Vengence and Remembrance

Yesterday marked the 10th Anniversary of the Terrorist attacks in the US on September 11, 2001. It is almost like the assassination of President Kennedy - people remember where they were on Sept. 11.  I was delivering Holy Martyrs of Japan Parish newsletter inserts to the schools in the parish that morning when news reports first indicated some sort of incident in New York. By the time I was back in the parish around 9:45 the 2nd plane had flown into the 2nd tower and all in the office were watching on the TV in the Rectory Living Room.  We then headed out to a Zone meeting for priests and pastoral workers.  At the end of that meeting, after lunch, we went to the high school and had a prayer service for the whole school.  That night we lit the Paschal Candle in the church and made up some prayer cards as people came in and prayed before the blessed sacrament.
It is, I think, no coincidence that the readings this Sunday - 10 years later - are about the futility of vengence and the necessity of forgiveness.  As someone often inconvenienced by the new security measures in airports over these last 10 years, I cannot at the same time say I feel safer.  I feel we have given up our freedom and personal privacey for the idea or image of saftey and security.
As the world remembered 9/11, Pope Benedict sent a note to the people of New York, and the entire United States (It makes it easier that at present, the Archbishop of New York is also the head of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops):

To my Venerable Brother

The Most Reverend Timothy M. Dolan

President

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

On this day my thoughts turn to the somber events of September 11, 2001, when so many innocent lives were lost in the brutal assault on the twin towers of the World Trade Center and the further attacks in Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania. I join you in commending the thousands of victims to the infinite mercy of Almighty God and in asking our heavenly Father to continue to console those who mourn the loss of loved ones.

The tragedy of that day is compounded by the perpetrators’ claim to be acting in God’s name. Once again, it must be unequivocally stated that no circumstances can ever justify acts of terrorism. Every human life is precious in God’s sight and no effort should be spared in the attempt to promote throughout the world a genuine respect for the inalienable rights and dignity of individuals and peoples everywhere.

The American people are to be commended for the courage and generosity that they showed in the rescue operations and for their resilience in moving forward with hope and confidence. It is my fervent prayer that a firm commitment to justice and a global culture of solidarity will help rid the world of the grievances that so often give rise to acts of violence and will create the conditions for greater peace and prosperity, offering a brighter and more secure future.

With these sentiments, I extend my most affectionate greetings to you, your brother Bishops and all those entrusted to your pastoral care, and I gladly impart my Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of peace and serenity in the Lord.

From the Vatican, September 11, 2011
BENEDICTUS PP. XVI

Some thoughts on this Day after.
Peace