Kennedy Funeral: Prayer of the Faithful

The intercessions read by Kennedy's grandchildren, nieces, and nephews at Ted Kennedy's funeral Mass have been the subject of debate.

Was it inappropriate to have them make such overtly political comments?



Transcript

KATHERINE "KIKI" KENNEDY: Now we pray to the Lord. Not only for Teddy, but for all of us he leaves behind. Among his brothers and sisters, he was the youngest. So now his grandchildren, his younger nieces and nephews, and the youngest child of one of his nieces will offer the intercessions.

Each time, please respond, 'Lord, hear our prayer.'

Teddy served for 47 years, and he summoned us all to service. And so these intercessions are in his words, for the work of his life is our prayer for our country and our world.

I think it's important to understand that the Prayer of the Faithful, the intercessions, is part of the Liturgy of the Word in the order of the Mass.

This was not something that was staged expressly for Ted Kennedy's funeral.

KILEY KENNEDY, granddaughter: For my grandfather's commitment and persistence, not to outworn values, but to old values that will never wear out. That the poor may be out of political fashion, but they are never without human need. That circumstances may change, but the work of compassion must continue. We pray to the Lord.

RESPONSE: Lord, hear our prayer.

GRACE ALLEN, granddaughter: For my grandpa's summons, that we will not in our nation measure human beings by what they cannot do, but instead value them for what they can do. We pray to the Lord.

RESPONSE: Lord, hear our prayer.

MAX ALLEN, grandson: For what my grandpa called the cause of his life, as he said so often, in every part of this land, that every American will have decent quality health care as a fundamental right and not a privilege. We pray to the Lord.

RESPONSE: Lord, hear our prayer.

JAKE SCHLOSSBERG, nephew: For a new season of hope that my Uncle Teddy envisioned where we rise to our best ideals, and close the book on the old politics of race and gender, group against group, and straight against gay. We pray to the Lord.

RESPONSE: Lord, hear our prayer.

ROBIN LAWFORD, niece: For my Uncle Teddy's call to keep the promise that all men and women who live here, even strangers and newcomers, can rise no matter what their color, no matter what their place of birth. For workers out of work, students without tuition for college, and families without the chance to own a home. For all Americans seeking a better life in a better land, for all those left out or left behind, we pray to the Lord.

RESPONSE: Lord, hear our prayer.

KIM SMITH, niece: For my uncle's stand against violence, hate, and war, and his belief that peace can be kept through the triumph of justice and the truest justice can come only through the works of peace. We pray to the Lord.

RESPONSE: Lord, hear our prayer.

ANTHONY SHRIVER, nephew: As my Uncle Teddy once told thousands and millions, 'May it be said of us, in dark passages and bright days, in the words of Tennyson, that my brothers quoted and loved, that have a special meaning for us now: I am part of all that I have met. Though much is taken, much abides; that which we are, we are; one equal temper of heroic hearts, strong in will to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.' We pray to the Lord.

RESPONSE: Lord, hear our prayer.

RORY KENNEDY, niece: For the joy of my Uncle Teddy's laughter, the light of his presence, his rare and noble contributions to the human spirit. For his faith that in heaven his father and mother, his brothers and sisters, and all who went before him, will welcome him home. And for all the times to come, when the rest of us will think of him, cuddling affectionately on the boat, surrounded by family as we sailed in the Nantucket Sound. We pray to the Lord.

RESPONSE: Lord, hear our prayer.

TEDDY KENNEDY II, grandson: For my grandfather's brave promise last summer that the work begins anew, the hope rises again, and the dream lives on. We pray to the Lord.

RESPONSE: Lord, hear our prayer.

It is somewhat unusual to refer so blatantly to politics in the Prayer of the Faithful.

But it's not unusual to pray for the sick and the poor, justice and peace. It's not unusual to pray for our elected officials, for God to grant them strength and wisdom.

What was a bit much in this case was that it seemed as if the Prayer of the Faithful was being exploited to advance a specific political agenda. I think that was because in some instances the intercessions appeared to be quite partisan, especially in the context of the current heated debate over health care.

Overall, I think the political nature of many of the intercessions come less from the words themselves and more from judging them through the prism of Kennedy's well known political leanings. It's a matter of how one interprets them.

I think Kiki Kennedy's introduction made it clear that the intercessions were adapted from Ted Kennedy's own words and service. In effect, the work of Kennedy's life was framed in the prayers; and his grandchildren, nieces, and nephews offering the prayers pointed to a living legacy of service that would be carried on through the subsequent generations. I think the idea was to celebrate Kennedy's legacy while providing a hopeful message for the future.

Concern and care for the needy, in body and spirit, isn't a partisan thing. It's a human thing.

Something worth mentioning--

I think what wasn't said in the Prayer of the Faithful is as significant as what was said.

One intercession that was notably missing at Kennedy's funeral was a prayer for the unborn and their mothers. It was a striking omission. The right to health care was mentioned but not the right to life, God's most precious gift. There was no nod to respecting and promoting a Culture of Life.

So, in sum, I don't think the petitions were terribly out of line, at least not as out of line as some commentators are suggesting. Nevertheless, a few did border on being inappropriate due to the overt politicking.