The sun shone brightly outside the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels June 11 for a Mass in honor of a man many remember for his sunny and unflappable disposition.

"One of the great gifts of President Ronald Reagan to our nation was to keep visible this vision of what the world can be," said Cardinal Roger Mahony, during a homily in which he praised the 40th president of the United States as a courageous leader and man of faith.

The Mass opened with a rendition of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" that brought forth the emotion that many in the audience felt for the former president.

"President Reagan was a great thing to happen to America," said Suzzette Goebel, a parishioner at St. Bridget of Sweden Church in Van Nuys. "He had moral values, faith and was a humble man."

These testaments to President Reagan's character were echoed again and again by many of in the assembly at the noontime Mass.

"I always thought he was a good president, but now I know what a great man he was after hearing about all of his achievements," said Jenise Avedissian, who attends St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Rowland Heights.

Tourist Peggy Brinkerhoff of Utah took time out from her vacation activities to pay tribute to a man she said "always had a happy attitude and put his country first."

During his homily, Cardinal Mahony said that Reagan may have been an actor but "he was not acting when he lifted up a vision for a life that is better. It was this vision that sustained up and gave us new hope and optimism as Americans."

Cardinal Mahony closed by exhorting the assembly to honor President Reagan's vision by "understanding that each one of you here have the potential of carrying forward the vision and touching people's lives and making a difference in the world."