John F. Kennedy (1917-1963), R.I.P.

On this 44th anniversary of the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the first Catholic president of the United States, let's pray for the repose of his soul, the soul of his also assassinated brother Bobby and the soul of Jackie Kennedy.

Let's also pray for all the Kennedys in politics and public life today, that they repent their support of aborting babies and become pro-life.

Let's pray for the repose of the soul of Ngo Dinh Diem, the Catholic president of the Republic of Vietnam, and his brother Ngo Dinh Nhu, who were assassinated in a U.S.-supported coup d'etat on Nov. 2, 1963.

Let's pray for the repose of the souls of the pro-liberty, anti-Communist Cuban forces who died during and after the Bay of Pigs invasion after JFK would not allow them previously promised air support.

Let's also pray for the repose of the soul of Peter Fechter, the 18-year-old who became one of the first victims of the Berlin Wall. He bled to death on Aug. 17, 1962, after East German Red border guards shot him as he tried to escape over the Wall -- which, it has recently come to light, the Soviet dictator Khrushchev built only in tentative stages in case JFK would try to stop it, which he did not.

Always a lot to pray for...beginning with praying for true repentance and for eternal salvation for our own souls. Amen.