Dear Parishioners:
In speaking about the Sacrament of the Eucharist, St Augustine said: "O sacrament of devotion! O sign of unity! O bond of charity!" His words came to mind as I reflected upon the 21st Anniversary of the September 11 attacks on our nation.
New York’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral following the September 11, 2001 Attack.
We remember the evil attacks on that day that killed thousands of innocent people, including many first responders, and left too many families to suffer great loss and grief. I remember, too, that many Churches were full in the days following the attack as people turned to God in prayer. Sunday Masses in the weeks following the attack were packed with people gathered in a bond of unity and charity.
At a Mass for the Victims of the September 11th Attack, the late Archbishop of New York, Edward Cardinal Egan, stated: "Then we learned - perhaps even to our surprise - that within the hearts of the best of the best of us, there resides a goodness that is incredibly selfless. We learned that, when summoned by great events, we become in great numbers remarkably committed to the well-being of others, even total strangers. We become a strong people, a courageous people, a noble people - a people for others."
Over the last twenty years, that great bond of unity and charity has faded. Unity and charity continue to diminish as our nation and Church grow more divisive. The social bonds that unite us seem to be not only fading away but, at times, disappearing altogether.
Social media has helped erode these bonds as people angrily attack and insult one another with Tweets and Facebook Posts. There is a growing ideological puritanism that doesn't tolerate or respect the opinions of others. However, we must not simply lay the blame at the feet of social media. We all have a part to play in this problem.
Yes, it is easy to point the finger at others when we consider the state of the world. It's social media's fault! It's that politician or political party! It's those people! However, if we are honest, we all have to take responsibility. After all, we are all sinners in need of God's mercy. And every time we point a finger of blame at someone else, three fingers point back at us. What are we to do? How do we respond to the many problems of our world today with charity and unity?
We must respond individually and as a Church as we did twenty-one years ago. By returning to God in prayer. By making more frequent Sacramental Confession of our sins. And most of all, by faithfully coming to Mass each Sunday to grow in devotion, unity, and charity!
The Eucharist is a sacrament of unity because it unites all the faithful and us more closely with Jesus and one another. The Eucharist makes us one in Christ and strengthens our love and respect for one another as we grow in charity. In the Eucharist, Jesus Christ has left us, His Church, a symbol of our unity and the charity he desires for all Christians. What we receive at Mass is infinitely more than a good passing feeling or a nice life lesson. At Mass, we participate in the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Christ himself! We receive His sacred body, blood, soul, and divinity in the Holy Eucharist.
For the Catholic family, there is nothing more important than going to Mass together every Sunday. The adage remains true: "A family that prays together stays together." In the Mass, we pray and worship with the same sacrifice made 2000 years since the Last Supper. At Mass, we are united with the whole Church as one and united with our families together as one in the Lord.
Following the September 11, 2001 attacks on our nation, we were more united and charitable as Americans and as Catholics. We can be once again if we strive to be more devoted to the ultimate source of unity and charity, the Holy Mass. For only at Mass, do we encounter the living God and strengthen our bond of faith, hope, and charity!
Pray today for the victims of the September 11 attacks and their grieving families and friends. And as we remember the victims of the September 11 Attack, let us renew ourselves in unity and charity with the most perfect prayer, Holy Mass.
Be well. Stay safe. Do good. God Bless America! Go Pats!