Posted on 06/10/2004 8:16:31 AM PDT by Ebenezer
(Abridged English-language translation)
The government of Puerto Rico has called on its agency heads to attend a religious ceremony in memory of former President of the United States Ronald Reagan tonight at San Juan Cathedral.
The invitation includes as well former governors, senators, representatives, mayors, Supreme Court justices, members of the consular corps, military officials, federal agencies, and Federal Court judges. It is signed by Secretary of State José Izquierdo-Encarnación in his capacity as Acting Governor.
"Invitation to a solemn Resurrection Mass in memory of the former President of the United States of America, The Honorable Ronald W. Reagan, which will be celebrated this Thursday, June 10, 2004 at 7:00 PM in San Juan Cathedral. It will be a posthumous homage from the people of Puerto Rico to the memory of President Ronald W. Reagan," the message states.
[The invitation also] indicates that men must wear dark attire and women a black dress or a dress with black.
You will never get out of San Juan on time.
[The invitation also] indicates that men must wear dark attire and women a black dress or a dress with black.
That's funny - will the Novus Ordo priest even be wearing black?
"And why is a Mass being said for Reagan, who wasn't Catholic?"
I think a memorial Mass can be for anybody, just not a funeral. Peter Hebblethwaite's biography of Paul VI said that when the pope heard that Hubert Humphrey died, he broke with papal tradition by saying Mass for a non Catholic.
Paul VI breaking with tradition...*GASP*
Puerto Rico is about 70-80% Catholic, although Evangelical Protestants have made strong inroads, particularly in rural areas.
There is this rumor that Reagan was baptized a Catholic as an infant but was raised a Protestant, but not much, if anything, has been said about this. In any event, if offering a Mass for the repose of a non-Catholic's soul is doctrinally wrong, tonight's Mass at San Juan Cathedral would not be held at all. Hopefully, the local Archbishop checked his catechism before going along with this.
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