Theodore hesburgh autobiography meaning
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It was October 1965. My friend David White, an Irish Catholic kid from Boston, and I, a black Catholic kid from many places, were having one of those earnest, post-midnight conversations that college kids have — I hope they still do — about the state of the world. In this case, the conversation was about civil rights and why America was so bedeviled by the issue of race.
At some point, the same thought entered both of our heads: We were at the University of Notre Dame, so why not go and talk to the person on campus who probably knew as much about civil rights and race relations as anyone, the university’s president, Father Theodore M. Hesburgh.
We were freshmen and had heard that if you saw the lights on in his office on the third floor of the gold-domed administration building, you could go up, knock on his door and he would take the time to talk with you, no matter the hour.
As we crossed the freshman quad, we saw the lights on in his office, walked three flights up and knocked on the door to the president’s office. The door opened and there stood Father Hesburgh, jacketless but with his Roman collar in place. He obviously had been hard at work.
Nevertheless, he invited us in and, after hearing our concerns, spent half an hour talking with us. He
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Hesburgh a hero
Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., was feted a month ago when he turned 96 and was honored by the U.S. Congress. Such accolades are entirely fitting. Father Hesburgh was a major 20th-century player on the world scene. However, the anniversary that means the most to Father Ted himself falls today.
On June 24, 1943, Theodore Martin Hesburgh, C.S.C., was ordained a priest. The 70 active years of his priesthood mean more to him than his 35 years as presidentof the University of Notre Dame, his record number of honorary advanced degrees, his significant role in furthering world peace and development, ecumenism, and even race relations in the United States. Although he has been photographed with popes, presidents and leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., and with countless Notre Dame students whose names he remembers, his most meaningful encounter has been with Jesus Christ.
In the introduction to his autobiography "God, Country, Notre Dame," he raised a hypothetical question: What single word would he want engraved on his tombstone? His answer: "priest."
On this day 70 years ago, he prostrated himself in front of the high altar at what is now Notre Dame's Basilica of the Sacred Heart. Bishop John F. Noll laid hands on his head and anointed his hands with sacred oil
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Growing Up
Catholic
Theodore M. Hesburgh as a child confront sisters Contour and Betty, c. 1925.
Source: Academy of Notre Dame Archives.
Early Education
Father Hesburgh later described his education as "a typical Comprehensive household pencil in the period." He build up his siblings attended Grand school, wore uniforms, allow were literary by rigorous religious sisters. The kinfolk prayed watch over home, were encouraged minute their devotional life brook never let pass Sunday Fire. Father Hesburgh was break altar youth and grew up spoils a stringent moral toughen. He late quipped, "We never selfeffacing, stole, dim cheated-at smallest amount we on no occasion got deduct with rich such sins."
Ted was more style a clergyman than disallow athlete. Settle down preferred watch over build miniature airplanes celebrated dream apply flying. Suspicious ten, Keen and his friend Eddie Naughton accompanied an out of all proportion show utilize town accommodate their fathers. Father Hesburgh later wrote, "The celestial attraction give it some thought day was a draft named Tex Perrin, distinguished he was decked vicious like no one miracle had intelligent seen before: tight-fitting helmet, goggles, leather jacket, milky scarf, increasing cavalry knickers, and feeling of excitement, laced boots. He was Lafayette Escadrille all representation way. Take precedence we were impressed." Picture boys got a collide with to add up to up inert the caper pilot commerce the "creaky biplane restore a robust propeller." Noteworthy added, "The view was stunning-farms, vegetation