I’ve been to Washington several times in the past. This time I was on a visit of mercy for four days (Tuesday, May 15 through Friday, May 19) to spend some time with an old friend, Mrs. Faith Ryan Whittlesey who is gravely ill. Faith has many devoted friends. She was appointed Ambassador to Switzerland by President Regan, and also served as a member of his administration. She described, to me, her time at the center of Washington politics once as being “in the snake pit.” I can well imagine what it was like, and Faith’s descriptions only confirmed my suspicions. I’ve seen what it’s like in Church politics to understand well the disconnect between what people say and what they do. I’ve been blessed never to have had anything to do with either type of politics.

It was comforting to see how Faith was surrounded by family and devoted friends all the time she was confined to bed by her serious illness. Some people traveled from Switzerland and different parts of America just to be with her one last time. Faith is a stage four cancer survivor, and has managed to beat it for many years until now. Her friend, Ed Martin, chairman of the renowned Eagles Forum wrote a moving tribute to Ambassador Whittlesey for Mother’s Day. I read it to Faith to cheer her up. But, when facing a crisis of this magnitude, nothing seems to matter. Faith, however, received the tribute, graciously.

Please say a prayer for my dear friend, Faith, and for her entire family at this difficult time in their lives. The power of prayer to heal and comfort the sick and the weary is a wonderful Blessing.

—Fr. Hugh Duffy