep sorrow, and of Our
fervent prayers for the eternal
repose of the soul of your hus
band, John Fitzgerald Kennedy.
Upon you and your children We
bestow in pledge of sustaining
and consoling divine graces Our
affectionate paternal apostolic
blessing.”
Pope Paul told the Presi
dent’s parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Joseph Kennedy:
“Our paternal heart shares in
your immense sorrow on the
tragic death of your son, John
Fitzgerald Kennedy, and, in as
suring Our prayers for the eter
nal repose of his soul, We
implore from God abundant gra
ces of consolation and comfort
for you both and for all the
family, imparting to all in
pledge of that divine solace Our
most affectionate apostolic
blessing.”
The Pontiff’s message to the
President’s brother, Atty. Gen.
Robert Kennedy, said:
“With deep sorrow We send
Our cordial condolences to you,
to your parents and to the family
on the immense loss suffered
in the death of your brother,
President John Fitzgerald Ken
nedy, promising our remem
brance on the altar of God for
his eternal repose and for the
consolation of all his loved ones
on this tragic bereavement.”
To Cardinal Cushing he said:
“We share in your loss, beloved
son, on the sad death of Presi
dent John Fitzgerald Kennedy
and We assure Our prayers for
his soul and for your solace
and that of all who knew and
loved him.”
At the reception for FAO
delegates, Pope Paul said:
“We cannot commence Our
discourse without reference to
the tragic death of the Presi
dent of the United States, John
Fitzgerald Kennedy. We wish to
(Continued on Page 2)
U. S. Cardinals Mourn
President Kennedy
WASHINGTON, (NC) — Ri
chard Cardinal Cushing, who
offered the Pontifical Requiem
Mass for the President in St.
Matthew's Cathedral, Washing
ton, D. C., on Monday (Nov.
25) said:
“Every inhabited section of
the earth is in sorrow over the
terrible tragedy that deprived
our country of one of its great
est presidents, and the world
of one of its most courageous
leaders.
“My heart is broken with
grief over his ‘martyrdom’ for
the cause of a free world. In
the midst of my emotions my
prayers go forward in sympa
thy to his dear wife, his chil
dren, his loving father and mo
ther, and all the members of
his family. Their sorrow is
beyond our words to describe.
I shall leave on the morrow
(Nov. 23) for Hyannis Port to
be of whatever possible service
I can to them (the President’s
parents.)
“John Fitzgerald Kennedy,
known to me for a lifetime
and loved by me as a devoted
friend, has laid down his life
for us all. ‘Greater love than
this no man hath.’
“Since the day he assumed
the office of President of the
United States, he exemplified
in his life and especially in his
death the title of his famous
book, ‘Profiles in Courage.’ I
recall that in his inauguration
address he stated he would not
shrink from his responsibili
ties. He has been faithful to
that pledge even unto death.
“It is not possible for me
to comment any further on this
untimely and unforgettable tra
gedy. I am so overcome with
sorrow on the loss of a great
friend and so concerned about
extending my sympathy to all
his loved ones who have si
lently carried, unknown to mul
titudes, some of the heaviest
crosses of life.
“I pray especially that the
youth of this world, and es
pecially of America, will take a
lesson from his courageous
words and deeds and work for
freedom, equality and justice
which his youthful vigor sought
for all the peoples of this
earth. May God rest the noble
soul of this youthful‘martyr.’ ”
Francis Cardinal Spellman
of New York headed the U. S.
prelates in Rome for the Second
Vatican Council in expressing
shock and grief over the tra
gic death of President John F.
Kennedy.
Cardinal Spellman called
President Kennedy “a martyr
of this century” at a Requiem
Mass in Rome’s American
church, Santa Susanna’s.
The church was packed to
overflowing for the Mass
(Nov. 23). Among those pres
ent were James Francis Cardi
nal McIntyre of Los Angeles;
Albert Cardinal Meyer of Chi
cago; Gregorio Cardinal Aga-
gianian, Prefect of the Sacred
Congregation for the Propaga
tion of the Faith; Archbishop
Martin J. O'Connor, rector of
the North American College;
and some 200 bishops and offi
cials of the Roman curia. Also
attending was the U. S. Am
bassador to Italy, Frederick
Reinhardt.
Cardinal Spellman spoke of
the assassinated President in
prayers at a symbolic catafal
que at the end of the Mass.
Switching from Latin to Eng
lish for the liturgical prayer
that begins “May angels lead
you into Paradise, may the
martyrs receive you at your
coming,” the Cardinal con
cluded with a prayer of his
own. He called President Ken
nedy a martyr, asked divine
help for his family and prayed
that the principles he had act
ed on would be pursued.
James Francis Cardinal Mc
Intyre of Los Angeles and Jo
seph Cardinal Ritter of St. Louis
received word at the North
American College in Rome.
* ‘We were having dinner to
gether when we received the
terrible news,” the two Car
dinals said in a joint state
ment. “It grieved our hearts
and shocked us deeply. We im
mediately called together the
students and offered prayers
together for the repose of the
President’s soul and the
comfort of his wife and chil
dren.”
Albert Cardinal Meyer of
Chicago said:
“I join with the entire nation
in expressing profound grief
over this tragic event. At times
such as this, one can have
recourse only to prayer for the
soul of our great departed Pre
sident, and for the welfare of
our country.
“This morning I offered Holy
Mass for the repose of his soul.
To Mrs. Kennedy and the be
reaved members of the late
President’s family I express
deepest sympathy. Our prayers
also go out for our new Presi
dent as he assumes the formi
dable duties of his office. In
giving his life for his country,
President Kennedy demonstra
ted to us how heavy and crush
ing these duties are.
“In deploring this truly ter
rible act of assassination, we
must all unite in fervent prayer
for the cause of peace and the
welfare of our country, which
were so close to the late Presi
dent’s heart and for which,
we may say, he gave his life.”
(N.C.W.C. NEWS SERVICE)
ROME—The Catholic Bishops of the United States described
President John F. Kennedy as “ever the good steward,” and
expressed that “his death in the service of his ideals” may
“rally this generation to the triumph of peace and justice and
freedom for all.”
The Bishops spoke in a joint
statement, issued in Rome
where they are taking part in
the second session of the Sec
ond Vatican Council. They said
bis death was “shocking” news,
and that it “deprives mankind of
a compassionate champion of
peace and brotherhood.”
The text of the Bishops’ state
ment follows:
“In this hour of common sor
row for our nation, we join with
all our fellow citizens and per
sons of goodwill throughout the
world in expressing our heart
felt condolences on the tragic
death of the President to Mrs.
Kennedy and to their children,
to his devoted parents and all
the members of the family. His
shocking death deprives man
kind of a compassionate cham
pion of peace and brother
hood, his country of a
courageous executive, his fam
ily of a loyal husband and fa
ther, his parents of a dutiful
and devoted son.
“Endowed with extraordinary
talents and a great measure of
this world’s goods, he was ever
the good steward, never forget
ting that these gifts were
entrusted by God to hi scare for
the benefit of his neighbor. He
described his own life when
he uttered his famous appeal,
‘Ask not what your country can
do for you—ask what you can
do for your country.’
“His vision of duty was not
limited to his country, even
though he had given almost,
to the last full measure of de
votion in its defense. He was
no less mindful of the place of
his country in the family of na
tions. No person was a stranger
to his concern, and his deepest
concern was for the less fortun
ate among God’s children. May
nis death in the service for
his ideals rally this genera
tion to the triumph of peace
with justice and freedom for all.
“May the good God who
endowed and inspired him grant
our prayers and those of all
his fellow citizens and friends
for the repose of his soul in
the company of his Creator and
Redeemer.”
The statement was signed
by the Catholic Bishops of the
United States.
Papal Secretary Of State
Cardinal Cicognani
Expresses Sorrow
VATICAN CITY (NC)—Amle-
to Cardinal Cicognani, Papal
Secretary of State, said the
world is filled with “horror
and abhorrence” at the assassi
nation of President Kennedy.
The former Apostolic Dele
gate to tne u. S. ueciai'ed in a
statement:
“The whole world is over
whelmed by sentiments of hor
ror and abhorrence at this
senseless crime which seems to
inflict a hard blow to the very
values and aims of our civili
zation.
“We mourn the loss of Presi
dent Kennedy and we pray for
the repose of his noble soul. To
his anguished family and to his
great nation, stricken with such
grief, we express the senti
ments of our heartfelt condo
lences and profound participa
tion in their sorrow.
“He was sincerely loved by
his people whom he undertook to
serve with complete dedication
right from his youth with an
uncommon wisdom and above all
with constant energy and deter
mination. Held in the highest
esteem and admired both within
his country and abroad, he will
live on in history—a shining ex-
ample of joyful, intelligent and
full dedication to the great
causes of human society, and a
splendid ideal of a faithful ser
vant of his nation in the highest
duties which he fulfilled with
praiseworthy generosity.”
Memorial
Services At
Hunter AFB
SAVANNAH—Servicemen at
Hunter Air Force Base here at
tended Memorial services hon
oring the late President of the
United States, John F. Ken
nedy last Tuesday morning. The
invocation was delivered by the
Rt. Rev. Msgr. Andrew J. Mc
Donald, Chancellor of the Dio
cese of Savannah.
Said Monsignor McDonald:
“Heavenly Father, in this hour
of tragedy and sorrow, We, the
American people, look to Thee
for guidance and protection.
As we ponder the tragic death
of our president, John F. Ken
nedy, we ask eternal repose for
his immortal soul. Of him we
say, “Greater love than this no
man hath: Than He lay down His
Life for His friend.” In this
sad hour, Heavenly Father, we
ask divine blessings and gui
dance for our new president,
Lyndon B. Johnson. May your
(Continued on Page 2)
REQUIEM FOR PRESIDENT KENNEDY—An estimated 2,000 persons overflowed
the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist last Monday evening to attend a Solemn Requiem
for President Kennedy. Procession is pictured leaving Cathedral following Mass.—
(News-Press Photo By Andrew J. Hickman)
Cathedral In Savannah
Overflow Crowd At Mass
For President Kennedy
SAVANNAH — The emotion
al impact of the murder of
President John F. Kennedy on
the entire nation was mirrored
in faces and quietly prayerful
attitude of the crowd of more
than 2,000 persons which over
flowed this city’s historic Ca
thedral of St. John the Baptist
for a Solemn Requiem Mass
last Monday evening, the same
day the slain President was
laid to rest in the National Cem
etery' at Arlington, Virginia.
The Mass was the official
farewell of the Diocese of Sa
vannah to a Chief Executive
always controversial, but pro
bably to most also always en
gaging, warm and vital—the
AUGUSTA MOURNS PRESIDENT—This picture was taken minutes after the death of
President Kennedy and shows Sisters and children spontaneously visiting St. Mary’s
Church for prayer.—(Photo Courtesy Augusta Chronicle)
father o f a family which had
earned the admiration of count
less young American families,
forceful leader in an era of
change and frightening danger,
and the first Catholic ever elec
ted to the Presidency of the
United States.
And while Catholics of this
city paid their last respects to
J ohn Fitzgerald Kennedy at the
Cathedral and at Masses of
Requiem in the city’s other
Catholic Churches, men and
women of other faiths went by
the hundreds to their respec
tive Churches to offer their
final salute to the President and
to pray for his family, and to
ask Divine guidance for the
new President, Lyndon B. John
son.
Celebrant of the Cathedral
Mass was the Rt. Rev. Andrew
J. McDonald, Chancellor. The
Rev. John Cuddy, Diocesan Su
perintendent of Schools was
Deacon, while the Rev. Leo
nard O'Brien, assistant rec
tor of the Cathedral served as
Subdeacon. Ceremonies were
under the direction of the Rev.
Lawrence Lucree, assistant
rector of the Cathedral.
In attendance at the Mass,
sung by the Cathedral Men’s
Chpir, were the Catholic cler
gy and Religious of the city,
Seminarians, Cadets from Ben
edictine Military School, stu
dents of St. Vincent’s Acad
emy and St. Pius X High School,
the Immaculate Conception As
sembly of the Fourth Degree
Knights of Columbus, and hun
dreds of mourners from the
city and surrounding areas.
Monsignor McDonald also de
livered a short sermon.
* ‘Where can we find words to
express the sorrow that ap
palls our nation?” he asked.
The Savannah Chancellor re
called that “Three years ago
in this very month, the free
people of the United States of
America went to the polls to
choose a President. All of us
can vividly recall that cam
paign. For the first time in
many years, a man's religion
had an obvious effect upon the
ballot. With unusual political
talent, John Fitzgerald Kenne
dy won that election and became
the first Catholic President of
the United States.
“In the course of the tenure
of his office, the President
was subjected to the usual cri
ticism of any man who holds a
high place in public life. No
matter what people thought of
him, however, no one could
accuse him of favoring Catho
lics. He was a fair minded
man, dedicated to the high
ideals of his office. True, hu
man as he was, he made his
share of mistakes. There was
never a doubt, however, in the
minds of anyone, even his worst
enemies, that he acted with the
sincerity of his convictions.”
“In his death, we have lost
a President; in his death we
have lost a fellow Catholic; in
his death, his mother and his
father have given a second son
to the honor and glory of God
and country. For these parents
lost another son in combat in the
Second World War.
“Of these two boys, we can
say ‘Greater love than this no
man hath than that he lay down
his life for his friend’.
“In his death, two innocent
children, the type of whom Our
Lord said, “Suffer the little
children to come unto me; for
of such is the Kingdom of Hea
ven’, have lost their father.
Of those responsible for this
tragic death, we can say no
more than what Our Lord, Him
self, said upon the Cross. ' Fa
ther, forgive them; for they
know not what they do.’ ”
Pray For Our
Deceased Priests
REV. GREGORY DUGGAN
Dec. 3, 1870
rev. john McCarthy
Dec. 3, 1920
Oh God, IVho didst give to
thy servants by their sacredotaf
office, a share in the priest
hood of the Apostles, grant,
we implore, that they may
also be one of their company
forever in heaven. Through
Christ Our Lord, Amen.