Six years later.....

September 11th, 2001.

I day I will never forget: the anxiety, sorrow, fear, anger.

Each year we have had a commemoration of the tragedy of the terrorist hijacking and deaths. At St. John's that has been either through a weekday Mass, or a few years ago it fell on a Sunday.

Last year was pretty well attended. It was the 5th Anniversary - and news coverage was high (we like things in even 5's and 10's apparently).

This year we had 5 people at the 12:15 Mass for the anniversary. 4 of them come regularly on Tuesday anyway. At 11:30 the Police and Fire Departments had a memorial service at Campus Martius Park. I went down for a while before Mass (it didn't start on time - the Mayor was running late). It was about 1/3 the crowd from last year.

Why smaller crowd/congregation?

Not a 5 or 10 year anniversary? War weariness? The political climate? Less media coverage (my wife thought today was the 10th, not the 11th of September - but then she does not check the media very often)? Healing and a desire to move on?

Whatever the reason - we continue to pray anyway.

We did the votive Mass today for the Enemies of religion (Also known as the Mass for protection from the heathen) because I thought the Collect and readings for the day were appropriate.

The Collect for the Mass -

Almighty and everlasting God, in whose hand is the dominion of all kings and the governance of all kingdoms, look down in mercy and deliver all Christian peoples: that the nations of the heathen, which put thier trust in the might of their violence, may be confounded by the strength of thy right hand. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.