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PACE 8 GEORGIA BULLETIN THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1963
VS. BISHOPS SA Y
President 6 Ever
Good Steward’
HUSHED, SORROWING CROWDS THRONGED the Cathedral for Monday night’s Solemn Requiem
for President Kennedy, heard eulogist Msgr. O’cConnor refer to him as "...courageous in battle,
courageous in illness, courageous in the turmoil of political life."
AT CAWEMAL
Msgr. O’Connor Eulogizes
Late President At Mass
ROME (NC) — The Catholic
Bishops of the United States
described President John F.
Kennedy as "ever the good
steward," and expressed the
hope 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 l.isbops spoke in a joint
statement, issued in Rome
where they are taking part in
the second session of the Second
Vatican Coum.il. They said his
death was "shocking" news,
and tnat it "deprives mankind
of compassionate champion of
peace and brotherhood."
THE TEXT OF THE Bishops’
statement follows:
"In this hour of common sor
row for our nation, we join
with all our fellow citizens
and persons of goodwill
throughout the world in ex
pressing our heartfelt con
dolences on the tragic death
of the President to Mrs. Ken
nedy and to their children, to
his devoted parents and ail
the members of the family. His
shocking death deprives man
kind of a compassionate champ
ion of peace and brotherhood,
his country of a courageous
executive, his family of a loyal
husband and father, his parents
of a dutiful and devoted son.
lfOO ATTEND
Glenn Memorial Chapel of
Emory University was tne
scene of a tribute to Presi
dent Kennedy by faculty and
students on Monday. The De
partment of Religious Educa
tion arranged to have Father
Alvin Matthews, OFM, Emory
University Newman Chaplain,
offer a Requiem Mass that was
attended by some 1,500 mem
bers of the University Com
munity and friends. Catholic
students responded in the dia
log Mass that was served by
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"ENDOWED WITH extra
ordinary talents arid a great
measure of this world’s goods,
he was ever the good steward,
never forgetting that these gifts
were entrusted by God to his
care for the benefit of his neigh
bor. He described his own fife
when he uttered his famous
appeal, 'Ask not wnay 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
devotion in its defense. He
was no less mindful of the
place of his country in the
family of nations. No per
son was a stranger to his
concern, and his deepest con
cern was for the less fortunate
among God’s children. May
his death in the service for
his ideals rally this generat
ion to the triumph of peace
with justice and freedom for
ail.
"MAY THE GOOD God Who
endowed and inspired him grant
our prayers and those of all
his fellow citizens for the re
pose of his soul in the com
pany of his Creator and Re
deemer."
The statement was signed by
the Catholic Bishops of the
United States.
Major Edward Patterson, As
sociate Professor of Air
Science, It was attended by
uniformed members of the Air
R.O.T.C.
Father Matthews used a text
from St. Paul: "None of us
lives to himself, and no man
dies to himself. For whether we
live, we live unto the Lord, or
whether we die, we die unto the
Lord’’. In his sermon he said:
"We have lost a leader whose
proven courage Is Indelibly
stamped In the military annals
of our nation, In the pages of
the records of the Senate of the
United States, and above all, in
his almost prophetic challenge
that he Issued on the day of his
Inauguration: 'Ask not what your
country can do for you, but what
you can do for your country”.
In closing Father Matthews
invoked the blessing and grace
of God upon the new President,
Lyndon B. Johnson.
At the conclusion of the me
morial service the sounding of
"Taps” on the organ brought
tears to the eyes of many, as a
great hush settled over the fill
ed Chapel.
The following is the text of
the eulogy given by Msgr. Pat
rick J. O'Connor, pastor of St.
Thomas More Church, in Christ
the King Cathedral on the occa
sion of the Solemn Requiem
Mass for the late President John
Fitzgerald Kennedy on Monday
night.
"He lost his life, ‘tis true,
but long, long before he had
given his life to his God, his
country, to his fellowmen"....
Rt. Rev. Father Abbot, Rt.
Rev. Msgr. Cassidy, Rt. Rev.
Msgr., Very Rev. and Rev.
Fathers, distinguished repre
sentatives of state and city, be
loved sisters, beloved friends
In Christ.
WHEN THE NEWS of the As
sassination of our President
was announced to the world
there is not doubt that a pray
er rose up immediately from
the lips of countless men, a
prayer for the repose of his
soul. These prayers arose from
the lips of stunned citizens who
immediately sensed a severe
loss. The nation was drenched
in sorrow. Partisan feelings
were for the nonce forgotten and
we all became plain citizens
benumbed by a message and a
grief. In our frail human way
we asked the inevitable ques
tion, why? Why, as it seems to
us, why, this untimely passing?
Our Christian teaching imme
diately comes to our rescue and
you and I, all of us bow to
his, God's, inscrutable wisdom
and we say, "Thy Will Be
Done."
DEAR FRIENDS, just as indi
viduals created by God have an
obligation to pray to Him and
offer to God honor so, too, do
nations at certain times have the
obligation of rendering public
honor and worship, such a time
has come and we do, we citizens
of this nation on "this dark
est evening of the year."
Dear friends, it is most fit
ting that we gather here in the
Cathedral Church of the Arch
diocese of Atlanta and with our
many friends of other religious
persuasions, join as brothers
in Christ and pray for John
Fitzgerald Kennedy, our re
spected President of these Unit
ed States, who was called by
God to his eternal reward.
DEARLY BELOVED, Jesus
Christ is God. God can do noth
ing that is purposeless. All that
he did as he walked the earth
was for a purpose, namely, to
effect the lives of men. His
words, his deeds, his example
had no meaning other than to
serve as a model for our lives
as they are lived in this "vale
of tears". The death of Christ,
the death of any man of high or
low estate, is meaningful. Death
is a great teacher. It drives
from our minds three great il
lusions. Men promise themsel
ves a long life and yet no one
denies the certainty of death.
But in reality, we make out for
ourselves a sort of everlasting
existence on this earth. We do
not believe that we shall die
today, this week, this month,
this year. We all believe the un
certainty of life and yet we act
as though it were not sol Death
takes away this illusion and
forcibly teaches us that at any
moment our lives may come to
an end.
DEATH DESTROYS, too, the
Illusion that the goods of this
world are of great importance
when in reality we know that
"all Is vanity.” I Timothy,
"We brought nothing into this
world: and certainly we can
carry nothing out."
Death is a great teacher. Man
believes himself to be some
thing great and yet we know
that "all men are earth and
ashes." Eccl. XVIL 31.
TO THE REAL Christian, the
hour, the place, the circum
stance are not as significant as
the condition of one’s soul at the
moment of death.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the
35th President of the United
States, is dead.
HIS SHADOW will fall upon
your life and mine, your world
and mine; his shadow will upon
the lives of the yet unborn for
ages to come.
The image of this man form
ed during a short span of years
in the minds of men is now con
cluded !by his passing. Thus
He stands for all to see.
WE SEE A "Man of belief"
in God.
We see a Man of courage:
courageous in battle; courage
ous In illness; courageous in the
turmoil of political life,
WE SEE A man who knew
suffering. We see a ma n of
integrity. We see a man of
great intellectual capacity and
attainment. We see a man con
cerned with the frailties of mind
and body suffered by his fel
low man, not the least of these
are the retarded children of the
nation. We see a man born to
great wealth and yet constantly
thoughtful of the poor, the needy,
the deprived of the world. We
see a man so convinced of the
dignity of man that again and
again he showed his willingness
to stake his political future with
all its implications on the stand
he took on the real Issues of
the day.
"BLESSED ARE they who
thirst after justice for they
shall be satisfied I”
Firm was he in his belief
that the equality and dignity of
all men Is basically a religious
concept and a commandment
of daily living else it has no
worthiness save political expe
diency. We see a man of great
intolerance with his fellows
only when confronted by fellow
men governed by selfish motiv
es.
WE SEE A man of great impa
tience only when community
leaders would refuse to sit down
and discuss with openmindsthe
injustices heaped upon Ameri
can citizens and citizens of
other nations in the world. We
see a man, a respecter of law
and order and justice. Such is
the image of John Fritzerald
Kennedy.
"He was a man, take him for
all in all, I shall not look upon
his like again.” (Hamlet to
Horatio)
FOR US AS Catholics this is
a particularly poignant moment
in our lives and in the life of this
nation we love so dearly. This
young president was closer to
each of us than we realize. He
was a member of our faith, a
participant in our mass, a re
ceiver as we are of the sacra
ments of our Church. We were
understandably proud in his ac
cession to the highest elective
office in our land. The election
of this young man to die Pre
sidency of the United States
marked the ascendancy to this
position of the first Catholic
in the history of our nation. It
is comforting for us to note that
this could not have happened
without the support of our non-
Catholic American citizens. We
are well aware of this coope
ration and for it we are deep
ly grateful. The election of
President Kennedy was of tre
mendous significance because
it marked for all to see the
abandonment of religious bigo
try in this our beloved country'.
We are proud, and justifiably
so, because his election and ten
ure of office proved to all the
world that an American Catho
lic can be loyal to his faith and
also to his constitutional du
ties.
FROM THE HEAVY hearts
of citizens of a grateful na
tion go words of condolence to
a bereaved family, to a devoted
wife, to loving parents. His
passing will mark heavily the
lives of his children. His pa
rents felt the yoke of great sor
row In another day when their
oldest son died in the service of
this nation.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the
35th President of the United
States, is dead. May God be
merciful to his soul.
"HE LOST HIS LIFE, 'tis
true, but long, long before he
had given his life to his God,
his country* to his fellow men.”
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Mass Centers Emory
Tribute To Kennedy
IN CAPITAL
Cardinal Says Funeral
Mass For President
(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1)
the preceding 21 hours the Pre
sident's body lay in state in the
rotunda of the Capitol Building.
Thousands of men, women and
children of every race, color
and creed filed past the bier
to pay their last respects.
MANY PERSONS, some of
whom waited as long as 10 hours
to get into the Capitol, sadly-
made the sign of the cross
as they filed past the body.
Groups of Sisters and priests
were among those passing the
bier even as midnight approach
ed.
Before being taken to the
Capitol, the body lay in the
East Room of the White House.
The casket was draped with an
American flag and the cata
falque was covered in black.
A large crucifix bearing an
ivory figure of Christ was at
the foot of the casket, which
was flanked by four candles
and decorated with a bouquet
of white lilies and carnations.
When the body was brought
to the White House at 4:25 a.m.
from the Naval medical center
in Bethesda, Md., a prayer was
offered by a priest waiting
there. Two priests remained
throughout the night to pray
for the President.
As Saturday (Nov. 23) dawned,
more priests drawn from the
Washington archdiocese and the
numerous houses of studies re
lated to the major Catholic uni
versities arrived.
ALL DURING the hours the
body was in the East Room
where dignitaries came to pay
their respects, two of the
priests kneeled in prayer near
the casket.
Later in the morning, a pri
vate Requiem Mass was offered
in the East Room by Father
John J. Cavanaugh, C. S. C.,
former president of Notre Dame
University and a family friend.
Mrs. Kennedy and the two
Kennedy children, Caroline and
John, Jr„ were present, as
were family members and close
friends.
Soon after, President Johnson
left the White House for a
special unannounced service
which he had requested in St.
John’s Episcopal church,
across Lafayette Park from
the White House. The Rev.
John C. Harper, rector, pray
ed for the dead President and
his successor.
PRESIDENT Kennedy’s body
was borne from the White House
to the Capitol the following day
in a horse-drawn caisson, ac
companied by a military guard
of honor and preceded by
clergymen of various faiths on
foot.
Before the remains left the
White House (Nov. 24) another
private Mass was offered in
the East Room. The celebrant
was Father M. Frank Ruppert,
an assistant at St. Matthew’s.
Mrs. Kennedy, her children and
close friends again were pre
sent.
As the tragic procession pro
ceeded to the Capitol, the cais
son bearing the President’s
body was accompanied by these
clergymen: Dean Francis F.
Sayre of the National Protest
ant Episcopal Cathedral, Msgr.
John Spence, director of edu
cation, Catholic Archdiocese of
Washington, and Father Theo
dore Danusiar, pastor of Holy
Family Ukrainian Catholic
Byzantine Rite Church. A rabbi
scheduled to take part failed
to arrive from his home in
Chicago in time.
On Monday morning, the
cortege proceeded from the
Capitol to the White House and
then to St. Matthew's Cathedral.
AS IT arrived, Cardinal
Cushing appeared at the cathe
dral’s main door, flanked by
altar boys and priests. He came
out from under the doorway,
draped in black and gold, and
went down the steps to speak
to Mrs. Kennedy. He kissed
the flag on the casket and of
fered expressions of comfort
to the late President’s two
children.
EXiring die Mass, whose de
tails webe explained for mill
ions watching television by
Father Leonard Hurley, a
Washington priest, the hymn,
"Ave Maria, ” was sung by
Italian soloist Luigi Vena of
Boston. Vena, who had sung
it at the Kennedy wedding,
sung it again at the request
of the President's widow.
At the Communion of the
Mass, Mrs. Kennedy joined by
U. S. A tty. Gen. Robert Kennedy
and U. S. Sen. Edward Kennedy,
received the Holy Eucharist
from the Cardinal. Other mem
bers of the congregation also
received.
IN HIS remarks, Bishop Han
nan told the distinguished con
gregation:
"At this time of sorrow, of
burden, he would have us re
member the passages from
Josua and Isaia he had used
in accepting the presidential
nomination:
" ‘Be strong and of good
courage. Be not afraid,
neither be thou dismayed.
They that wait upon the Lord
shall renew their strength; they
shall mount up with wings as
eagles; they shall run and not
be weary.’ ’’
As the body was borne from
the cathedral to be carried to
Editor To Speak
The Greater Atlanta Council
on Human Relations will hold
its annual meeting on Monday,
November 25, 1963, at the Pa
rish House of All Saints Epis
copal Church, 634 W. Peach
tree, beginning with a coffee at
7:30 p.m., and business meet
ing at 8:00.
At 8:30 p.m„ Mr. Carl Hol
man, information Officer of the
U. S. Commission on Civil
Rights will address the meet
ing on ”Civil Rights in our
Cities:
Arlington National Cemetery, a
military band played the hymn,
"Holy God, We Praise Thv
Name.”
Those in the congregation at
the Mass and thousands out
side the cathedral were given
specially prepared cards,
printed at the request of Mrs.
Kennedy, bearing a likeness of
the late President on one side
and a prayer for the repose of
his soul on the other. More
than 10,000 reportedly were
printed, but the supply was
exhausted by the time the Mass
was over.
AS THE cortege disappeared
from the cathedral, the throngs
who had been standing on the
sidewalks near it poured into
the church. Many knelt in
prayer.
After the service at the ca
thedral, the funeral cortege
proceeded to Arlington National
Cemetery, where Cardinal
Cushing blessed the grave and
recited final prayers. Toward
the conclusion of the prayers,
the cardinal sprinkled holy
water over the casket and re
ferred to "the wonderful man
whom we bury here today."
At the graveside, the flag
which had covered the coffin
was folded and handed to Mrs.
Kennedy, who was flanked by
Atty. Gen. Kennedy and Sen.
Kennedy. When Cardinal Cush
ing finished the prayers, Mrs.
Kennedy lit an "eternal flame”
that will continue to burn at
the head of John F. Kennedy’s
grave.
She then stepped away, with
the Attorney General holding
her hand. After shaking hands
with members of the clergy,
the Kennedy family left the
grave site.
Bishop Tharayil of Kottayam, India, Writes:
“KUTTUR MISSION in the midst of the Jacobites was started
21 years ago on March 1st. 1942 with the reunion of 50 families
received into the Church by the late
MAR ALEXANDER CHULUPA
RAMBIL. Bishop of KOTTAYAM.
A Mission House was built but still
the people have only a chapel in
C** the building:, too small for the pres-
w 1 ent congregation. During the mon
soons. water often enters into the
chapel and the faithful cannot
come to Mass. I am appealing to
the generosity of our dear bene*
factors to help us buy land on
higher level and to build a Church.
The cost would be $5,000. May God
bless our benefactors with His choicest gifts. This is my heart*
felt prayer . . . Will you help this dedicated Bishop in a land of
such great poverty? Any amount is appreciated.
Tbt Holy Futbtr’s Mission Aid
for tb* OritnSal Church
THE BEAUTIFUL POINSETTIA
So many Christmas legends concern flowers and children.
Recall the story of the little Mexican girl on her way to visit
Baby Jesus on Christmas Eve. With no gift to give, her sadness
increased with every step. In dismay, she knelt and prayed.
Lo! A beautiful crimson poinsettia bloomed before her eyes.
“Flower of the Holy Night," the Mexicans call it . . . We’ll send
a card of PRESSED FLOWERS from the Holy Land and a
CHRISTMAS GIFT CARD to those in whose name you wish to
send a gift. Suggestions:
□ A Mass said for them by one of our missionary priests.
□ A membership in our Association. Single person: $1 a year;
Family: $5 a year. They share in the graces of 15,000
Masses every day. Perpetual Membership: Individual;
$20; Family $100.
□ A STRINGLESS GIFT for a most needed missionary work.
□ A MEMORIAL GIFT for a chapel:
Mass Kit ..
$100
Chalice
$40
Stations
$25
Altar
. 75
Ciborium .. ..
■ 40
Censer
20
Vestments .
. 50
Statue
30
Sanct’y Lamp
15
Confessional
. 40
Tabernacle
. 25
Altar Linens
. 15
Monstrance
. 40
Crucifix
25
Sanct’y Bell
5
Just send us your donation and gift list and we’ll attend to it
right away. Your Christmas shopping worries will end.
THE FLOWERS ARE FOR CONTEMPLATION
Thus thought the mystics. Wheat and fruits were for the body
but the spirit needed the flowers. Hence the old proverb—If
you have two loaves, sell one and buy a lUy . . . You can make
vocations flower in the NEAR AND MIDDLE EAST by helping
to educate a seminarian like NICOLA VILOTTA or a Sister-
to-be like SISTER MARY LUDUVINA. The eost: $100 a year
for six years for the seminarian. $150 a year for two years for
the Noviee. May be paid in installments.
YOUR ADVENT WREATH
Four Sundays and four candles before Christmas will
heighten the anticipation of Christ’s coming. Christmas in
Christ’s own land won’t be pleasant for the million refugees
unless we come to their aid. $10 will procure a FOOD PACK
AGE. something to last a month. $2 will buy a BEDOUIN
FAMILY a warm Blanket. The refugees have had a long and
dismal wait of 15 years—a constant reminder of Christ's words
to feed the hungry.
Dear Monsignor Ryan:
Enclosed please find
Name ...:
Street
City
for
FRANCIS CARDINAL SPILLMAN. PraiMant
ftisvr. Joseph ?. I yea, Netf Saa*y
Seed sit taaMMeleerieas tat
CATHOLIC NIAR EAST WELFARE ASSOCIATION
4B0 Lexington Avt. at 46th St. Now York 17, N. Y.