This is not the long post I have promised. Alas, it has taken a catastrophe to get me to the keyboard.
Réquiem æternam dona ei, Dómine.
Et lux perpétua lúceat ei.
Requiéscat in pace.
Amen.
Anima ejus, et ánimæ ómnium fidélium defunctórum, per misericórdiam Dei requiéscant in pace.
Amen.
William Frank Buckley, Jr. 1925-2008
I cannot recall exactly when I became aware of Bill Buckley's writing; no doubt it was about 5 minutes before I became aware of his genius. It seems that I have always read him, admired him, and on all but a few things agreed with him.
In 1980, when I was 16, I remember wanting John Anderson to win the presidency because I had bought into the liberal media's contention that Reagan was a loose cannon. Carter had already ruined the Democratic Party for me, and I became a Republican at the exact moment in history that Reagan fired the air traffic controllers. I have pulled for the GOP ever since, and I imagine that it was pretty early in my conservatism that I discovered WFB. Conservatism has never had a more intelligent, gracious, and humorous advocate, and I miss him sorely already just knowing that he is gone. I am at least fortunate in this : he wrote so much that I have many of his books yet to read, and then re-read. In that respect, like all great thinkers, he will never die.
His Catholicism was an indelible part of who he was, and I can gratefully say that his erudite voice was one of the many I have been blessed to hear calling me to return to Holy Mother Church. In politics and Faith he has truly been one of my earthly guiding lights.
As they said of Lincoln, now he belongs to the ages. He is without a doubt (or soon will be) in the company of "Dutch" Reagan, Jeanne Kirkpatrick, Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, and John Paul the Great. So many titans lost over the years of my adulthood. The Baroness Thatcher will no doubt be the next to escape to glory. It makes me even more grateful to have Benedict as our Pope; may it be many years before I have to note his passing here.
I went to the Cathedral this afternoon and prayed the Glorious Mysteries for you, Bill, in the Latin you loved so much. Though I never got to meet you in life, I look forward very much to our first conversation. RIP
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Hey,
It's your evangelical Messianic, non-Jewish, conservative brother in Yeshua HaMashiach, Christ our first, last, and only God. After reading your post, i am assured that you should write a book or three. your intelligence shines in your writing and makes my writing look like baby scribble. Love ya, bro! Covered in His grace and flying free on eagle's wings.
Jason
I am planning on coming down for your confirmation, but i may be solo for logistic reasons. But know that my heart intent is to be there. Shalom, my brother!
Post a Comment