I just got back from laying roses on the grave of Father Mychal Judge,

[no_hypocrisy]

the chaplain of the New York City Fire Department on 9-11. He's buried five miles from where I live.

Father Judge is buried in a simple grave in a row with other Franciscan priests in the Holy Sepuchre Cemetery in Totowa, New Jersey. There are old relics of homage laid on the grave marker. The most recent visitors left balloons that proclaim "9-11: Lest We Forget". On the contrary, at the grave I got the feeling Father Judge was saying "Don't go to war on my account, or anyone else's".

I didn't know him and I know he was no more special than the other victims of 9-11. But his courage and determination to listen to the last rites of a dying fireman when he died is an inspiration to me. He is my hero.

[Wickerman]

1. excellent post

I've read of his story - he was quite a guy and can agree with you that it's doubtful he would suppor this war.

[UrbScotty]

2. Your story just gets to me.

I'm sure he would be proud of you.

[Bridget Burke]

3. Big image here--sorry to you Dialups....

There is an icon entitled "The Protecting Veil of the Mother of God" which shows her holding out her veil to gather and assist those crying out to her in times of violence and terror throughout the world's history. I thought of this image when I saw the television footage of an extremely distressed Mychal praying the Rosary to her just before his death.

In the ancient Russian Orthodox spirituality, coming out of the murder of Prince Vladimir's two sons by their own brother, there is what is called a "kenotic" or self-emptying mission. One takes on the on-coming violence rather than returning it. One empties oneself of vengeance, purposely choosing solidarity with the unprotected, the victims of injustice ... the outcast, becoming a Passion Bearer. This was the very way of life St. Francis chose, and the way of his son in these times, Mychal Judge. I believe Mychal embodies this kenotic spirituality before, during and after his sudden death.

Father William Hart McNichols
San Francisco de Asis,
Ranchos de Taos, NM

www.puffin.creighton.edu/jesuit/andre/judge.html

[JohnKleeb]

4. He was a hero

Chaplains are just as much heroes as the firefighters, soldiers, cops or what have you they are with. My uncle was a Chaplain in the battle of the bulge, he was a Catholic priest. Chaplains are heroes because they too risk their lives to give comfort and sheer hope to a dying person, I guess this is part of why I do believe in god fully, because of people like this.