Christopher Hitchens 1949-2011 AD, Requiescat In Pace
Christopher Hitchens passed away here in Houston last night at the age of 62.
Known for his punditry on all things political, he was a dedicated atheist and opponent of the Church. His calm and verbose delivery always made me listen to what he had to say.
Warren H. Carroll, Requiescat in Pace
Warren H. Carroll died yesterday at age 79. Founder of Christendom College, he earned a BA from Bates College and an MA and Phd in history from Columbia. He converted to the Faith in 1968 and thereafter fought a tireless battle in defense of the Faith. The author of a number of popular histories regarding events in Church history, his most significant scholarly work was his five volume History of Christendom. I highly recommend the first four volumes. (The fifth volume was written after he had a debilitating stroke and basically is largely a rehash of earlier writings on the events surrounding the French Revolution and is not up to the high standard of the first four volumes.) He never pretended to objectivity: his histories were always written from a strongly Catholic point of view. However, his scholarship was usually of a high order and he demonstrated a complete command of the historical literature involved in the subjects he wrote about. His notes and annotated bibliography in the History of Christendom are a joy to read for any lover of history. I will miss him. May he now be enjoying the Beatific Vision.
Susannah York of ‘A Man For All Seasons’, Requiescat In Pace
Susannah York succumbed to cancer this past Friday at the age of 72.
She is best remembered for portraying Saint Thomas More‘s daughter, Margaret More, in what is arguably the greatest Catholic film of all time, A Man For All Seasons.
She was very beautiful and enchanting and her role as Margaret More captured the essences of an integrated Catholic life that is an excellent example for laypeople everywhere today.
The following clip is that of the King paying his Lord Chancellor, Saint Thomas More, a visit on his estate. The King encounters More’s family and is introduced to More’s daughter, Margaret, at the :45 mark of the clip. They engage in conversation at the 1:32 mark of the clip. The entire 10 minutes should be viewed to really enjoy her performance and appreciate the film itself:
Here is the trailer to that magnificent Catholic film, A Man For All Seasons:
Post script: I was unable to find out if Susannah York was a Catholic or not, but her portrayal of Margaret More is a fine example of living a Catholic life.
Cross-posted at Gulf Coast Catholic.
Robert Byrd, Requiescat In Pace
Kristina Peterson of the Dow Jones Newswires writes for the Wall Street Journal this synopsis of Robert Byrd’s life:
Robert Byrd, the 92-year-old West Virginia Democrat who served in the U.S. Senate for 51 years, died Monday.
A spokesman for the family, Jesse Jacobs, said Mr. Byrd died peacefully at about 3 a.m. at Inova Hospital in Fairfax, Va. His health had been failing for several years.
A master of Senate procedures and orator whose Stentorian tones aimed to evoke the roots of the republic (if not Rome), Mr. Byrd served longer, voted more frequently, and probably used the arcane Senate rules to more effect any previous denizen of the nation’s senior legislative house.
Polish President, Top Brass, Die in Plane Crash Over Russia
The London Daily Telegraph is reporting that Polish President Lech Kaczynski, his wife, the Polish army chief, and most of the Polish political elite and their wives perished in a plane crash over Russia.
“It clipped the tops of the trees, crashed down and broke into pieces,” Mr. Sergei Antufiev reported of the Polish plane carrying President Lech Kaczynski how it crashed. “There were no survivors.” Polish state news agency PAP reported the same.
In the case of a president’s death, the speaker of the lower chamber of parliament, Bronislaw Komorowski, takes over as head of state, Mr Komorowski’s assistant Jerzy Smolinski told Reuters.
Poland declared a week of national mourning as shocked citizens flocked to lay flowers and light candles outside the seat of government.
Notable Catholic blogger Damian Thompson, understanding the Polish people’s propensity for conspiracy theories, is speculating that many will begin blaming a cabal of Russian agencies for this tragic accident.
Let us keep those that have died and the grieving Polish people in our prayers.
For more breaking news of the tragic death of Polish President Lech Kaczynski click here.
John Murtha, 1932 to 2010 Anno Domini, Requiescat In Pace
John Patrick “Jack” Murtha, Jr. died Wednesday morning at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, VA, after complications from gallbladder surgery. Murtha was 77.[1]
Congressman Murtha was a Democrat with a relatively populist economic outlook, and is generally much more socially conservative than most other House Democrats. He is opposed to abortion, consistently receiving a 0% rating from NARAL and 70% rating from National Right to Life Committee; however, he supports embryonic stem cell research. He generally opposes gun control, earning an A from the National Rifle Association. Murtha was also one of the few Democrats in Congress to vote against the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 and also one of the few Democrats to vote in favor of medical malpractice tort reform.[2]
May he rest in peace.
_._
[1] Fox News entry by Chad Pergram.
[2] Wikipedia entry for John Murtha, Political Views
Ralph McInerny, Requiescat in pace
Hattip to Jay Anderson at Pro Ecclesia. Ralph McInerny, scholar, professor, teacher, philosopher, expert on Medieval philosophy in general and Saint Thomas Aquinas in particular, novelist who wrote the brilliant Father Dowling mysteries, and, above all, a loyal son of the Church, has died. The world has lost a scholar of the first order, and a gentleman of the first kindness. He will be missed. May he even now be enjoying the Beatific Vision.
Port-au-Prince Earthquake: Archbishop Killed, Cathedral Destroyed
According to the brief report, his body was found in the rubble of the archbishop’s office. They also reported that the Vicar General, Msgr. Benoit, was still missing.
According to the Vatican’s Fides news agency, Apostolic Nuncio to Haiti, Archbishop Bernardito Auza was reported as saying:
“Port-au-Prince is totally devastated. The cathedral, the Archbishop’s Office, all of the big churches, all of the seminaries have been reduced to rubble. The same luck for the Ministry buildings, the Presidential Palace, the schools. The Parish Priest of the Cathedral, who was spared, told me that the archbishop of Port-au-Prince would have died under the rubble, together with hundreds of seminarians and priests that are under the ruins.”
The historic cathedral of Port-au-Prince, an 18th century building, has collapsed, as have many other church’s through the city.
Funeral and Repast for Father Hinds Today
The funeral for Father Edward “Ed” Hinds will be celebrated today, Saturday, October 31, A.D. 2009 at 10:00am. The Mass will be the Rite of Christian Burial and simulcast live int he Saint Patrick Parish Center Gym, East/West Rooms, and Cafeteria. Additional audio will be provided outside.
This will be followed by a private burial.
The Repast will be at 11:30am at the Corpus Christi Parish Center, 234 Southern Boulevard, Chatham, New Jersey.
_._
Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli of the Diocese of Paterson where Saint Patrick’s at Chatham is located had these moving words to say concerning the death of Fr. Hinds titled, A Life Cut Short: The Mystery of Evil:
My Reaction to the Shooting of Jim Pouillon
It has already been confirmed that Jim Pouillon was shot to death for his pro-life views.
Jim Pouillon was a pro-lifer advocate that would stand outside of abortion mills hoping in turning away women from killing their unborn children. He wore leg braces, was dependent on an oxygen tank, and was a “wonderful, Christian, peaceful man.” as described by close friend Cal Zastrow.
Jim Pouillon was also a Catholic and was remembered by his parish priest, Father John Fain of Saint Paul Church in Owosso, Michigan as “a good Christian and a faithful Catholic.
For self-disclosure I am very active in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston in the pro-life movement. One of the many activities that I participate in is peaceful prayer in front of Planned Parenthood. So when I heard of the shooting I was deeply shocked at the news.
Even more shocking was the reaction in the secular world, particularly from the political extreme left as this example displays from the notorious Huffington Post:
“…with the way the fake news pundits will run with this one, we might as well get a good laugh out of it now.”
Though what was most disturbing at all was what emanated from various dissident Catholics and blogs when they began smearing the pro-life movement immediately after the attack by claiming that many pro-lifers are violent.
What can we do?
Pray for them.
Follow Jim Pouillon’s example of peaceful protest and prayer. As our Lord and Savior told us, close the door behind us and pray in private.
Ora pro nobis.
Secularists Reaction To The Passing Away Of Ted Kennedy
What secularists are saying on the passing away of Edward Moore Kennedy around the web:
Douglas Brinkley on Ted Kennedy’s Life: ‘He Did a Kind of a Redemptive Work’ by Matthew Balan of NewsBusters
Democrats now seek to exploit Ted Kennedy’s death by Jonah Goldberg
Larry King-like softball questions in a Q&A with Ted Kennedy Biographer Adam Clymer on Kennedy’s Catholicism by Dan Gilgoff of U.S. News & World Report
Edward Kennedy, 1932-2009 AD, Requiescat In Pace
[Update at the bottom of this post as of 8-26-2009 4:38 pm CST]
Edward Moore Kennedy, known as Ted Kennedy, passed away late last night in Hyannis Port after a battle with brain cancer at the age of 77.
A brief statement was released from his family:
“We’ve lost the irreplaceable center of our family and joyous light in our lives, but the inspiration of his faith, optimism, and perseverance will live on in our hearts forever,”
Requiescat in pace Teddy.
Elizabeth Scalia, a.k.a. The Anchoress, has an in-depth look at Ted Kennedy’s life titled, Ted Kennedy, Healthcare & Purgatory.
Update I: For reactions around the Catholic world click here.
Bob Novak, May the Perpetual Light Shine Upon You
Catholic convert Robert Novak died today. He was many things: a fellow University of Illinois alum, a devoted family man married to his beloved wife for 47 years, and a hard bitten journalist with a nose for news unrivaled in the business. Novak was a conservative, but he never let his politics get in the way of a story. Always staunchly pro-life, and respectful of Catholicism, his embrace of the Faith a decade ago came as little surprise to me. I never met him, but I will sorely miss his presence in the public square. May he now be enjoying the Beatific Vision.
Karen Novak, 1938-2009
Joseph Bottum @ First Things, relays the sad news:
Karen Novak slipped away this morning—a great artist, a good friend, the beloved wife of Michael Novak, and convivial presence at so many of our events.
You can find some of her artwork described on her website. But even they don’t capture her fun, her spirit, or how much we will miss her.
Please keep Michael Novak and his family in your prayers.
Reflections on Death
My wife’s grandfather, Dave, died Saturday night after a long fight with a rare form of Lou Gehrig’s disease. As opposed to the more common forms that start in the appendages and work their up, this started immediately at the head and worked its way down. In his last days, he could not feed himself, speak, bathe himself, or even write to communicate with others what he needed. It was a difficult time for everyone; for my wife’s grandmother, who has divorced once and buried a second husband already; and for the rest of the family, who have felt as though they were just marking time, especially as week by week the reports of his health bore increasingly bleak news.
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