Never Forget! -- A reflection on the Catholic experience of Sept. 11, 2001

July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
Never Forget! -- A reflection on the Catholic experience of Sept. 11, 2001
Never Forget! -- A reflection on the Catholic experience of Sept. 11, 2001


We are running the following editorial in remembrance of all those lost on Sept. 11, 2001, and in honor of the Catholic community in New York City, which was faced with a grievous burden.  The editorial was written for the Sept. 11 issue of The Tablet, newspaper of the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York, and is made available here through Catholic News Service.

There are days that will be remembered, detail for detail, in our minds. And for many of us, Sept. 11, 2001, is undoubtedly one of those days. We, as a nation and as a world, saw the worst in humanity. We witnessed bloodthirsty men, corrupted by hatred, fueled with one desire -- death, chaos and destruction.

These terrorists had one aim -- to strike fear and to cause the American people to lose heart. So many people -- good, innocent people -- died on that day. We saw -- in these hijackers, in those involved in the masterminding of this horror -- the prime example of just how bad humanity can be. We witnessed the effects of a fallen world.

We also saw the very best in humanity on Sept. 11, 2001. We saw a nation, united in grief, yes, but more so a nation united in the hope and promise that these innocent victims did not die in vain. Coming to the rescue were our first-responders, living out their pledge to save others, even at the cost of their own lives.

Our own men and women from Brooklyn and Queens, among so many others, generously dove into that pile of destruction for one reason and one reason only: They wanted to help.

Names like Timothy Stackpole, Vincent Brunton, Kenny Phelan and so many other public servants will forever be remembered for giving up their lives in the service of others. The death toll from the attacks stands at 2,977 -- including 2,753 killed at the World Trade Center, 184 killed at the Pentagon and 40 killed in the crash of United Airlines Flight 93 in Pennsylvania.

And we cannot forget those who have died from the effects of the recovery effort as the years passed and the thousands more who suffer emotionally, psychologically and spiritually as a result of the attacks.

We truly saw the best in people, including our clergy. Father Mychal Judge set the example as he died shortly after rushing to the scene to assist the injured and dying.

Who can forget the images published here in The Tablet, among other places, of our own Bishop-Emeritus Thomas V. Daily, walking among the wreckage the very next day, blessing, anointing, offering the healing that can only come from Christ to those at ground zero?

Who can forget the priests, like Msgr. John Delendick, fire department chaplain, and Msgr. Robert Romano, police chaplain, who generously volunteered to go to ground zero to bless the remains of those killed as the remains continued to be discovered from September to December?

Who can forget the many priests offering the comfort that can only come from Christ in the Eucharist at funeral Mass after funeral Mass, like Msgr. Martin Geraghty, then-pastor of St. Francis de Sales Church in Belle Harbor, hit so hard by the despicable tragedy?

Yes, we witnessed the worst in humanity and we witnessed the best in humanity on Sept. 11, 2001. We cannot let this day pass by without pausing to think of those who lost their lives on this tragic day. We cannot let this day pass by without pledging in our hearts that we will become men and women for others, inspired by the example of those who lost their lives on this day.

We will never forget the events of Sept. 11, 2001. It can't become just another day as the years pass, and more and more people who were not born at the time or are too young to remember the day must not grow up without a sense of what occurred.

Take the time and thank God for the gift of the lives of those men and women whom we loved and lost and whom we long to see again. A popular slogan after Sept. 11, 2001, read "9/11 -- Never Forget." As men and women of faith, hope and charity, let's never forget, and let's teach the next generation to understand exactly what happened on that fateful Tuesday morning.

- - -

The views or positions presented in this or any guest editorial are those of the original publication and do not necessarily represent the views of Catholic News Service, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Diocese of Trenton or The Monitor.

 

[[In-content Ad]]

Related Stories

We are running the following editorial in remembrance of all those lost on Sept. 11, 2001, and in honor of the Catholic community in New York City, which was faced with a grievous burden.  The editorial was written for the Sept. 11 issue of The Tablet, newspaper of the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York, and is made available here through Catholic News Service.

There are days that will be remembered, detail for detail, in our minds. And for many of us, Sept. 11, 2001, is undoubtedly one of those days. We, as a nation and as a world, saw the worst in humanity. We witnessed bloodthirsty men, corrupted by hatred, fueled with one desire -- death, chaos and destruction.

These terrorists had one aim -- to strike fear and to cause the American people to lose heart. So many people -- good, innocent people -- died on that day. We saw -- in these hijackers, in those involved in the masterminding of this horror -- the prime example of just how bad humanity can be. We witnessed the effects of a fallen world.

We also saw the very best in humanity on Sept. 11, 2001. We saw a nation, united in grief, yes, but more so a nation united in the hope and promise that these innocent victims did not die in vain. Coming to the rescue were our first-responders, living out their pledge to save others, even at the cost of their own lives.

Our own men and women from Brooklyn and Queens, among so many others, generously dove into that pile of destruction for one reason and one reason only: They wanted to help.

Names like Timothy Stackpole, Vincent Brunton, Kenny Phelan and so many other public servants will forever be remembered for giving up their lives in the service of others. The death toll from the attacks stands at 2,977 -- including 2,753 killed at the World Trade Center, 184 killed at the Pentagon and 40 killed in the crash of United Airlines Flight 93 in Pennsylvania.

And we cannot forget those who have died from the effects of the recovery effort as the years passed and the thousands more who suffer emotionally, psychologically and spiritually as a result of the attacks.

We truly saw the best in people, including our clergy. Father Mychal Judge set the example as he died shortly after rushing to the scene to assist the injured and dying.

Who can forget the images published here in The Tablet, among other places, of our own Bishop-Emeritus Thomas V. Daily, walking among the wreckage the very next day, blessing, anointing, offering the healing that can only come from Christ to those at ground zero?

Who can forget the priests, like Msgr. John Delendick, fire department chaplain, and Msgr. Robert Romano, police chaplain, who generously volunteered to go to ground zero to bless the remains of those killed as the remains continued to be discovered from September to December?

Who can forget the many priests offering the comfort that can only come from Christ in the Eucharist at funeral Mass after funeral Mass, like Msgr. Martin Geraghty, then-pastor of St. Francis de Sales Church in Belle Harbor, hit so hard by the despicable tragedy?

Yes, we witnessed the worst in humanity and we witnessed the best in humanity on Sept. 11, 2001. We cannot let this day pass by without pausing to think of those who lost their lives on this tragic day. We cannot let this day pass by without pledging in our hearts that we will become men and women for others, inspired by the example of those who lost their lives on this day.

We will never forget the events of Sept. 11, 2001. It can't become just another day as the years pass, and more and more people who were not born at the time or are too young to remember the day must not grow up without a sense of what occurred.

Take the time and thank God for the gift of the lives of those men and women whom we loved and lost and whom we long to see again. A popular slogan after Sept. 11, 2001, read "9/11 -- Never Forget." As men and women of faith, hope and charity, let's never forget, and let's teach the next generation to understand exactly what happened on that fateful Tuesday morning.

- - -

The views or positions presented in this or any guest editorial are those of the original publication and do not necessarily represent the views of Catholic News Service, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Diocese of Trenton or The Monitor.

 

[[In-content Ad]]
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092

e-Edition


e-edition

Sign up


for our email newsletters

Weekly Top Stories

Sign up to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every Sunday

Daily Updates & Breaking News Alerts

Sign up to get our daily updates and breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox daily

Latest Stories


Prepare the way of the Lord: reflections on the season of Advent
The word “advent” comes from the Latin term adventus, literally meaning “coming to.”

CCHD grant recipients will assist with education, work skills, budgeting
Responding to needs of social service agencies in the Diocese of Trenton ...

Caritas Georgia head: 'We are being torn apart' amid political upheaval, protests
The head of a Catholic humanitarian agency told OSV News the nation ...

Faith, hope 'work miracles,' Pope tells people of Nicaragua ahead of Immaculate Conception
In a moving letter, Pope Francis expressed his closeness ...

Notre Dame shines bright as French president visits days before the 'grande réouverture'
The world was left stunned when the first images of the rebuilt Notre Dame ...


The Evangelist, 40 North Main Ave., Albany, NY, 12203-1422 | PHONE: 518-453-6688| FAX: 518-453-8448
© 2024 Trenton Monitor, All Rights Reserved.