Some advertisements are iconic. They take on a life and sometimes a legend of their own. The political ads that have managed this feat are few and far between. Some are legendary for their appeal to fear, such as the Johnson ad that threatened nuclear war if Goldwater was elected. Fewer still are the ads that are memorable because they appealed to what is best in us, hope.
This past week, Hal Riney, the advertising executive who created one such iconic ad passed away. Riney was responsible for creating the “It’s Morning Again in America” ad for Ronald Reagan’s 1984 re-election campaign.
When watching the ad I was amazed how it brought me back to that time. Having suffered through economic hard times and a morale deficit in the late 70’s and early 80’s, the country needed to have hope again. By 1984 most of the country felt as if they had weathered the storm and that day light was finally breaking.
More amazing still, is how this ad reminded me of how I feel today.
In the Catholic Church
No, not about the economy or national morale but about my Church, the Catholic Church. I feel — as I suspect do many others — that we have weathered the storm and that daylight is finally breaking. After decades of wandering aimlessly in to deeper and darker waters, morning has broken and we are finally making our way back to port. While we are still far from safe harbor, for the first time in a long time I believe we are headed in the right direction. So, for me, it is Morning again in the Catholic Church.
So as a tribute to Hal Riney and as way to express my hope for the future, I put together this video.
March 31, 2008 at 2:41 am
Beautiful!
March 31, 2008 at 2:53 am
Thank you for the inspiring clip. We are in a diocese that is still lost in the idealism of the 1960’s. I was also an idealist during that time but after 1969 it already seemed that things were not quite right. Thank you, Holy Father for being a good shepherd and leading Christ’s Church out of the desert after 40 years. Holy Mary, Patroness of the Americas, pray for us! Saint Joseph, help us save our famiilies and our Catholic culture.
March 31, 2008 at 4:33 am
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March 31, 2008 at 4:42 am
Patrick, thank you for that. It did my heart good to see in your video a clip from a celebration of the Mass in the Extraordinary Use at the Church of Our Saviour in NYC. I was there for that last year and, by co-incidence, there this very evening when it was celebrated again with the same forces (Fr. Cipolla et al.).
One significant difference for me the second time: this time I attended as a Catholic, having been received eight days ago into the full Faith. Deo gratias!
BB
March 31, 2008 at 5:18 am
When I watched it, my lips said “Yeah, right.” My heart said “Yes!”
March 31, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Not to be a downer but are you sure this isn’t just wishful thinking? Does anyone here believe it’s Morning in the Church?
Anthony
March 31, 2008 at 3:09 pm
I love the “Rudy” music playing in the background. I kept wanting to chant “Benny! Benny! Benny!”
😉
March 31, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Anthony, as a newly-minted Catholic I certainly do and check out this story, on this very website.
March 31, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Anthony,
Wishful thinking? Possibly. But there are definitely signs of hope. l Can’t ignore them and focus on all that is still not right.
I don’t recall the beatitude “Blessed are the cynics, for they shall never be disappointed.”
So I err on the side of hope.
March 31, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Anthony Anthony,
ours is a place of optimism. Do we need to break out into that song from “Annie.” I will.
The Sun will come out tomorrow? Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow there will be sun.”
There’s no limit to what the Holy Spirit can accomplish. Be hopeful.
April 1, 2008 at 12:53 am
I hope you’re right. But in the places where I divide my time (Orlando and Los Angeles), it still feels like the middle of the night. Not only that, but it’s Christmas Eve, and a loooooong time before we can wake up and see what Santa brought.
April 1, 2008 at 2:33 am
Continuing in my Annie song:
When I’m stuck with a Mahony that’s gray and lifeless, I just think of a Burke and grin and saaaayyyyyy The Sun will come out tomorrow/ so you gotta hang on til tomorrow.
April 1, 2008 at 10:10 pm
I reckon you’re absolutely right that it is morning for the Church. I reckon within a lifetime she will be that much purer, surer, stronger, full of grace.
And I reckon the reason for this might be, if it is part of God’s inscrutable plan, to prepare the Church for the fight of her life.
Jesus, I trust in You.