O Most Holy Trinity, we light this candle for all the victims of that terrible day, 22 years ago. We pray for those at the World Trade Center, including the 2 planes, those at the Pentagon, including the plane, and those on the plane in Pennsylvania. We pray for the first responders who gave their lives. We give to Thee all those who died or suffered in any way, along with their loved ones. We remember also, those who continue to live with physical and mental disability. May they all be healed and brought close to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. May we never forget them. We also lift up to Thee, those responsible for these horrific crimes against God and humanity. May they be brought to repentance and mercy.
God bless the United States of America, and may we become once again, a nation respecting the laws of God, the sanctity of life and all human rights. Lord have mercy upon us.
Amen.
Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
and with fear and trembling stand;
ponder nothing earthly minded,
for, with blessing in His hand,
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
our full homage to demand.
King of Kings, yet born of Mary,
as of old on earth He stood,
Lord of Lords, in human vesture,
in the Body and the Blood.
He will give to all the faithful
His own Self for heav'nly food.
Rank on rank the host of Heaven
spreads its vanguard on the way,
as the Light of Light descendeth
from the realms of endless day,
that the pow'rs of Hell may vanish
as the darkness clears away.
At His feet the six-winged seraph,
cherubim with sleepless eye,
veil their faces to the Presence,
as with ceaseless voice they cry,
“Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, Lord Most High!”
(Picardy/Moultrie)
And Jesus being come out of the temple, went away. And his disciples came to shew him the buildings of the temple. And he answering, said to them: Do you see all these things? Amen I say to you there shall not be left here a stone upon a stone that shall not be destroyed…Now all these are the beginnings of sorrows…And this gospel of the kingdom, shall be preached in the whole world, for a testimony to all nations, and then shall the consummation come…For there shall be then great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, neither shall be…And from the fig tree learn a parable: When the branch thereof is now tender, and the leaves come forth, you know that summer is nigh. So you also, when you shall see all these things, know ye that it is nigh, even at the doors…Watch ye therefore, because ye know not what hour your Lord will come…Who, thinkest thou, is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath appointed over his family, to give them meat in season…Blessed is that servant, whom when his lord shall come he shall find so doing.
Matthew 24
On that day 22 years ago, 2,996 people died and many more suffered, as Our Lady of Sorrows looked on from Heaven. She continues to watch over her children with the love and compassion of her Immaculate Heart. She understands the Foot of the Cross. And she leads us to the joy of the Resurrection. Death is never the end of the story.
The “candle” Saint Francis refers to is the soul illumined by the Light of Christ. As the hymn states: “…the Light of Light descendeth from the realms of endless day, that the pow'rs of Hell may vanish as the darkness clears away.”
Our Lord’s prophecy in this Gospel chapter refers to the End of Time. We do not know where we are in that timeline, but it is clear that the world is changing. Even if we are not at “The End,” the words above are still relevant to our times. We are seeing unprecedented sorrows, the global reach of the Gospel and unnatural endeavors which have never been attempted before. We are told to be watchful. We are told to prepare and provide for those in our care. If we heed these commands, we will be deemed “blessed” and win our heavenly reward!
Saints of September 11th, Protus, Hyacinth, Paphnutius and Adelphus…pray for us!
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