Edward M Kennedy -- In Memoriam
- Wed 26th August 2009, 10:28 pm
Last night, the United States lost one of it`s most prominent statesmen -- who happened to be Roman Catholic. Senator Edward M Kennedy was called home to the Father after a little more than a year`s battle with brain cancer. The youngest son of Joseph P. Kennedy, he survived his brothers, President John F Kennedy -- the first and so far only Roman Catholic to hold the position -- and Senator Robert F Kennedy, both victims of assassination. While Sen. Kennedy may not have followed Catholic teaching in his personal life nor lived like a saint as we understand the term today, a lot of Catholicism`s social justice teachings are reflected in legislation he championed and in many cases got passed. Prominent examples include the Civil Rights Bills of the 1960s and Medicare -- the government health insurance program for the elderly. To the end he was fighting as best he could from his hospital bed for healthcare reform and coverage for all. He may have been born to privileage, but he certainly stuck up for the common man even though he had no obligation to do so. As Yeshuah Ben Yoseph, better known as Jesus Christ said "Truly I tell you, whatever you did to the lesser of my brothers, you did it to me." (Matt 25:40 -- My translation) by that measure, Sen Kennedy is worthy of entry into the kingdom. Therefore, I offer the following translation of a common Latin prayer chanted at the end of Catholic Funerals.
May the angels lead you into paradise,
Upon your arrival, may the martyrs recieve you and lead you into the holy city, Yerushalayim (Jerusalem),
May the ranks of the angels recieve you,
And with Lazarus, the poor man, may you have eternal rest.
Amen.
