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PAGE 4 GEORGIA BULLETIN THURSDAY, NO\~EMBER 28, 1963 the Archdiocese of Atlanta GEORGIA BULLET! SERVING GEORGIA S 71 NORTHERN COUNTIES Official Organ of the Archdiocese of Atlanta Published Every Week at the Decatur DeKalb News PUBLISHER - Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan MANAGING EDITOR Gerard E. Sherry CONSULTING EDITOR Rev. R. Donald Kiernan 2699 Peachtree N.E. P.O. Box 11667 Northside Station Atlanta 5, Ga. Member of'the Catholic Press Association and Subscriber to N.C.W.C, News Service Telephone 231-1281 Second Class Permit at Atlanta, Ga. U.S.A. $5.00 Canada $5.00 Foreign $6.50 J. F. K. John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the 35th president of these United St ates, lies buried on a quiet hill in the cemetery of heroes at Arlington, Virginia. What more can now be said? The assas sin’s deed is done, and all the world has mourned the loss of a new found youth and vigor, exe mplified in the person of the dead chief executive. No need to repeat the eulo gies of the past week, ortodes- pair for the future. But there must be an examination of the nation s individual and collec tive conscience. We all share some blame for the assassin’s bullet. This, because we have allowed passion to override re ason; hate to override love; and violence to supplant peace ful dialogue. The alleged-assassin was a child of turbulence. An avowed Marxist, he saw violence as the solution to the problems whirl ing through his twisted mind. As a result of his actions, a President lay dead and a world was disrupted from its chosen task of establishing peace and tranquility in the hearts of man kind. It would be comforting, in some ways, if we could lay the philosophy of violence solely at the door of the Marxists and their world. But who will cast the first stone? We, as a nat ion, are not warlike. Yet we are suffering from a dreadful mal ady which now seems to have struck at the vitals of our body politic. At both ends of the pol itical spectrum there are indi viduals and groups wishing to impose their views on the nat ion-- by violence if necessary. Both elements of the extremist cause claim patriotism as their motive, and scoff at the dissi dent view. Physical violence seems to be the answer if they cannot succeed in overwhelm ing the majority viewpoint by insiduous propaganda. These extremists of the Right and the Left do not reflect the American way. They are serv ants of alien causes whose mas ters seek either a dictator ship of the Proletariat, or a master race, nurtured on vio lence and disorder. John Fitzgerald Kennedy saw things differently. He belonged to a new generation of Ameri cans who saw war as the lea st suitable way to accomplish a peaceful world. He was a man of courage, who had been tested in battle and had earned “a profile in courage”. Although born to riches, he possessed a compas sion for his fellowman which knew no bounds. His constant goal was peace at home and pe ace in the world. But when the time came to stand up to the enemy, he never flinched, and won the day. No need for him to rattle a sabre, because he was seeking plows to till the valleys of peace. He wanted the American dream realized through brotherly love, rather than hate . It was a lot to ask of this disturbed nation, but he had faith in its people, whose generosity of heart had been proven so many times before. It is tragic that only through his death could the real se ntiments of the majority of our people be given witness. The genuine expressions of horror and disgust from leaders of both our main political parties was carried through to the millions of members throughout the land. The extreme Right Wing and extreme Left Wing could only be isolated in this hour of national travail. Their mockery of our patriotic values could only be laid bare at such a time. What better memorial to John Fitzgerald Kennedy could there be than to arrest the cancer of the philosophy violence in our body politic? Let us peal out the bells of patriotism as envisioned by the Founding Fa thers. There will be obvious disagreements among us, but let them be couched in terms of charity and understanding; let these disagreements be found ed on sincere conviction rather than on mere hate and preju dice; let truth be the loadestar for our actions; let us elimin ate the half-truths and false innuendo from our political propoganda; let us put Ameri ca first, and self last. John Fitzgerald Kennedy’s sacrifice in the line of duty will mean much to the maturing of our people, if we can close ranks on the essentials of our democracy. We are reminded of this as Lyndon Baines John son assumes the awesome task as our new Chief of State. We should be fervent in our pray ers that the new President will measure up to the burdens of his office. He has dedicated himself to an America strong but peaceful; rich but ever- mindful of the poorer nations. An America in which inequality is rampant, but in which the go al is equality for all of every race, color, and creed. President Johnson has rei terated his belief in the aims of his slain predecessor. The re no doubt will be changes in the personnel of government, but its goals remain the same; lasting peace and justice thro ugh freedom, not only for our own citizens, but for all throu ghout the world. John Fitzger ald Kennedy laid some of the foundations through his oft ex pressed love of God and love of Country. He must surely now rest in peace. GERARD E. SHERRY added viewpoint Women And The Council BY REV. LEONARD F. X. MAYHEW A November 2 news release from Rome ser ved notice that the Vatican has decided "in principle" to add five women to the delegates invited to the ecumenical council. Up to that date there had been at least two references by spea kers at this session to the important role play ed by women in the organized works of the Catholic laity. There had also been at least one specific demand that they be represented am ong the delegates "not only to listen but to be heard." Needless to say, if this decision is car ried out, it will be an historic first for the Ch urch. Pope Paul has already set something of a precedent by inviting ten lay men to attend the Council at the beginning of the present session. It is to be hoped that the logical next step of inviting the laywomen delegates will soon follow. As novels as it may appear, there should be nothing particu larly surprising in this recent development to anyone who has observed at all carefully recent trends in the policies of the Holy See. Ever since the decision of Pius XI to consecrate native bishops for missionary areas, the Holy See has been embarked on an attempt to set an example from the top for the whole Church. The inter nationalization of the hierarchy and the College of Cardinals, the freedom of speech enjoyed by the Council Fathers and the invitation of die lay delegate are three instances of this effort. A desire that the organizational structure of the Ch urch reflect her true nature as accurately as possible underlies these moves and seems very much in the ascendancy with the majority of bis hops in the Council. The role of the lay delegates at the Council is a little uncertain, at least to the outside ob server. If their presence there is supposed to be an operational and realistic symbol of the post- conciliar Church, then there must exist some mechanism through which they are able to speak as well as listen. The situation is a bit ambiv alent. The only authentic responsibility for the decisions of the Council remains with the bishops by divine law. At the same time, part of the bis hops* responsibility is to serve the needs of the faithful as they are actually felt according to var ious sets of circumstances. For this reason, it .seems only reasonable that representative mem bers of the laity be invited to enter into the bis hops’ discussions, comment on the issues which are raised and express their hopes for the ult imate decisions to be reached. From this viewpoint, the invitation to the women delegates is a very hopeful sign. If the Coun cil is to give due consideration to all the rich variety within the Church, it must take cogni zance not only of cultural and geographical dif ferences but of the different viewpoints of the sexes as well. Women do represent various fac ets of life which are not ably proposed by males. So many of the current moral problems which plague us are of particular concern to women. •This is true above all of the many questions which concern marriage and the family in one way or another. Within the area of the lay apostolate, which is sure to receive a great impetus from the Council, the place of women will continue to be of essential importance. IT is only reasonable, then, that they should be consulted before the fin al decisions are reached. liturgical week Meaning Of Incarnation BY REV. ROBERT W. HOVDA DEC. 1, FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT. Both the last Sunday of the season after Pentecost and today are Impressed with a brand that the Church of Jesus Christ can never lose. They are stamp ed with the conviction that the redemption of cre ation, its being drawn to a happy conclusion, is an event (rather, climax to a series of events) which has its origin beyond time and space, in God, however much time and space and matter may con tribute in His providence to this production. We hear, happily, more talk about the meaning of incarnation, about the "materialism" of Chris tianity with its God-man, its Church, its sacraments and all that goes with them. Many of us need more of this talk and more of this balancing. Today's liturgy contributes to the other side of the balance; salvation is coming to time from of time. It Is coming in the power of God, in ways mys terious perhaps to one who looks chiefly at the human side of the covenant. MONDAY, DEC. 2, ST. B1BIANA, VIRGIN, MARTYR. "I have understood your testimonies, O Lord," the Church sings in the Entrance Hymn. To be able to recognize the treasure, the fine pearl, to be able to separate the good gish from the bad (Gospel)-this Is in one sense the reason we gather around the altar for Mass. In hope and prayer and confidence that Christ's Word and Sacrament as we celebrate them here, with more and more attention to participation and intelligibility, will give us the understanding, the comprehension of which the Gospel speaks. TUESDAY, DEC. 3, ST. FRANCIS XAVIER, CONFESSOR. As the Church is now bursting out of her European cocoon, we see more easily the great grace possessed by Francis despite the li mitations of his age. Today, then, we pray for the Church’s speedy realization of a cultural as well as geographic catholicity, we pray that Catholics of Africa and the Orient will be making Increas ing contributions to Christian thought and letters. WEDNESDAY, DEC. 4, ST. PETER CHRY- SOLOGUS, BISHOP. CONFESSOR, DOCTOR. All through this Mass of a "doctor" or "great teacher" of the Church, we honor the teacher as an instrument of God. It is God who "opens his mouth," "fills him with the spirit," loves, adorns, clothes him. It is the L orc j who sets him "over his household." However much we may feel our prayers for such voices to have been answered thus far in Vati can Council II, it has much yet to do in the way of prophetic utterance for our time andwemightuse the occasion of Peter's Mass to make a special supplication. THURSDAY, DEC. 5, MASS AS ON SUNDAY. Ours is a religion of covenant and the word "you" is always strong in it. But it seems especially pointed and emphasized in this Advent Mass. "Upon you I have set my heart; in you, my God, I put my trust...show me your ways, teach me your paths" (Entrance, Gradual, Offertory Hymns), as well as the Collect's "Putforth your power, Lord, and cornel" Itcanmakethe "you" of our Eucharistic celebration more rich and meaningful if we increase our awareness of the fact that we expect ultimately a "vou," not an "it." FRIDAY, DEC. 6, ST. NICHOLAS, BISHOP CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 ASSASSINATION The Unbelief In Rome BY GERARD E. SHERRY ROME, ITALY - Friday was an evening of unbelief. No one could grasp the reality of the news — President Kennedy had been assassinated in Dallas, Texas. I had just finished dinner, a routine affair most evenings, with a group of newspaper men. We were prophesying on the future course of the second session of the Council when the news came in. We thought at first it was a joke— and in bad taste at that. Alas, it was true, but we did not want to believe it. We sadly dispersed, each tc his own thoughs and a sleepless night. Outside the hotel, the Vio Della Con- ciliazone 1 o oked the same. It was a brisk Rome even ing, and little knots of people gathered for their vino or cafe espresso. And on the broad side walks of the avenue walks of the avenue tican there was still a familiar sight bish sfrom various parts of the world taking thcir ven ing constitutional. Some were habitually al a » some were with their confreres or secretar 5 * was a scene which had been repeated ght after night since the Council started. But there was only one subject o the minds of all; the bishops meditating alone he bishops in conversation as they strolled alor the strada; the Roman citizens drinking their vfi or coffee. Kennedy is dead, and what in the orld are we going to do? On the Corso, the Veneto, the l azzo San Sil- vestro, the Republic, the Bar bar 0 — indeed all over Rome, it was a converse of unbelief. There were tears from the ho^wl^ 8 and the husbands. Not only women, bualso men, wept unashamedly — and all roads id to the Ameri can Embassy. Here rich and ?or, the great and the unknown, made pilgrimag to sign the spec ial book of condolence vhich had been set up in the main lobby. The chief mourners werehe American colony in Rome, now swelled by bme 200 U. S. Coun cil Fathers and newsmen fi>m all over the coun try. It was indeed a night <unbelief and much too hard to take. Our bishops vere scattered all over Rome, and most had he'd it before the even ing was out. Dinners -'ere left uncompleted, and. the nearest churcl or the silence of one’ room was the target, il over the world count less prayers were offced, yet here in the cen ter of Christendom tRy seemed to have an ac cumulation and the p4gnancy of more than spe cial merit. Pope Pau’heard the news and imme diately retired to bs private chapel. When the news agencies phon-d Cardinal Spellman of New York for a statement, they had merely inteiup- ted his recitation of the Rosary for our dead hief of State. The unbelief had turned Princes 1 die Church and the ordinary faithful, of whatev< nat ionality, to the oily source of consolatieln an hour of grief — prayer. To an American, the sense of pers<al loss was overwhelming . Our tears, our gr*f» were real. But so were the tears and the gef of the ordinary Roman citizen. This, too, wt gratify ing if only because it gave a sense pride to the chief mourners. It is surprising suddenly discover that the President of the Ur-ed States had moved, not only his own country-on, but the citizens of the whole world. On the morn after the sleeple.® night of in belief there were further consola'Ons to allevi ate the personal sense of loss, /*1 of us mersly picked at even the meager coJnental bre.k- fast. And while we sat alone reding the detiils of the shcoking event, the bis»ps living inthe same hotel came over to express their fel- ings. It was the same little statement from »is- hops from Canada, Engind, Scotland, re land, Australia, and New Zealand; "It is tfri- ble news, a great shock, and a loss to the wrld. You will be pleased to knpw that 1 offere< this morning's Mass for the repose of the soult yodr President." The American bishops scattered aroundarious residences and hotels in Rome had arra^d for rush deliveries of black vestments, Onortable altars, in hotel rooms, and the high ‘tars of magnificent Basilicas Requiem Masses^ere of fered by the U. S. Hierarchy for the epose of the soul of John Fitzgerald Kennedy,did while they remembered the dead President, aere were also the special prayers to alleviate le anguish of the temporary separation of th Shepherds from their flocks in this hour of - ed . There was a special remembrance by al^ or Bishop Thomas Gorman of Dallas, in who; diocese the dastardly deed had been perpetrate It was con soling to him to note that one of I s priests had been present when the President d^* Today I will be leaving this nournin 8 ci ty. heading back to Atlanta, still J a state of un belief, Yet, the realityis there,.< m y plane wings across the Atlantic, it will carr 1 * 16 President of Ireland, accompanied by his P ,Tie Minister and the contingent of Irish Cadets lose attendance at the funeral had been requested/ Mrs, Kennedy. * REAPINGS AT RANDOM latJSJd straight upto e Va-