The Thing You Now Know About Priests...

[goofyernmost]

While watching bits and pieces of Ted Kennedy's funeral and burial yesterday, it occurred to me that apparently Priests are trained in the fine art of filibuster.

OMG, I didn't think they would ever shut up. The pastor in Boston, went on and on and on even though he knew that the President was waiting to speak. On top of that it contributed to the delay and discomfort of many people waiting in Washington. I honestly don't even know what he said anymore, it all became a droning of words after a time.

And then, to cap the talk fest...there they are at Arlington and the Cardinal is speaking right through the daylight into darkness. What is up with all that anyway? I am, or at least was at some point, Catholic but I felt that using that particular event to do a worldwide religious philosophy and social commentary was out of line.

Could just be me though!

 

[MichelleinMaine]

I was getting nervous when they showed a flash of lightning behind Arlington House. I was hoping the priest had some sort of condensed version to turn to before they lost a Kennedy AT Arlington. Apparently not.

 

[BelleWDW]

I have to deal with a very long winded priest in my professional life. His flowery speech in his letters is so "over the top" its all I can do not to laugh out loud.

 

[anniemae]

I couldn't believe it when I was watching the grave side service last night, it was light out one moment, then almost instantly the darkness washed over eveyone. It seemed like within minutes, it got so dark you could barely make out anyone. When they fired the guns, all you could see were the white gloves, it was like watching a dark screen. I was wondering if they were supposed to start the service earlier since it is now getting darker much earlier.

I was glued to the tv yesterday watching the coverage.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

I was wondering if they were supposed to start the service earlier since it is now getting darker much earlier.

I believe it was supposed to start at 530. Extra problems, I'm sure getting from Boston to DC and then on out to Arlington.

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

LOL....That's definitely not something I learned yesterday. I went to Catholic school all the way through and I can definitely remember some long homilies.

 

[Poohbear123]

Wow...I was out to lunch yesterday, around 1pm and the Funeral was on at the resteraunt we were at....talk about poor taste. So, it still went on PAST 8PM??? WOW....its not like he was a President or anything...

 

[Liberty Belle]

I was surprised how long it lasted, too, but he was a very important man and if that's what his family wanted, then so be it.

Priests...yes, all Catholic ceremonies that I've been to have been loooooong.

 

[kathie859]

Wow...I was out to lunch yesterday, around 1pm and the Funeral was on at the resteraunt we were at....talk about poor taste. So, it still went on PAST 8PM??? WOW....its not like he was a President or anything...

Remember that he was buried in a different state! It's not like the service took 7 hours!

OT: When my daughter was married, a business acquaintance (non-Catholic) commented in passing that her wedding was the first Catholic wedding that he had attended and said "Wow, when you Catholics marry--you REALLY get married!" This in response to an 90 minute marriage ceremoney and mass

 

[debster812]

Wow...I was out to lunch yesterday, around 1pm and the Funeral was on at the resteraunt we were at....talk about poor taste. So, it still went on PAST 8PM??? WOW....its not like he was a President or anything...

Well, considering the weather here in Massachusetts yesterday, with the remains of a tropical depression, the logistics of getting from MA to DC were pretty tricky. Additionally, there was a HUGE delay in getting everyone into the church for the funeral. I think they were behind the 8 ball all day, as far as timing in concerned.

 

[DISNEY1975]

Wow...I was out to lunch yesterday, around 1pm and the Funeral was on at the resteraunt we were at....talk about poor taste. So, it still went on PAST 8PM??? WOW....its not like he was a President or anything...

Not like he was a president? He was much more than a president. He spent decades in the Senate and created and signed most of the bills and laws we have today. We have better healthcare, school systems, programs for the poor, the elderly, the working class and the disabled. And much much more.

Aside from everything he did in the Senate, he was the last male Kennedy of that generation. Im not sure how Kennedy's are perceived around the country, but here in MA they are like royalty, and he was King. Tourists from around the world spend $$$$ just for a 45 minute boat tour to get a glimpse of the Kennedy Compound. What was special about Ted, is that he sailed the waters as if he were your nextdoor neighbor. Always a hello and a wave if you passed by. He never thought he was better or more powerful than anyone else.

If you listened to any of the comments being made by friends, you would know he was the first to pick up the phone and call everyone for birthdays, newborns, illness or any exciting news. His friends LOVED him and he had thousands.

I did not make it to the Cape this weekend, as I was moving my son to college. My mother went and said both bridges to the island were lined with people paying respects, as were most of the marinas and all of Hyannis/Hyannisport.

The entire Kennedy family is DEEPLY religous and it was no surprise to me that the priest took a little more time than usual with the mass. Did you hear the letter Ted wrote to the Pope right before he died....and the letter the Pope wrote back to him? I wouldnt be surprised if Ted wrote the homily himself.

Let me guess, you were sadden by Michael Jacksons passing?

RIP Ted...

 

[daisax]

Aside from everything he did in the Senate, he was the last male Kennedy of that generation. Im not sure how Kennedy's are perceived around the country, but here in MA they are like royalty, and he was King.

There are plenty of us in MA who don't share your opinion. I won't speak ill of the dead, but please don't speak for everybody in Massachusetts. Your impression of him is not universal, even among those near Hyannisport. Especially those near Hyannisport.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

There are plenty of us in MA who don't share your opinion. I won't speak ill of the dead, but please don't speak for everybody in Massachusetts. Your impression of him is not universal, even among those near Hyannisport. Especially those near Hyannisport.

I second what you have said. I too won't speak ill of the dead but coming back from Conn the light up road signs said something like 'the citizens of Ma say thank you Ted". I feel the same way you did DON'T put words in MY mouth....as you said everyone's impression of him is NOT universally wonderful in MA and it upsets me that the rest of the world is being made to think we ALL Share the same opinion.

 

[Just Jan]

I thought..... ok at what point do they speed things up as now the family is now sitting and standing in the dark at Arlington National Cemetary?

They looked exhausted. What a long day for them.

 

[minkydog]

I thought is was a really long ceremony. I thought at one point they might canonize the man.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

From what I understood one of the main reasons everything ran behind was because of the weather. They had to wait for the planes to get clearance. Remember there were so many members of congress and other dignitaries flying out of Boston you can be sure they didn't want to take any unnecessary chances.

I thought it was a beautiful and very moving service. I thought the Kennedys showed a lot of class. Ted Kennedy Jr.'s speech really broke me up. I also have a son who had bone cancer as a child so I felt a special closeness with their family.

 

[Disney Doll]

Actually, a Catholic funeral Mass is usually about 1-1.25 hours for a "regular" person. Add to that his 2 sons & the President speaking, in addition to multiple grandchildren doing the intercessions, in addition to a longish (but by no means the longest I've ever heard) homily, and I am amazed they got out of there in 2 hours.

My understanding was that the weather slowed things down more than anything else...we had some pretty lousy weather up here in the Northeast yesterday and when one is attempting to move the Kennedy family, en masse, from one state to another, I can see how delays would happen...there are a lot of them and they were battling the weather.

The Cardinal at the gravesite wasn't that long-winded either, as far as graveside Catholic services go...a bit longer than average maybe, based on the fact that he was a Kennedy and there was a lot to say about the man, but not as horrifically long as some of you folks, perhaps unfamiliar with Catholic rituals, may think. I liked that he read the Senator's letter to the Pope and part of the Pope's response back...again, for a Catholic, that is very meaningful. The senator's letter seemed to speak of his knowledge of his own failings, and I will leave it to God to deal with that as He sees fit.

I will say from my perspective that I think it went pretty well and was quite well-orchestrated for what they had control over...and let's face it, none of us control the weather. I don't have a lot of areas where my philosophy agrees with Senator Kennedy's. As a Catholic, I am quite sure he will have quite a bit to atone for in his afterlife & as a citizen I can appreciate his long tenure in public life/service without necessarily agreeing with his politics....but I was happy for the glimpse into him as "Dad" and "Grandpa", and "Uncle" and "substitute father" for his family. One of the speakers said it had to be a hard mantle to bear to carry the weight of that family, with their triumphs and tragedies, on one's shoulders, but he did try his best to that, I think. It's easy to lose sight of the person when one begins to think of him as an "icon".

As far as the length of the day...a long day, no doubt, and of course, it's easy to blame "the priests" since it's been such a sport of late. But realistically, I think the better explanation for the length of overall day was the logistics complicated by the weather.

May he rest in peace.

 

[Poohbear123]

I second what you have said. I too won't speak ill of the dead but coming back from Conn the light up road signs said something like 'the citizens of Ma say thank you Ted". I feel the same way you did DON'T put words in MY mouth....as you said everyone's impression of him is NOT universally wonderful in MA and it upsets me that the rest of the world is being made to think we ALL Share the same opinion.

THANK YOU! I am glad someone else sees what I see..... DISNEY1975... MJ.....umm no not really, he was a train wreck ready to happen at any time...thank YOU very MUCH!

 

[rie'smom]

Not like he was a president? He was much more than a president. He spent decades in the Senate and created and signed most of the bills and laws we have today. We have better healthcare, school systems, programs for the poor, the elderly, the working class and the disabled. And much much more.

+ 1 dead girl left to drown

There are plenty of us in MA who don't share your opinion. I won't speak ill of the dead, but please don't speak for everybody in Massachusetts. Your impression of him is not universal, even among those near Hyannisport. Especially those near Hyannisport.

 

[Disney Doll]

Again, I will repeat that I am not politically aligned with much of what Senator Kennedy believed in. And certainly his behavior after the Chappaquiddick incident was abhorrent, as has his behavior been at many times throughout his life.

But, there are many things that make up the human psyche, the human condition, a human being. We all have faults and foibles...some more than others. For all the "bad" he did, I would like to think that he also did some "good"...perhaps in an effort to "make up for" his failings.

I have no idea what was in Senator Kennedy's mind or heart throughout the years with regard to his failings...none of us do. And as I said earlier, now it is up to his God to judge.