Remembering Father Mychal Judge from 09/11; the picture is both the saddest and sweetest thing I've ever seen

Rev. Mychal F. Judge, OFM first confirmed death of the September 11 attacks.

Excerpts from the
Last Homily of
FDNY Chaplain, Father Mychal Judge,
at Mass for Firefighters: Sept. 10, 2001
.
You do what God has called you to do. You get on that rig, you go out and do the job. No matter how big the call, no matter how small, you have no idea of what God is calling you to, but God needs you. He needs me. He needs all of us. God needs us to keep supporting each other, to be kind to each other, to love each other…
.
We love this job, we all do. What a blessing it is! It’s a difficult, difficult job, but God calls you to do it, and indeed, He gives you a love for it so that a difficult job will be well done.
.
Isn’t God wonderful?! Isn’t He good to you, to each one of you, and to me? Turn to God each day -- put your faith, your trust, your hope and your life in His hands. He’ll take care of you, and you’ll have a good life. And this firehouse will be a great blessing to this neighborhood and to this city. Amen.

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First victim confirmed dead at 9-11: Catholic Priest Father Mychal Judge

Rev. Mychal F. Judge, OFM first confirmed death of the September 11 attacks.

Excerpts from the
Last Homily of
FDNY Chaplain, Father Mychal Judge,
at Mass for Firefighters: Sept. 10, 2001
.
You do what God has called you to do. You get on that rig, you go out and do the job. No matter how big the call, no matter how small, you have no idea of what God is calling you to, but God needs you. He needs me. He needs all of us. God needs us to keep supporting each other, to be kind to each other, to love each other…
.
We love this job, we all do. What a blessing it is! It’s a difficult, difficult job, but God calls you to do it, and indeed, He gives you a love for it so that a difficult job will be well done.
.
Isn’t God wonderful?! Isn’t He good to you, to each one of you, and to me? Turn to God each day -- put your faith, your trust, your hope and your life in His hands. He’ll take care of you, and you’ll have a good life. And this firehouse will be a great blessing to this neighborhood and to this city. Amen.

Never forget, 9-11-2001, and the heroic witness of service without counting the cost of Father Mychal Judge

Rev. Mychal F. Judge, OFM first confirmed death of the September 11 attacks.
Excerpts from the
Last Homily of
FDNY Chaplain, Father Mychal Judge,...
at Mass for Firefighters: Sept. 10, 2001
.
You do what God has called you to do. You get on that rig, you go out and do the job. No matter how big the call, no matter how small, you have no idea of what God is calling you to, but God needs you. He needs me. He needs all of us. God needs us to keep supporting each other, to be kind to each other, to love each other…
.
We love this job, we all do. What a blessing it is! It’s a difficult, difficult job, but God calls you to do it, and indeed, He gives you a love for it so that a difficult job will be well done.
.
Isn’t God wonderful?! Isn’t He good to you, to each one of you, and to me? Turn to God each day -- put your faith, your trust, your hope and your life in His hands. He’ll take care of you, and you’ll have a good life. And this firehouse will be a great blessing to this neighborhood and to this city. Amen.
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Again, we remember, 9-11-01

This is the enduring image that most haunts me about 9-11-01.  It is but one of many, many images.  The selfless example of service of Father Mychal Judge who did not know fear taht day or look the other way but gave all he had, his last great measure and of course, lost his life, along with 3,000 others on that horrible day.

In 2012 how will we remember?  In 2012 will the horror of that day become part of the political campaign?  In 2012, how many Americans will barely even notice?

For all Americans, and in particular, people of faith, tomorrow is a day to pray and remember and to take stock of our own personal relationship with God and the state of our souls.  While I believe firmly that God wrapped his Fatherly mantle of mercy and love around all these victims, I also know that everyone of the innocent victims went to work or school or about their everyday business not expecting that day to be their last.

Do we live, in God's sight, as the same could befall each of us?  Can we pray with this and reflect deeply as we pass another 9-11 now some 11 years later.

God Bless America and may America Bless God!

Remembering 9-11-01 through the words of Fr. Mychal Judge

>>>As we prepare for the many events to remember 9-11-01 I am called to the humble service and holiness of Fr. Mychal Judge.  Who will ever forget the image of seeing the humble friar carried away from the rubble by the men her served, the brave firefighters in New York City.  This is the last homily he ever delivered, just about 24 hours before his tragic, yet heroic, death!

The Last Homily of Father Mychal Judge
(available on DVD)
September 10, 2001
FDNY Engine 73, Ladder 42, Bronx, NY

Good morning, everyone.

May the grace of God the Father, peace of God the Son, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

We come to this house this morning to celebrate renewal, rejuvination, new life. We come to thank God for the blessings over all the years - the good work that's been done here and especially the last few days. We can never thank God enough for the reality of the lives we have. So, standing in His presence this morning, and truly this is a chapel, let us pause for a moment, perhaps close our eyes, and thank God for some special blessings in our individual lives.

Let us pray.

Thank you Lord for life. Thank you for love. Thank you for goodness. Thank you for work. Thank you for family. Thank you for friends. Thank you for every gift because we know that every gift comes from you, and without you, we have and are nothing. So, as we celebrate this day in thanksgiving to you, keep our hearts and minds open. Let us enjoy each other's company, and most of all, let us be conscious of Your presence in our lives and in a special way in the lives of all those who have gone before us. And Father we make our prayer, as always, in Jesus' name who lives with You forever and ever.

That's the way it is. Good days. And bad days. Up days. Down days. Sad days. Happy days. But never a boring day on this job. You do what God has called you to do. You show up. You put one foot in front of another. You get on the rig and you go out and you do the job - which is a mystery. And a surprise. You have no idea when you get on that rig. No matter how big the call. No matter how small. You have no idea what God is calling you to. But he needs you. He needs me. He needs all of us.

The retirees - He needs your prayers. He needs your stopping by occasionally to give strength and support and to tell the stories of the old days. We need the house and to those of you that are working now, keep going. Keep supporting each other. Be kind to each other. Love each other. Work together and do what you did the other night and the weeks and the months and the years before and from this house, God's blessings go forth in this community. It's fantastic!

What great people. We love the job. We all do. What a blessing that is. A difficult, difficult job and God calls you to it. And then He gives you a love for it so that a difficult job will be well done. Isn't He a wonderful God? Isn't He good to you? To each one of you? And to me! Turn to Him each day. Put your faith and your trust and your hope and your life in His hands, and He'll take care of you and you'll have a good life.

And this house will be a great, great blessing to this neighborhood and to this city.

Amen.