Nineteen years ago today, Father Mychal Judge, the Catholic chaplain of the New York City Fire Department, delivered a homily at the re-dedication of Engine 73 and Ladder 42 in the Bronx.
The next morning, Father Judge became the first FDNY member killed at the World Trade Center.
Below is Father Judge's homily...simple, beautiful, and strangely prophetic...
"That's the way it is. Good days. Bad days. Up days. Down days. Sad days. Happy days. But never a boring day. 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 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 you stopping by occasionally to give strength and support and to tell 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 [members effected a rescue] and the weeks and months 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 do 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 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 the house will be a great, great blessing to this neighborhood and to this city...amen."
The next morning, Father Judge became the first FDNY member killed at the World Trade Center.
Below is Father Judge's homily...simple, beautiful, and strangely prophetic...
"That's the way it is. Good days. Bad days. Up days. Down days. Sad days. Happy days. But never a boring day. 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 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 you stopping by occasionally to give strength and support and to tell 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 [members effected a rescue] and the weeks and months 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 do 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 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 the house will be a great, great blessing to this neighborhood and to this city...amen."
