Comments on: Live Blogging Ted Kennedy’s Funeral

By: viejolex1

viejolex1 — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 02:32:32 +0000

Back in 1948 when I was in the seventh grade at St. Joseph’s grammar school in El Paso, I asked Fr. Walsh if we were somehow cannibals. The wise old Jesuit threw back his head and had a great laugh.

Then he took me aside and tried to explain that no, although the priest says “this is my body, this is my blood,” he is simply using the words that Jesus used when the sacrament of the eucharist was instituted at the last supper. Then he added, seeing my confusion, in other words, Jesus is sacramentally present during the words of transubstantiation and afterwards in the sense that he instituted the sacrament: but not in the real flesh and the real blood.

And so we were saved from being cannibals. It was only in college, with a few philosphy and apologetics classes under my belt, that I finally really understood what the good priest was trying to help me understand.

By: LindaR

LindaR — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 22:47:35 +0000

The last several days, I’ve thought “America” might still be alive yet.

By: john in sacramento

john in sacramento — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 22:34:55 +0000

Didn’t see the funeral but it brings to mind the times my Mom and Dad loaded us in the station wagon and drove us (don’t know how far - I was a kid) halfway across the state to go to the Latin Mass (post Vatican II). The worst part - besides being in a foreign language - was that we had to fast (couldn’t eat) beforehand

I can hear the Mass starting now …

In nómine Patris et Fílii et Spíritus Sancti. Amen. …

By: john in sacramento

john in sacramento — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 22:13:55 +0000

Awesome, Thanks Lisa

Go mbeannaí Dia duit, Teddy (May God bless you, Teddy)

Rath De ort (The grace of God be with you)

Síochán leat (Peace be with you)

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam (May he Rest In Peace)

Irish Gaelic

By: tinman1967

tinman1967 — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 20:40:35 +0000

Good point.
It would have been nice if Reagan had never been elected.

By: tbsa

tbsa — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 20:35:23 +0000

Guess you haven’t been around catholics much. The body inside the casket is always there. Why wouldn’t it be? They celebrate mass and then they have a graveside. It’s not that big a deal.

By: Lisa Derrick

Lisa Derrick — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 20:07:33 +0000

I think Ted Kennedy did more good in senate than he could have done as president. He served for 47 years and you’re totally right about his legislation he helped pass.

By: tinman1967

tinman1967 — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 19:53:29 +0000

Ted Kennedy and the legislation he helped pass did more for me than any other politician I can think of.
When one looks at his entire life it’s impossible not to think about Chappaquiddick. That single incident I believe changed history. I think Kennedy would have been elected president in 1976 instead of Carter and then reelected in 1980. I do not think Reagan would even have run in 1984 due to age and due to Alzheimer’s which I believe he was already suffering from by that point.
In short one error in his life may have changed all of ours as well. Still, he was a good man.

By: PJEvans

PJEvans — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 19:29:20 +0000

It’s normal to have the casket at a funeral, especially one this formal (it was covered with a fabric drape, didn’t you notice?). At least it wasn’t an open-casket funeral, which is disturbing to some of us.

At a memorial where the person has already been cremated or buried (or whatever), you just have flowers and maybe a photo of them.

By: misswildthing

misswildthing — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 19:26:13 +0000

wearing suits, ties and non summer dresses. Thought I caught a look at Olympia Snowe, she certainly looked like the heat had gotten to her.