Nanking-a documentary

The mother stood there terrified, trying to hush her baby by nursing it as her children gathered close around her. The bayonet came at her several times, her children screaming, “Do not stab my mommy!” she finally fell dropping the baby, who wailed in frustration. The solider speared the baby through its buttocks and chucked the child into the air, gave a last look at the carnage and moved on. The eldest looked at his mother, bleeding freely now and though she could not speak he knew what she needed of him. .He began to climb among the bodies of the dead and dying following the cries of a baby. He found him crawling aimlessly, his tiny hands and feet sticky and red with blood. He grabbed him up and found his way back to his mother, who held him to her breast, blood mixing with milk as they both slowly died. War is indeed hell.

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“Saint of 9/11″

“Lord take me where you want me to go

Lord have me meet who You want me to meet

Lord let me know what You want me to say

And Lord?

Keep me out of your way”

Saint of 9/11~ is a beautiful tribute to a Franciscan Priest~ Father Mychal Judge remembered by most as the Firemen’s Priest who was killed as the first tower fell. Others can never forget the achingly beautiful photograph ,almost Pieta like, of the grieving firemen carrying his lifeless body away from the carnage. A life, among many others ,was taken that day. It was the life of a complicated human being~ a gay man, an alcoholic, a deeply spiritual man, a Priest, a son, a brother, an tireless benefactor of the poor and sick~ a good life. A life now reduced to pictures, sentences and memory.

He was born may 11,1933 into a immigrant Irish family. His father died when he was only six, and at 15 he began the formation process to enter the Franciscan Community. He tells the story of being at a seminary with one particular young priest, his roommate who he felt a special connection with. As the snow fell outside his window he got up to watch, as did his roommate. They stood there, so close Mychal said he could feel the hot breath on his neck, for two hours lost in the joy of creation and a longing for something else. The next morning at breakfast Father Mychal noticed his friend was late~ returning to their room he found his friends robes folded on his bed. His friend left the order. Father Mychal did not remained a celibate gay man for his entire life, taking that longing for something else and becoming the “peoples priest”.

The documentary ,narrated by Sir Ian McKellen, takes you through his life using stories from his family, fellow Priests ,the gay community he served, the alcoholics he helped(he became sober in 1978) and the street people he inspired, the families he ministered to both here and in Northern Ireland. He longed to become Cardinal, yet knew he danced to a different drummer ,that his path would led him at times to conflict with his Church . He refused to judge others, as he had judged himself enough and finally found freedom. “My all powerful wondrous God has not made the future yet, so for you to worry about tomorrow that God has not made yet is folly~ stay in today” Good advise no matter your spiritual leanings .

It is a beautiful filmed tribute to a Franciscan Father who walked his talk, a truly humble man~ one who knew the power of love. If there is a heaven he got there, dying that day doing what he loved. He was last seen alive with his lips moving in prayer. Blessed Be. May he rest in Peace.

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