Eleven Years On: 9/11

Tuesday, September 11, 2001.

It was supposed to be "just another day".

History had other ideas.

Today marks the eleventh anniversary of the destruction of the "Twin Towers" at the World Trade Center in New York City via a most hideously ingenious plan:  by ramming each of them with a commercial jet aircraft.  A similar fate awaited the Pentagon in Washington, DC, although the damage to that building was mild compared to the skyscrapers.  A fourth airliner was targeting another prominent landmark in the country; but, because of the bravery of some of the passengers, crashed in a field near Shanksville, PA.

The Gregorian calendar, in its effort to help humanity mark time, takes advantage of the adage "what goes around comes around".  For only the second time since it happened (the other being 2007), the anniversary date falls on the day when it originally occurred.  While we may have "leap days" to keep in sync with our reckoning of the solar cycle, we cannot skip remembering a day where evil seemingly won a big battle.

Gone but not forgotten are those who perished.  For all of them except those who perpetrated this crime, it was going to be "just another day".  Nothing out of the ordinary, they were going to do what they were supposed to do:  live out their lives.  No one had scheduled Emily Dickerson's guest; then, again, it is rare we know that hour is coming.  Even this thief in the night will do his work in the full light of day.

Yet eleven years on, we still don't know what to make of it.  Fellow 'blogger Anastasia Crosswell of "Kyrie Eleison Me" wrote a poem two years ago in where she struggled with the "why" of this, a statement which still rings true to this day.  In a blatant act of gamesmanship, evil gets in our faces and taunts us unmercifully.  "I'm still here, making your life miserable," it says. "Give up and give in."

My response to that is, "Hell? No!" How fortunate the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross is a mere three days away from today.  It is a reminder that Christ has overcome death, sin, and evil.  The Church with her greatest icon, a crucifix, assures us time and again that victory is ours as long as we persevere.  This is a spiritual battle fought as well on a temporal plane.  As we are made of both flesh and spirit, the conflict will rage until death "kindly stops for me."

As has been the case for the past eleven years, there will be prayers and speeches, tributes and memorials, words and deeds to mark the occasion.  If there is something in your locale, I encourage you to attend.  Check out other commentary in the 'blogosphere.  Fly Old Glory, if weather permits.

We should not forget.

We cannot forget.

This is not "just another day".

UPDATE (9/12/12):  Miss Crosswell  has informed me the poem was written shortly after the 9/11 attacks and was re-posted at that later date.  Duly noted.

September 2012 Morning Offering Prayer Intentions

Here are the intentions for this month when reciting the Morning Offering:

General:  Politicians. That politicians may always act with honesty, integrity, and love for the truth.

Mission:  Help for the Poorest Churches. That Christian communities may have a growing willingness to send missionaries, priests, and lay people, along with concrete resources, to the poorest Churches.

Yard Sale?

Fr. John Zuhlsdorf, 'blogging priest extraordinaire, has been on a sorting spree as of late.

This post reveals some of the treasures he has.

The related combox expressions have been, so far, of "salvage what can be salvaged."

My two cents (grammatically correct here):

...As large a readership as you have, there must be people will(ing) to do the necessary repairs/replications as a “labor of love” and/or able to purchase these vestments from you.   

I challenge your followers: Save what can be saved.

For those 'bloggers out there with a wider audience than me, help spread the word.

UPDATE 8/3/2012:  And the beat goes on.

August 2012 Morning Offering Prayer Intentions

Here are the intentions for this month when reciting the Morning Offering:

General:  Prisoners.  That prisoners may be treated with justice and respect for their human dignity. 

Mission:  Youth Witness to Christ.  That young people, called to follow Christ, may be willing to proclaim and bear witness to the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

Encore

It must have gone well enough.

The announcement of the location of Colloquium XXIII of the Church Music Association of America.

Here we go again.

Golden Day

Some time during the day of July 5, 1962, a woman was admitted to Mary Greeley Hospital in Ames, Iowa to prepare for the birth of her and her husband's first children.  Yes, plural.  She was pregnant with twins.


At 8:12 PM, the first boy was delivered.  Five minutes later, child number two entered the world.  Five decades later, the second of this pair sits at his computer keyboard to celebrate and reminisce about the first of the 18,263 days he has been on Earth.  (BTW, we are very fraternal twins.  My twin brother is 6'7" with black hair and brown eyes; I am 5'11" with light brown hair and blue eyes.)


While it made have been a little crowded in my mother's womb, I certainly thank God I was allowed to share the space.  I am grateful to be an apple of His eye.  I am humbled He bestowed the gifts of material and spiritual life upon me.  I am awed He brought me into existence.


So, what do you say when you hit 50?


It is truly a matter of perspective.


A Working Solution?


This birthday which ends in a zero seems to be a touch unsettling to me, perhaps due to the fact I have been unemployed for as long as I have (now in my 62nd. month).  Perhaps that society is deeming me "useless" and "unproductive" because I "have nothing to offer the workplace" anymore is playing on my self-esteem more than I want to admit.  And I do have to wonder, with every rejection by a perspective employer, how much more my ego can take.


Yet, I am not ready to "hang it up".  As psychologically taxing and emotionally draining this time has been, I keep hoping.  I don't when it's going to end, but it is going to end.  I had to wait for my time to be born; surely that first test of patience is my example to persevere.


Going Downhill


While we are never sure of our length of days, I am becoming more aware my time on Earth is growing shorter.  The death of my maternal grandmother, a maternal aunt, and a paternal uncle-in-law within the past few months sees the older branches of my family tree getting pruned even more.  My mother is dealing with two serious medical issues right now, although neither of them are life-threatening.  And there are signs I am slowing down a bit.  It is nothing serious; rather, they are caution flags which do need my attention and adaptation.


Perhaps I am "over the hill", as lots of people will say at this age.  Well, growing old gracefully means not letting that momentum take you down into the grave until it is time.  It means living, not dying.


Back To The Future


I am reminded of a phrase that we don't know what the future holds for us, but we do know Who holds it..  Even more than ever, it is a time for discernment.  It is a time to more firmly unite your will to the Father, to more securely strengthen your relationship to the Son, to listen more intently to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit.  It is time for an increase in your spirituality.  And what better vehicle than the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church who provides that grace in so many ways?  Prayer, the Sacraments, spiritual reading of Scriptures and other books--the treasure is vast; the array, amazing; the options, almost infinite.


Once again, I return to the words of Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman: 

God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission -- I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. 

I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good. I shall do His work. I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place while not intending it -- if I do but keep His commandments. 

Therefore I will trust in Him. Whatever, wherever I am. I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him; in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him; if I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. He does nothing in vain. He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends. He may throw me among strangers. He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide my future from me -- still He knows what He is about.

May God grant me a long life, as many birthdays as He sees fit.  May this apple of His eye bear good fruit.  May this day, and the rest of what I am granted, be pleasing to Him.


While I may, like Dylan Thomas says, "rage against the dying of the light" at times of despair, William Wordsworth has the right attitude.


"Come grow old with me.  The best is yet to be."

July 2012 Morning Offering Prayer Intentions

Here are the intentions for this month when reciting the Morning Offering:

General:  Work Security. That everyone may have work in safe and secure conditions. 

Missionary:  Christian Volunteers. That Christian volunteers in mission territories may witness to the love of Christ.

A Voice Of Singing

I am back from the opening events of Colloquium XXII, the Church Music Association of America's celebration of sacred music.  This is my second time at this event, having been to Pittsburgh two years ago in the middle of catching "chant fever".  I have remade acquaintances with a few people whom I have met over the two-and-one-half years I have been involved with this organization and am looking forward to meeting many more new people.

This is fondly known as "seven days of musical heaven".  For the next week, participants will be immersed in celebrations of the Mass in both forms, chanted Morning and Night Prayers, and a Vespers service according to the Extraordinary Form.  In between there will be plenty of rehearsals and workshops on various aspects of the music that is sung and/or played.  The goal is to expose people to the ideals and possibilities of what their own local liturgies can become.

The Cathedral of the Madeline and the Madeline Choir School are the hosts for this event, the first time in its history it has been held west of the Mississippi River.  I believe everybody is looking forward to all the liturgies at the Cathedral, given its beautiful architecture and acoustics.  I'm just glad it's being held in my "back yard"; I will be taking the bus to get there.

Speaking of which, it's time to call it a night.  In order to get there on time, the bus rolls by at 7:06 AM.

June 2012 Morning Offering Prayer Intentions

Here are the intentions for this month when reciting the Morning Offering:

General: Christ, Present in the Eucharist. That believers may recognize in the Eucharist the living presence of the Risen One who accompanies them in daily life. 

Mission: European Christians. That Christians in Europe may rediscover their true identity and participate with greater enthusiasm in the proclamation of the Gospel.

May 2012 Morning Offerning Prayer Intentions

Here are the intentions for this month when reciting the Morning Offering:

General:  The Family. That initiatives which defend and uphold the role of the family may be promoted within society.

Mission:  Mary, Guide of Missionaries. That Mary, Queen of the World and Star of Evangelization, may accompany all missionaries in proclaiming her Son Jesus.