Bishop Kulick: “We Must Never Let 9/11 Become Merely History”

GREENSBURG – On the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States, the Diocese of Greensburg commemorated the day with a Mass of Remembrance at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral. The Mass was celebrated by Bishop Larry J. Kulick.

The Mass marked the somber milestone of the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the hijacking of Flight 93, which was brought down in Shanksville, Pa., after passengers intervened to prevent the plane from reaching its intended target.

“These are moments in the lives of people that must never be allowed to become merely history,” Bishop Kulick remarked in his homily at the Mass of Remembrance.

He reminded the faithful that the responsibility of preserving the memory of those who died, those who lost family members and friends, and those battling illnesses related to the attacks must be carried forward through the generations.

“Nearly a third of the people living in our country today were not yet alive when those events took place. They do not remember where they were when they heard the news. They do not recall the images seen on television, the fear and uncertainty of those early hours, or the extraordinary courage, generosity, kindness and selflessness that emerged in the hours, days, months and even years that followed,” Bishop Kulick said.

Bishop Kulick said the anniversary of the somber milestone calls on the faithful to pray, remember and preserve the memory of what occurred. He reminded those attending the Mass in person and through livestream that Sacred Scripture teaches that memory is essential to faith.

He pointed to the Israelites, who were called to remember how the Lord’s covenant delivered them from slavery, led them through the desert and brought them into the Promised Land.

“At the very heart of our life is the Eucharist,” Bishop Kulick said. “The sacred remembering in which the saving death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are not treated merely as events of the distant past but are made real and present in time and space. Made real and present among us, for every people, every nation and every age. Christian memory keeps the past alive so that it can shape who we are now, but also who we will become.”

During his homily, Bishop Kulick said the Mass was being offered not simply to preserve the memory of the tragedy but also the lessons born from that day a quarter-century ago.

“All human life is precious from the very first moment of conception until natural death. We must preserve the memory that hatred destroys. We must preserve the memory that courage and heroic acts of self-sacrifice truly matter. We must remember that we belong to one another, not as isolated individuals. We must also, my brothers and sisters, remember that unity is our goal and ideal. And we must remember that peace must never be taken for granted,” Bishop Kulick said.

“And above all, we remember in faith. Faith that helps us grow, trusting in the promise Christ spoke to his disciples and speaks again to us today: ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.’

“We remember so that those who come after us will know. We remember so that suffering may awaken compassion rather than hatred. We remember so that the pursuit of justice may always remain joined to the pursuit of peace. And above all, we remember in faith, trusting in the promise Christ spoke to his disciples and speaks again to us today: ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.'”

At the end of his homily, Bishop Kulick offered the following prayer:

“May the Lord receive into His eternal peace all those who were lost 25 years ago today, who woke up believing it would be no different from any other day. They faced their work, their worries and their joys, never imagining that day would be their last on Earth. Death came quickly, violently and suddenly.

“We pray that God may grant them eternal rest and peace. We pray for all those who mourned their loss on that day and in the days that followed, and for those who still grieve that absence and mourn their loss as if it were yesterday. We pray for all those who continue to suffer from the physical effects of the rescue and recovery efforts. We pray that those who are wounded in any way may feel the healing presence of Christ, the Divine Physician.

“And we pray for peace. May we continue to be Christ’s hands, His heart and His voice to all who continue to carry the wounds of that day. May we unite the sacred remembering of the Eucharist with our memory of Sept. 11 so that, strengthened and resolved, we may become, in our own time and place, in our homes, families, parishes, diocese and nation, instruments of peace and servants of justice.”