NEW YORK, SEPT. 18, 2001 (Zenit.org).- Here is the text of a letter to parishes sent out by Cardinal Edward Egan in the wake of the terrorist attacks in the United States.
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September 15-16, 2001
My Brothers and Sisters in Jesus Christ:
As we gather around the altars of our parish churches this weekend, our hearts are troubled. We have seen evil up close, and we struggle to understand. The events of September 11th have upset us and confused us. But they have not shaken our Faith. We know that we are children of a loving God Who created us to spend an eternity with Him. We know that the grace of His Son will always be sufficient for us. There is no tragedy that can call any of this into question.
Thus, we commend to the loving care of our Heavenly Father all who have died in the violence here in our own beloved New York, in Washington, and in Pittsburgh. We pray for those who have been injured. And we thank God of the police officers, fire-fighters, healthcare professionals, and civic leaders who have guided and inspired us throughout this past week.
We are a united people, a people of courage. We insist that justice be done to all who have had any part in the unspeakable crime that has been committed in our midst. We will, however, never descend into hatred or thoughts of revenge. With the Apostle Paul in the Second Reading of our Mass, we are “grateful to Him Who has strengthened us, Christ Jesus, Our Lord.” In Him we place our trust. In Him we find understanding, strength, and peace.
Faithfully in Christ,
Edward Cardinal Egan
Archbishop of New York
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This and other letters may be consulted at http://ny-archdiocese.org.
