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Sunday, November 23, 2008

45 Years On


May 29, 1917 - November 22, 1963

I pray that he had time to make "the perfect act of contrition." We know not the day or the hour.

If you're old enough to remember, you do.

5 comments:

Jackie Parkes MJ said...

Ah..I was one when he was asassinated..how do u spell it? Sorry it's 6 am..

gemoftheocean said...

Actually I like your way of spelling it better!!!!

Anonymous said...

I was 17, in my first yr. at University, and on the way into an afternoon French class when the news came. I'll never forget it, and have prayed for the repose of JFK's soul ever since. I read somewhere that Padre Pio stated JFK was in heaven, and a few days ago Spirit Daily had a post stating that the Pres. had been to confession the night before he was killed. So, God is indeed merciful, as in the case of the Good Thief, who "stole" heaven. Maybe Pres. Kennedy benefited from this as well. God rest his soul.

gemoftheocean said...

Anon. I sure hope he went to confession. IT's bothered me ever since I was old enough to know how much he played around on the side.

I'm 10 years younger than you, and I can still remember the "Freeze frame" in time that whole weekend was.

I can remember where I sat, when our nun was called to the door that day. She was out for a few minutes, and told us that the pastor, Fr. Walters had been listening to the radio and heard it on the news that he'd been shot. At that point it had not been announced that he was dead. I lived in Allentown Pa then. At the age of 7 we did NOT cry, but sat in stunned silence. We said a prayer for him, and then were alloted our usual restroom break. Shortly there after, we were told he'd died. And we assembled in the chapel in the school (it was used for Sunday mass while a new church was being completed.) I can remember the walk home and the sitting glued to the TV all that night. I can remember going down to light a candle for him the next day. And I also remember seeing Oswald get shot on live TV when he was being transferred. I felt sorry for his widow and children (I think most people did) But I'd be lying if I said I was not relieved then that Ruby had shot Oswald.

I remember the lying in state, etc. What I did not see was the funeral, as we were back in school that Monday.

The event started my life long fascination with history, as it was the first historical event that I could grasp. Things really DID change after his death.

I'm not a big fan of his politics, BTW. I think he was a mediocre president at best. But he DID have a marvelous sense of humor and a sense of self-deprecation that goes a long way. I always wonder where he'd have been on the abortion issue a decade later had he lived. Would he have sold out like Teddy?
His daughter has. I consider the vast majority of Kennedys to be cafeteria Catholics.

I always remember Officer Tippet and his family at this time too.

Dymphna said...

Supposedly, he went to confession right before going to Dallas. I hope that's true.

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