My father emigrated from Mexico to the United States.
For many years he worked for starvation wages, or offers of room and board just for him, not his young wife and children.
We were poor.
When John Fitzgerald Kennedy became President, almost overnight our lives changed.
We were provided with 'Commodities'; food that kept us alive, food that helped us get on our feet and become hard working citizens. He helped inspire us to Charity. The kind of Charity that loves God, and our neighbors. To this day I still urge my children to continually love God by practicing Charity daily, based on the example of Roman Catholicism of course, but also from Mr. Kennedy's example.
People behaved as good Christians when President Kennedy was alive.
Not all Americans are ignorant; many of us do not really believe in the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny, or that a lone gunman was the only one responsible for his murder.
Like many others, I still remember where I was & what I was doing when the terrible news came. I got the opportunity to visit and pray at JFK's grave 30 yrs. after he was killed, and found myself weeping -- still that sense of loss and sadness so long after the event. Despite his many faults (he was a sinner like everyone else), I still respect him & think he was a special person. Each year I marvel at the passage of time and the persistent strength of memory. I'll never forget him, and what he tried to do for his country. Many who came after him didn't have anything near his class or dignity as a public figure. I still miss him.
Requiescat in pace. Amen. And may his relatives return to the fullness of the Catholic faith...a certain nephew of his needs a lot of help right now...I was only three years old but remember watching his funeral on television...Pope John XXIII died either before or after and my mother tells me I was transfixed to the tv asking all kinds of questions...and we were not Catholic then. God works in mysterious ways, no?
We used to say that prayer for faithful departed at Mass (St. A's in Frogtown) but now we don't. I miss saying that prayer at Mass. I remember saying it for my dad the Sunday after his death. It was very powerful to me.
On a personal note, my in-laws got married the day after President Kennedy was shot. It was a tough day for them.
Please comment with charity and avoid ad hominem attacks. I exercise the right to delete comments I find inappropriate. If you use your real name there is a better chance your comment will stay put.
+JMJ+
ReplyDeleteC.S. Lewis and Aldous Huxley also died on this day.
Requiescant in pace . . .
amen..
ReplyDeleteMy father emigrated from Mexico to the United States.
ReplyDeleteFor many years he worked for starvation wages, or offers of room and board just for him, not his young wife and children.
We were poor.
When John Fitzgerald Kennedy became President, almost overnight our lives changed.
We were provided with 'Commodities'; food that kept us alive, food that helped us get on our feet and become hard working citizens. He helped inspire us to Charity. The kind of Charity that loves God, and our neighbors. To this day I still urge my children to continually love God by practicing Charity daily, based on the example of Roman Catholicism of course, but also from Mr. Kennedy's example.
People behaved as good Christians when President Kennedy was alive.
Not all Americans are ignorant; many of us do not really believe in the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny, or that a lone gunman was the only one responsible for his murder.
Eternal rest grant him, O Lord.
*
Like many others, I still remember where I was & what I was doing when the terrible news came. I got the opportunity to visit and pray at JFK's grave 30 yrs. after he was killed, and found myself weeping -- still that sense of loss and sadness so long after the event. Despite his many faults (he was a sinner like everyone else), I still respect him & think he was a special person. Each year I marvel at the passage of time and the persistent strength of memory. I'll never forget him, and what he tried to do for his country. Many who came after him didn't have anything near his class or dignity as a public figure. I still miss him.
ReplyDeleteRequiescat in pace. Amen.
ReplyDeleteAnd may his relatives return to the fullness of the Catholic faith...a certain nephew of his needs a lot of help right now...I was only three years old but remember watching his funeral on television...Pope John XXIII died either before or after and my mother tells me I was transfixed to the tv asking all kinds of questions...and we were not Catholic then. God works in mysterious ways, no?
Dear Terry,
ReplyDeleteWe used to say that prayer for faithful departed at Mass (St. A's in Frogtown) but now we don't. I miss saying that prayer at Mass. I remember saying it for my dad the Sunday after his death. It was very powerful to me.
On a personal note, my in-laws got married the day after President Kennedy was shot. It was a tough day for them.
Pax et Bonum,
Katie