John F. Kennedy Jr. died ten years ago tomorrow. As it happened, I was in San Francisco at the time and went to the memorial mass held at the cathedral of the Archdiocese of San Francisco. I was there early so was able to watch all the crowd as it assembled. It was a Kennedy constituency--street people and union worker, the homeless and the elegant, all colors.
I greeted the priest before the service in order to request eucharistic hospitality, which he readily--and effusively--gave. "Ah, a Lutheran, my brother!" He later preached a fine sermon on the humanity of Jesus.
The service began with a bagpipe playing "Amazing Grace." Spiritually, it was a good time to reflect on the Christian faith and the resurrection. Psychologically, however, all Americans felt a sense of loss at the death of JFK, Jr., one that was particularly acute among those who appreciate the Kennedy tradition and looked to him for its political restoration.
Photo: JFKJR.com
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