... and turned on the television thinking I would be tuning in to the Wendy Garner Show on our local NBC station, and was somewhat surprised to see the ending portion of John Paul II’s funeral. I knew is was supposed to be on in the wee earlies, but I didn’t realize it would still be going on at 5:00 a.m.
I don’t remember any other papal funerals, even for the relatively recent ones of John Paul I or Paul VI. Since it was early, and since I usually sprawl across the bed and drift in and out until it’s time to get up and get ready, I probably missed a few of the nuances of the ceremony. But still, I was struck by both the solemn dignity of the ritual, as well as the spontaneous joy, for lack of a better word, by the assembled throngs.
Watching the NBC coverage, though, one thought did keep running through my mind--the single biggest reason why I am glad I could never be the pope…
Because when I die, I don’t have to worry about Katie Couric or Brian Williams showing up at my funeral.
Insufferable twits.
Posted by Terry Oglesby at April 8, 2005 08:11 AMDid the potential for Monty Python skits strike you as you watched the proceedings? I mused about that over at the TaterBed (not so shameless plug!).
Posted by: MarcV at April 8, 2005 08:58 AMI know I certainly wasn't expecting the Spanish Inquisition.
Posted by: Terry O. at April 8, 2005 09:08 AMtest
Posted by: jim at April 8, 2005 09:40 AMOr, for that matter, a pop quiz.
Posted by: Terry O. at April 8, 2005 09:43 AMWhile I didn't rise up in time to watch the funeral, I have seem many of the pictures from this week. Interesting to me was the contrast of the behavior of the mourners for this head of state and others we have seen recently, say, Yassar Arrafat.
There hasn't been an AK-47 anywhere in sight during the Pope's mourning period...
Posted by: Nate at April 8, 2005 09:44 AMAnd for some reason, no one blamed the Jews or America for his death.
Posted by: Terry O. at April 8, 2005 09:47 AMAh yes, the Catholic Church "love" for the Jews....the one thing that did impress me about this particular pope was the fact that he at least attempted an apology to the Jews for the Church's role in the Holocaust...didn't think I'd live to see that day! The thing that most disturbed me was what I have heard most of the reporters covering this event saying...did Pope John Paul II really say that EVERYONE was saved (as in GRACE)? (meaning even atheists, agnostics, Jews and Muslims, etc, etc) If so, then I think the good pope must have been slacking on his daily devotional Bible study because, the Bible clearly does NOT teach this belief....:o/
Posted by: Miss Lee Ann at April 8, 2005 11:29 AMThat's because he wasn't on the List, Terry.
Miss Lee Ann, it's funny you bring up the church's approach to the Jews. I'm reading a new book by a guy I know slightly - Why the Jews Rejected Jesus. As a matter of fact, his wife is in town (the author, not Jesus'. Although there may be some nuns nearby for all I know), and I think we're going to see her teatime tomorrow.
Anyway, I have plans to blog on this one, but I think it might be a useful read to those of you interested in this sort of thing.
Posted by: skinnydan at April 8, 2005 01:31 PMThank God for the BBC. Why was Katie Couric covering the Pope's funeral? She doesn't even know Psalm 23, and prattled that it was Psalm 22.
Again, thank God for the BBC
Maybe they figured with all crowds and flags and stuff that it was close enough to the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade to need someone perky to cover it. I'm surprised they didn't get Al Roker and go work the fences and ask people where they were from.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at April 11, 2005 04:43 PM