IRISH PRIEST SAYS TEDDY KENNEDY WAS READY FOR DEATH

The Irish priest at Senator Edward Kennedy’s bedside as he died has revealed that the veteran politician was welcoming death.
“Teddy wanted to go, he went in peace and it was beautiful,” disclosed Cork-born Monsignor Patrick Tarrant.
Mgr Tarrant has spoken out to reveal the true depth of the prominent Irish American Catholic's faith in his religion.
It was such a deep faith in God that it allowed the legendary politician to slip away happy and peacefully.
The priest was called to Kennedy's home on Tuesday evening from the nearby Our Lady of Victory Parish in Hyannisport when the 77-year-old senator took a turn for the worse.
He said: “I think it was probably late Tuesday evening between 9 and 10 he took a turn, a serious turn, and I was called. So I was there until he died and he died at 11:30ish."
The Monsignor said that all the family was gathered at the bedside.
The truth is, the priest said: “He expressed to his family that he did want to go. He did want to go to heaven. He was ready to go.
"There was a certain amount of peace, actually — in the family get-together.”
He went on: “I couldn’t help but think that the world doesn’t know that part of Kennedy at all.”
Mgr Tarrant said that he was deeply impressed with the family and their prayerfulness as the end neared.
“I have been a priest for 56 years and I would say that rarely have I seen such a devout, prayerful family after the death of his sister and his own death. I am very impressed,” he said.
“It's never easy to part with those you lose, to part from them and see them go, even if you know they want to go and they don’t want to suffer any more.
“I don’t know how much he was suffering as I am sure he was well-cared for medically. I am sure he was because the doctor was there. He was slipping away gradually as I got there but everybody was right there. The doctor was there, of course, and all the family were there.”
Many generations of Kennedys were there and that Vickie, his wife, and his children were in tears as the end neared, the Monsignor revealed.
He said: “I don’t know the different distinctions here. They are all such handsome kids and I don’t know who they all belong to but they were there and they were prayerful and reverent and they were talking about their grandfather and talking to him.
“They were aware that for the very sick the sense of hearing is the last to go, so whatever is said around the sickbed is always heard by the patient, which is good to keep in mind, and they were very well aware of it. They let him know how much he was loved and cared for and missed and it was quite an experience."
Mgr Tarrant admitted that all the attention was focused on Teddy as he slipped away.
“I was focused on him myself, we were all focused on him, but it was a very peaceful evening and it was something we pray for ourselves you know, we say 'go in peace' and he certainly went in peace. It was beautiful and I would love the world to know that part of it,” he said.
“I think the whole world knows certain parts very well but I think there's another part of his life that very few people know - and that's his deep faith. His very deep faith in God and his love for his family."
Mgr Tarrant recalled how Kennedy led the prayers following his sister Eunice's death on August 11 even though he was debilitated by his brain cancer.
He said it was clear it was Kennedy's faith that gave him strength.
“He was there and very reverent,” Mgr Tarrant said. “I wish the world had known that part of him but that was his secret. It was like it was the secret of his power, to be involved in doing good for others and it was what, I believe, drove him."