America Bids Farewell to Justice Scalia

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- America said goodbye to Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia Saturday, a man of deep Christian faith who made a lasting impression on the nation.

Justice Scalia's funeral was held Saturday at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, a massive Roman Catholic Church in Washington that seats up to 2,600 people. The funeral was open to the public and was followed by a private burial after.

His sons and sons-in-law served as pallbearers.

Though President Barack Obama was not in attendance, congressional leaders, Supreme Court Justices and the city's elite attended. Vice President Biden and his wife were among the many friends and family members who paid their respects to the honorable and beloved Justice.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest pointed to Biden's personal relationship with Scalia's family and said Obama's decision about the Mass was a "respectful arrangement" that took into account his large security detail.

After Washington Archbishop Donald Cardinal Wuerl gave opening remarks, fellow Catholic Justice Clarence Thomas read Romans 5:5-11CloseRomans 5:5-11 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) .

Presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) took time away from campaigning in order to attend.

The Great Hall of the Supreme Court was opened to the public Friday for people to pay their respects to Justice Scalia outside the courtroom where he sat for nearly three decades. His high black chair and court bench were draped in black wool.

Justice Scalia attended Xavier High School in New York and Georgetown University, both Jesuit institutions.

In 1994, he was awarded the James Cardinal Gibbons Medal by The Catholic University of America for his service to the Catholic Church.

Justice Scalia was considered by many the intellectual leader of the conservative wing of the Supreme Court and some say he was the most important justice of his era.

"He was brilliant and there's no questioning that, but he was able to take that and make it something more than just dry words on a page but really reach people with his humor, with his wit," Matthew Clark from the ACLJ said. "He was a very nice guy, he was a very friendly guy, he wanted to make everyone around him happier."

Justice Scalia is survived by his wife of nearly 56 years, five sons, four daughters, and 28 grandchildren.

Hundreds of people, including the President and First Lady, came to the Supreme Court Friday to say goodbye. Justic Scalia was the current high court's longest serving Justice appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1986.

Justice Scalia was a devout Catholic who believed America has been blessed because it honors God.