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I didn't really know him, but his life was a legacy.

A friend of a friend reports on the vigil and passing of Richard John Neuhaus (RJN), a well loved and devout Catholic Theologian, Writer, Editor, and Priest:

 

The vigil mass for RJN was beautiful. It was at Immaculate Conception on 14th Street which, as you know, was his parish. The church was packed. I got there in time to get inside the sanctuary, but had to stand against the back wall. People were standing all around the inside walls, in the vestibule, and anywhere else they could squeeze themselves in.

There were three short eulogies, given by George Weigel, Joseph Bottum, and Robert Louis Wilken. All three included funny anecdotes, including one that made me think of our ADK trips. Joseph Bottum said that every summer RJN would go to his family's camp in Ontario for 2 weeks or so. He would always invite Robert Novak up for a couple of days. Novak said, "I brought the kosher food, Richard brought the liquor and opinions."

Joseph Bottum also read a very thoughtful letter from George Bush. In the letter, Mr. Bush mentioned how much he appreciated the counsel of RJN. He may not have been our greatest president, but I actually felt a connection with Mr. Bush while that letter was being read. I don't know if he actually wrote it, but I do believe he was sad to hear of RJN's passing. And it was obvious he had a lot of respect for RJN. Mr. Bush may not be a Catholic, but I think he recognizes a true spiritual leader when he meets one.

What really made the trip worth it (I'm sure I could have read the eulogies online) was to see the diverse kinds of people there. Of course you had people like Weigel, but people like him were actually in the minority. It was very Chestertonian or, in the Joyce sense, Catholic. It was definitely "here comes everybody." There were some people there who perhaps didn't even come in for the mass. It's NYC after all. Some disabled homeless people apparently came into the church just because it was open and warm. They were slouched over on benches and sitting on the floor in the vestibule, apparently not paying attention to what was being said. Many of the people in the pews were obviously parishioners, and there was a group of religious in the back as well, with gray cassocks and sandals. In addition to the Mr. Bush letter, the only other letter that Joseph Bottum chose to read was from a woman who was trained by RJN to be an altar server. It was obvious that RJN's true "job" was what happened everyday in that parish, not the articles or books he wrote. It was all very fitting.

When they brought his coffin out at the end, you could have heard a pin drop. But all in all I would describe the mood as rather joyous. Everyone was celebrating a life well lived and I don't think too many people were anxious about where RJN was now.

 

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