Rest in Peace Bob Novak

'I consider this the only one true faith, so I believe the Holy Spirit led me to it.' Bob Novak to a New York Times interviewer concerning his Catholic Faith.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Catholic Online) - I did not know Robert Novak personally. However, probably like many people, I felt like I did. All those years of watching his feisty appearances on "Crossfire" and all the time I spent laughing as he ended the program almost growling out the Word "Crrrrossfirrrre', endeared this man to me.

He was known inside the DC beltway as "The Prince of Darkness", the title of his 2007 book. However, I always called him "the bulldog" because of his tough defense of his deeply held convictions against all opponents. He was like a bulldog with a bone and his facial expressions often resembled one. There is no question, the man - and the character he communicated on the air - was bigger than life. There is no question that he was controversial. However, even his opponents are honoring the man today.

I did meet him personally, at least twice. Once, when I was living in Northern Virginia doing Pro-Life lobbying and policy work and studying at the John Paul II Institute, I was scheduled to be a "fill in" host for Alan Keyes. At the time, Alan had a program on N.E.T., the network founded by Deacon Paul Weyrich of blessed memory.

As I walked through the studio Robert Novak was preparing to go on the air. I was at first hesitant, not wanting to annoy him. But, then, I succumbed to my admiration for the man, even if I did not always agree with him. I went up and introduced myself to him with a kind of sheepish grin. He was gracious, flashing that large smile at me, and shook my hand. It was a warm and genuine exchange.

I met him again years later, after he had been diagnosed with the cancer which would cause his death on Tuesday, August 18, 2009. That was also after he had made the most important decision in his life, the one which will always be primary in my personal memories of this man of convictions, he entered into full communion with the Catholic Church.

I remember that last encounter like it was yesterday. I was filled with the joy of the Lord after serving as a Deacon at the Mass presided over by Pope Benedict XVI in Washington, DC. With my alb and stole in my arms, I rounded the turn out of the stadium trying to make my way through the massive and exuberant crowd.

There he was, looking much older, with a yellow tone to his skin. I was dressed in clericals this time. Again I hesitated, knowing he was not physically well and not wanting to tire him any further. He was obviously winded. However, I knew I needed to tell him something. I turned to greet him, "What a gift this Pope is", I said, to which he offered that smile, only this time it was even more full faced. "Amen to that" he replied. I looked into his eyes and told him, "I am praying for you."

You see, when I saw him that day I remembered reading an interview in which he was asked how people were responding to his illness, "There's not much you can say. A lot of people say: "You're a tough guy and a fighter. You're gonna beat this." Well, I don't know if I will beat it. Being tough and a fighter have nothing to do with it. I guess the most helpful thing they can say, if they're a man or woman of faith, is to tell me they're praying for me."

In 1998, Robert Novak, raised a secular, non-practicing Jew, surrendered to the Lord's invitation of grace and was baptized into Christ, becoming a member of His Body, the Catholic Church. He was accompanied by his beloved wife, Geraldine. I remember how the news of Robert Novak the so called "Prince of Darkness", becoming a Catholic Christian seemed to surprise so many people in Washington, D.C.

After all, he was depicted as a hardheaded firebrand of sorts with that strong brand of conservatism which he was unashamed of sharing. However, I was not surprised; I saw it as a naturally supernatural fulfillment in the journey of this man of deep convictions. After all, the hunger for truth is what leads us all to the source of all truth, the One who is Himself the "Way, the Truth and the Life", Jesus Christ.

For that same reason I was not surprised to hear of the conversion of Newt Gingrich. In both instances, I was reminded of Peter's response to the Lord after His discourse on eating His Body and Blood. We recently heard it in the Liturgy. Some who had walked with him left His company, but not Peter. "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life", he responded. (John 6:68) He still does have the words of eternal life. In this age of hedonism, nihilism and moral decay, many more will soon turn to Jesus Christ, choosing to walk in the full communion of the Catholic Church. She is the only real anchor in a world being shaken to the core.

Upon being received into the full communion of the Church, Bob Novak became a witness to the beauty that is the "Splendor of truth." In his 2007 book "The Prince of Darkness: 50 Years Reporting in Washington" he recounted some experiences which led him to the faith. In the 1980's he was touched by a friend who gave him material on the Catholic faith when he came close to dying from spinal meningitis. Ten years later his wife Geraldine, who at the time was not a Catholic, talked him into attending Mass with her at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Washington D.C.

The celebrant for that Liturgy was the great priest and preacher Fr. Peter Vaghi. Now Monsignor Vaghi, the priest was a former Republican lawyer and adviser to Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM). He was also a source for the Evans and Novak column in the Chicago Sun Times. That this successful man who Bob Novak had respected and looked to for information for his own political columns had actually left a legal career to follow the Lord as a Catholic Priest made quite an impression on him. He began attending Mass regularly.

The grace of God and his own studies led him to a decision, to convert to the ancient faith. He recounts an incident at Syracuse University in New York. Scheduled to give a talk, he was seated at the dinner before near a young woman who wore a cross. He asked her if she was Catholic and she asked him the same question. That led to a conversation which changed his life. He told the woman that he had been going to Mass every Sunday for four years, but had not converted to the Catholic faith.

She, following the Holy Spirit, uttered these simple words, "Mr. Novak, life is short, but eternity is forever." When Bob Novak returned to Washington, DC he entered the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. He was baptized into the Catholic Church, along with his wife, at St. Patrick's in 1998. He explained his conversion to a New York Times interviewer that he knew the Holy Spirit was behind coincidences such as his former source for newspaper columns becoming a priest, "I consider this the only one true faith, so I believe the Holy Spirit led me to it."

With this characteristic whole hearted response to what he believed, he became convinced of the need to educate a new generation of leaders with a classical liberal education in the fullness of the Catholic Tradition. He became a friend of Thomas More College of Liberal Arts, in Merrimack, New Hampshire. I had the honor for a brief time in the 1990's, of serving on the Board of that fine College when it was led by Dr. Peter Sampo. It is one of a growing number of Catholic Colleges which are fully embracing their Catholic identity and, as a result, flourishing as they prepare leaders for the New Evangelization.

Few people know that Bob Novak established a scholarship fund for young men from Washington, DC who could not afford to attend such a fine College. He wanted to ensure that they could be prepared to help rebuild the decimated western culture. The catalogue of the College describes the scholarship this way:

"Students eligible for the Robert Novak Scholarship are those who are normally eligible for admission to Thomas More College of Liberal Arts, and can also demonstrate all of the following:

•Of African-American or Hispanic ethnicity
•From an inner-city situation. Students from Washington DC are given priority.
•Demonstrate financial need through the submission of a FAFSA application
•Exhibit a passion for studying the liberal arts and Catholic education

"This scholarship fund will cover all unmet costs of tuition, room & board, and indirect costs for a student pursuing a four year bachelor's degree at The Thomas More College of Liberal Arts. Indirect costs are a budgeted amount that takes into consideration the expenses of books, transportation, personal and other expenses."

Finally, Bob Novak applied his gift of communication to openly defending his late in life treasure, his Catholic faith. Those who really did know Robert Novak, like our mutual friend Fr. C.J. McCloskey, attest to his extraordinary intelligence and deep convictions concerning his politics, but even more importantly, to the genuineness of his Catholic faith.

His intelligence was the gift the Creator gave to him. Bob Novak used it to make many contributions in a life well lived. That is evidenced by the outpouring of praise and honor, even from his adversaries, upon his death. It led this man to live a full life of substance and meaning. However, that intelligence also became the means which the Lord used to bring Him home through his honest questions.

While eulogies continue to pour in I join my voice to the thousands honoring this man. The man called facetiously "Prince of Darkness" found the Light of the world and embraced the Catholic faith. May he now rest in the presence of the Lord he loved and may his beloved wife be consoled in her loss by the strength of the faith, and the love they shared.

Rest in Peace Bob Novak.

---

'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'

Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online