Franciscan Life Today

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Remembering Mychal Judge
By Jack Wintz, O.F.M.
Source: Friar Jack's E-spirations
Published: Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Many of us are familiar with Father Mychal Judge, OFM, a member of the Holy Name Province based in New York City. Father Mychal worked with homeless people and with AIDS patients. A recovering alcoholic, he also devoted much time to recovering addicts. He served as chaplain to the New York City Fire Department.

On September 11, 2001, Father Mychal rushed from his friary at St. Francis of Assisi Church on 31st Street to the scene of the World Trade Center attacks. He was just doing his job.

Death of Father Mychal

After anointing a firefighter, Father Mychal was hit by falling debris and killed. He was 68 years old. He became the first officially recorded fatality following the attack. Many of us have likely seen the iconic photo of him carried away from the rubble by several fire fighters and others. (There’s a Waterford Crystal sculpture of this image mounted outside the firehouse were he worked across from his friary on 31st Street.)

This hard working, larger-than-life friar has inspired a large following. Some have even promoted his cause to become a blessed or saint in the Church. There’s a movie about Mychal that came out in 2006 entitled Saint of 9/11.

Mychal's Prayer

Members of his province have distributed a prayer attributed to Mychal which apparently he prayed every day. His brothers say that the prayer characterized his approach to all he did. The words of the prayer are: “Lord, take me where you want me to go; let me meet who you want me to meet; tell me what you want me to say; and keep me out of your way.” On 9/11, God took Father Mychal exactly where he wanted him (to the Twin Towers), and that was his doorstep to heaven.

Mychal’s prayer is a good prayer for all of us, especially in terms of his key bit of advice: “Lord, keep us out of your way.” Surely, we do well to reflect on that part of his prayer. For isn’t it God’s will and not our wishes that merits the most attention?

Words of the Prophet Micah

In Micah 6:8, we read the words: “O man, what is good, and what the Lord require of you: Only to do the right and to love goodness and to walk humbly with your God.”

Father Mychal Judge walked in this spirit.

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