Fr. Mychal Judge:Ground Zero Hero

Catholic Online ^ | 9/11/08 | Deacon Keith Fournier

[tcg]

Little did I expect to see the bombed out buildings in New York that week.It reminded me of Belfast and of Fr. Mike.I guess when I heard that a priest had died giving the last Sacrament to a firefighter, I was not surprised to hear that it was Fr. Mike. Neither was Fr. Mychal I am sure. He was ready.He died the way he lived, as a saint and an instrument of peace. We now know that he removed his hat to honor his fallen comrade and as he pronounced the prayers of the Church he joined him in the loving embrace of the Father of us all.

Throughout the week we spent in Ireland, "Fr. Mike" always had an insight, a spiritual message, a joke, or just an encouraging word. Like a trained servant he was always there to make sure that Steven was cared for, fed, not overly drained of the little energy he miraculously multiplies by faith. He watched out for Patti Ann and for Connor. He never complained of fatigue but served, pouring himself out like the One of whom Saint Paul wrote to the Christians at Philippi:

"Who though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God something to be grasped but emptied Himself becoming as a Servant…" That "emptying out" is from the Greek word "kenosis," and it literally means being poured out. That describes Fr. Mike, always poured out for others.

[tcg]

When the news reports told of the Fire Department chaplain who had responded with the kind of love written of in the text of the Sacred Scripture: "Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his brethren"—I was not surprised that it was Fr. Mychal Judge.Then I saw those smiling eyes, and I wept.

[GinaLolaB]

I pray that Jesus will bless the soul of Father Mike and all of the poor souls of the people who were murdered by terrorists on 9/11/01.

[Redbob]

And if I were the Christian I should be, I wouldn’t pray for the eternal damnation of all those involved in that cowardly attack.

I’m not there yet...

[The Great RJ]

What a contrast between this Christian saint and martyr and those terrorists who believed themselves to be martyrs for their religion by committing the heinous acts of 9-11. There is a just God who has judged them all and who I serious doubt was pleased by mass murder.

[Species8472]

Father Judge's body bag was labeled "Victim 0001" and was recognized as the first official victim of the September 11, 2001 attacks.

It seems that God needed a soul to lead all the good people to heaven that day.

[reagan_fanatic]

I’ve heard different versions that Father Mychal was hit by debris or by a falling body. I never did hear which version is the truth.

Irregardless, he is indeed a saint and a hero. I hope and pray he is basking in God’s eternal love as we speak.

[ErnBatavia]

[Stonewall Jackson]