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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 Now Footuriog ALLEN COLLAY SEXTET Plus 5:30 TO 7:50 BILL & ALLEN DUO Chatter • Humor • Muiii DANCE AT THI Soma Souci 760 Wait P'tna TR. 5-4251 "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.” A SuCwUfUio* 0$ (feviyia ISulleti* A gift subscription to the Georgia Bulletin might be just the thing for a boy or girl away from home, a relative in the reli- gous life, a friend who moved but wants to keep up with doings in Atlanta. A SPECIAL CARD WILL BE ENCLOSED ANNOUNCING THE GIFT SUBSCRIPTION. ORDER THAT GIFT SUBSCRIPTION NOW. 1 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Name Address | City Gift From State Zip Code 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.