Teddy is sick.
He has cancer.
I’m sure everyone has already heard the news that Senator Edward Kennedy has been diagnosed with a malignant brain cancer that happens to be rather aggressive…
People my age who remember where they were and what they were doing - when Jack Kennedy was elected to the presidency of the United States - pretty much feel we grew up with the Kennedy’s, hence the first name/nick-name familiarity. Teddy, the brother who survived, became a sort of caretaker for the rest of the family; so like him or not, he carried the torch for the entire family all of these years. As the second longest serving senator in US Senate history, he may have wielded more influence on this nation than any president - yes, for better or worse.
All of that aside, the man is probably going to die, and just like any other relative or friend, black or white sheep, I’m praying for him. The most important thing in life is the salvation of our soul; Teddy needs our prayers as much as we will need them for ourselves when our last days arrive. His mother Rose would appreciate that as well.
May 21st, 2008 at 5:51 am
God bless Teddy since he makes me feel young (getting harder and harder to do). He’s been in the Senate longer than I’ve been alive…quite a long time! News like this always makes me sad, but maybe for the Senator, it’s the catalyst he needs to get himself right with God. May God have mercy on him and allow him time to come around.
May 21st, 2008 at 6:31 am
Most excellent commentary.
May 21st, 2008 at 7:06 am
Those of us who are of a “certain age” remember well the day when “Jack” was assassinated in Dallas and when Bobby was too in Los Angeles. The younger Teddy, I pray for his salvation, may be make his peace with God and the Church and receive a sacramental absolution of his sins both private and public. Time is short and we are well reminded that our day too is coming so let us all do penance and pray.
May 21st, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Don’t like him. Never have. Having said that, I don’t want the man to die, of coarse. I hope a miraculous healing might cause him to use his influence in a more constructive way.
Besides, when wrote “I don’t like him” I meant politically, not personally.
I shall pray for him tonight.
May 21st, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Tom, it isn’t all his fault - he is Irish. Seriously, it is very good for our soul and the souls of those we do not like when we pray for them. It is good because our prayer is disinterested charity.
May 21st, 2008 at 6:06 pm
2nd longest serving Senator? No way could that be! I can remember Teddy when he was still at Harvard, involved in some cheating scandal, I think.
You’re slightly wrong, Terry, but close, as of Jan 2, 2008:
. Robert C. Byrd (D-WV)
January 3, 1959 to present
49 years
2. Strom Thurmond (R-SC
December 24, 1954 to April 4, 1956 and November 7, 1956 to January 3, 2003
47 years, 5.2 months
3. Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA)
November 7, 1962 to present 45 years, 2 months
4. Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI)
January 3, 1963-present
45 years
20. Pete V. Domenici (R-NM)
January 3, 1973 to present
35 years
20. Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE)
January 3, 1973 to present
35 years
It looks like Daniel Inouye of Hawaii will push Teddy back to fourth from third, but that will probably be his permanent position for some time to come, or maybe forever.
May 21st, 2008 at 6:26 pm
I could not disagree with his politics more, but that does not alter my obligation to pray for his conversion and salvation. We are our brother’s keeper. He has an immortal soul, and given the scandal with which he’s lived - he is in need of our prayers.
I did hear once that his mother did have her kids complete the first nine Friday devotion. I did hear one priest on EWTN speculate that perhaps it was due to this grace that President Kennedy requested a priest for he and Jacqueline’s confession the night prior to his death.
Regardless of this, he needs our prayers very much.
May 23rd, 2008 at 1:32 pm
I’ve been praying for God to take him out of his senator position so he does not continue to damage our county and potentiate the killing of babies. Now I will pray for his conversion.