Mychal Judge
Mychal Judge | |
---|---|
![]() Mychal Judge | |
Orders | |
Ordination | 1961 |
Personal details | |
Born | Robert Emmett Judge May 11, 1933 Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. |
Died | September 11, 2001 World Trade Center, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. | (aged 68)
Cause of death | Collapse of 2 World Trade Center as part of September 11 attacks |
Denomination | Roman Catholic |
Occupation | Chaplain to the New York City Fire Department |
Education | St. Bonaventure University, Holy Name College Seminary |
Sainthood | |
Feast day | September 11 (OCCA) |
Venerated in | Orthodox-Catholic Church of America |
Title as Saint | Saint Mychal Judge or Saint Mychal the Martyr |
Canonized | July 27, 2002 by Orthodox-Catholic Church of America[1] |
Attributes | Brown Robes |
Shrines | St. Mychal the Martyr Parish at 3564 Clays Mill Rd. Lexington, Kentucky |
Firefighter career | |
Department | New York City Fire Department |
Service years | 1992–2001 |
Mychal Fallon Judge, OFM (born Robert Emmett Judge; May 11, 1933 – September 11, 2001), was an American
Early life
Mychal Judge was born Robert Emmett Judge on May 11, 1933, in Brooklyn, New York, the son of immigrants from County Leitrim, Ireland, and the firstborn of a pair of fraternal twins. His twin sister Dympna was born two days later. Judge was baptized in St. Paul's Church in Brooklyn on June 4. The twins, and their older sister Erin, grew up during the Great Depression.[3]
From the ages of three to six, he watched his father suffer and die of
Career
After spending his
After his ordination, Judge was assigned to the Shrine of St. Anthony in Boston, Massachusetts. Following his assignment there, he served in various parishes served by the Franciscans: St. Joseph Parish in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Sacred Heart Parish in Rochelle Park, New Jersey, Holy Cross Parish in the Bronx and St. Joseph Parish in West Milford, New Jersey. For three years he served as assistant to the President of Siena College, operated by the Franciscans in Loudonville, New York. In 1986 he was assigned to St. Francis of Assisi Church in Manhattan, where he had first come to know the friars. He lived and worked there until his death.[10]
Around 1971, Judge developed alcoholism, although he never showed obvious signs. In 1978, with the support of Alcoholics Anonymous, he became sober and continued to share his personal story of alcoholism to help others facing addiction.[11]
In 1992, Judge was appointed a chaplain to the New York City Fire Department. As chaplain, he offered encouragement and prayers at fires, rescues, and hospitals, and counseled firemen and their families, often working 16-hour days. "His whole ministry was about love. Mychal loved the fire department and they loved him."[12] Judge was a member of AFSCME Local 299 (District Council 37).[13]
Judge was also well known in the city for ministering to the
Even before his death, many considered Judge to be a living
September 11 attacks
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e7/Fr._Mychal_Judge_FDNY_memorial_-_inscription.jpg/220px-Fr._Mychal_Judge_FDNY_memorial_-_inscription.jpg)
On September 11, 2001, upon learning that the
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Y20-Wtc-september-5.jpg/220px-Y20-Wtc-september-5.jpg)
When the neighboring South Tower collapsed at 9:59 a.m., debris went flying through the North Tower lobby, killing many inside. Judge died at this moment, too, and it was initially assumed that he was struck and killed by the debris, but according to a later interview with 1st Battalion Chief Joseph Pfeifer, it turned out that he had suffered a heart attack.[19] In the moment before his death, Judge was repeatedly praying aloud, "Jesus, please end this right now! God, please end this!", according to Judge's biographer and New York Daily News columnist Michael Daly.[20][21]
Shortly after his death, Judge's body was found and carried out of the North Tower by five people (Firefighters Christian Waugh and Zachary Vause,
Judge was designated as "Victim 0001" and thereby recognized as the first official victim of the attacks. Although others had been killed before him, including the crews, passengers, and hijackers of the first three planes, and occupants of the towers and the Pentagon, Judge was the first certified fatality because his body was the first to be recovered and taken to the medical examiner.[25]
Judge's body was formally identified by NYPD Detective Steven McDonald, a long-time friend. The New York Medical Examiner found that Judge died of "blunt force trauma to the head".[25]
Personal life
Following his death, a few of Judge's friends and associates revealed that Judge was
Judge developed a romantic relationship with a Filipino nurse named Al Alvarado in the last year of his life, which Judge documented in his diaries. The two often did not see each other for months because of Judge's work as a firefighter.[28]
The revelations about his sexual orientation were not without controversy. Dennis Lynch, a lawyer, wrote an article about Judge that appeared on the website catholic.org. Lynch said that Judge was not gay and that any attempt to define him as gay was due to "homosexual activists" who wanted to "attack the Catholic Church" and turn the priest into a "homosexual icon".[29] Others refuted Lynch with evidence that Judge did in fact identify himself as gay, both to others and in his personal journals.[30]
Judge was a long-term member of
Judge disagreed with official Catholic teaching regarding homosexuality.[35] Judge often asked, "Is there so much love in the world that we can afford to discriminate against any kind of love?"[36]
Legacy
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/82/Fr._Mychal_Judge_FDNY_memorial.jpg/220px-Fr._Mychal_Judge_FDNY_memorial.jpg)
On September 15, 2001, 3,000 people attended Judge's funeral Mass at St. Francis of Assisi Church, which was presided over by
Judge was buried in the friars' plot at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Totowa, New Jersey.[38] On October 11, 2001, Brendan Fay organized a "Month's Mind Memorial" in Good Shepherd Chapel, General Theological Seminary, New York. It was an evening of prayer, stories, traditional Irish music, and personal testimonials about Judge.
Some Catholics called for the canonization of Judge.[39][31] The Orthodox-Catholic Church of America declared him a saint.[40][41] Two people have said they experienced miraculous healings through prayers to Judge.[42]
Judge's fire helmet was presented to
In 2002, the United States Congress passed The Mychal Judge Police and Fire Chaplains Public Safety Officers Benefit Act into law.
The New York Press Club instituted The Rev. Mychal Judge Heart of New York Award, which is presented annually for the news story or series that is most complimentary of New York City.[47]
A campaign has been started in East Rutherford, New Jersey, to have a statue of Judge erected in its Memorial Park.[48]
Alvernia University, a private independent college in the Franciscan tradition in Reading, Pennsylvania, named a new residence hall in honor of Judge.[49]
The Father Mychal Judge Memorial in the village of Keshcarrigan, County Leitrim, Ireland, was dedicated in 2005, on donated land which had belonged to Judge's ancestors. People from the village and surrounding area celebrate his life every year on the 9/11 anniversary.[50][51]
In 2006, a documentary film, Saint of 9/11, directed by Glenn Holsten, co-produced by Brendan Fay and narrated by Sir Ian McKellen, was released.
Larry Kirwan, leader of the Irish-American band Black 47, wrote a tribute song entitled "Mychal" in honor of Judge that appeared in the band's 2004 album New York Town.[52]
The Father Mychal Judge Walk of Remembrance takes place every year in New York on the Sunday before the 9/11 anniversary. It begins with a Mass at St. Francis Church on West 31st Street, then proceeds to the site of Ground Zero, retracing Judge's final journey and praying along the way.[53] Every September 11, there is a Mass in memory of Judge in Boston, attended by many who lost family members on 9/11.[54]
At the National 9/11 Memorial, Judge is memorialized at the South Pool, on Panel S-18, where other first responders are located.[55]
In 2014, Judge was inducted into the Legacy Walk, an outdoor public display which celebrates LGBT history and people.[56][57]
In 2015, a statue was dedicated to Judge at St. Joseph's Park in East Rutherford, New Jersey, across the street from St. Joseph's Parish where he served for several years.
In recognition of his heroic actions and his commitment to the dignity of LGBTQ people, Judge was posthumously awarded the Dooley Award by GALA-ND/SMC, an alumni organization of the University of Notre Dame, a prominent American Catholic university.[58]
In September 2021, Judge was nominated for
A documentary film directed by Brendan Fay that focuses on Judge, Remembering Mychal, premiered on October 26, 2021, in New York City. Featured voices in the film include Malachy McCourt and Pete Hamill.[60]
Canonization debate
Several organizations have proposed to the Vatican a possible canonization, to which the Archdiocese of New York and the Franciscan Third Order have not given clear answers. However, Christian denominations that are not in communion with Rome have canonized him, recognizing him as a saint and a martyr[61][62] while his tomb, in the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery of Totowa, has been becoming a kind of "informal sanctuary".[63]
While there is an active campaign to open his cause of beatification (the first step to canonization), there remains a controversy over his illicit sexual activity (despite his vow of chastity) and his disobedience towards Church hierarchy regarding certain circumstances which has represented a serious obstacle to his being named a saint.
The fact that Judge had a homosexual orientation is likely to be an impediment to beatification. Postulators have argued that there are precedents of saints and openly LGBT martyrs.[64] Recently, in 2021, 20 years after his death, an official cause has been initiated, but without the official support of the Archdiocese of New York, but from an independent postulator, the Rv. Luis Fernando Escalante, directly in charge of the cause in Rome.[65]
References
General references
- Ford, Michael (2002). Father Mychal Judge: an Authentic American Hero. ISBN 0-8091-0552-7.
- Daly, Michael (2008). The Book of Mychal: The Surprising Life and Heroic Death of Father Mychal Judge. St. Martin's Press. ISBN 978-0-312-30150-7.
Inline citations
- The Orthodox Catholic Church of America. Archived from the originalon June 29, 2010. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
- ^ Hagerty, Barbara Bradley. "Memories Of Sept. 11's First Recorded Casualty Endure". NPR. Archived from the original on 26 January 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
- ^ Ford (2002), p. 44
- ^ Daly (2008), pp. 7–19
- ^ a b "Deceased Friars: Mychal F. Judge, O.F.M." Franciscan Friars of Holy Name Province. Archived from the original on 2013-09-11.
- ^ Daly (2008), pp. 30, 31, 46, 81
- ISBN 978-0-06-247431-5.
- ^ "St. Bonaventure honors victims of 9/11 at prayer service, Mass". St. Bonaventure University. September 9, 2011. Retrieved September 11, 2013.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Daly (2008), pp. 23–33
- ^ Daly (2008), pp. 37–77
- ^ Daly (2008), p. 62
- ^ Epps, David (September 2, 2011). "The first victim of 9/11". The Citizen. Archived from the original on July 25, 2021. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
- ^ "PEP, October 2018: Local 299 rewards top scholars". District Council 37. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
- ^ Ford (2002), pp. 107–139
- ^ Holsten, Glenn (Director). Saint of 9/11 (2006), Virgil Films & Entertainment.
- ^ "Profile: Mychal Judge: Profile". LGBT Religious Archives Network (LGBT-RAN). October 2011. Archived from the original on April 23, 2018. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
- ^ Daly (2008), p. 320
- ^ Ford (2002), pp. 114–115
- ^ "Chief Joseph Pfeifer of Battalion 1". The New York Times. 2002-07-05. Archived from the original on 2022-03-25. Retrieved 2023-01-29.
- Daily News (New York). February 11, 2002. "Judge stood alone at a plate glasswindow overlooking the carnage and devastation. A fire department photographer heard him praying aloud, Jesus, please end this right now! God, please end this!
- ^ Daly (2008), p. 336
- ^ Prigge, Matt (May 3, 2006). "Upward Christian Soldier". Philadelphia Weekly.
- ISBN 978-0385507684.
- ^ Daly (2008), p. 343
- ^ a b Daly (2008), p. 347
- ^ Cassels, Peter (2001-09-27). "Tributes keep flowing for NYC Fire Dept. chaplain Mychal Judge, one of those who died in the World Trade Center attacks". Bay Windows. Archived from the original on 2004-04-26. Retrieved 2004-04-16.
- ^ Senior, Jennifer (November 12, 2001). "The Firemen's Friar". New York. Archived from the original on March 26, 2006. Retrieved 2006-09-14.
- from the original on 2018-04-23. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
- ^ Lynch, Dennis (June 26, 2002). "A September 11th Hijacking" Archived 2005-05-05 at the Wayback Machine. Catholic Online.
- ^ Daly (2008), pp. 86, 301–302
- ^ a b Newman, Andy (2005-09-25). "Admirers of Fallen 9/11 Hero Disdain the Vatican's Likely Plan to Bar Gays as Priests". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2008-09-11. Retrieved 2008-04-17.
- ^ "What is Dignity?" Archived 2007-04-04 at the Wayback Machine DignityUSA.
- ^ "Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons" Archived 2006-10-07 at the Wayback Machine. DignityUSA.
- ^ Ford (2002), pp. 119–120
- ^ Ford (2002), p. 182
- ^ Ford (2002), p. 124
- ^ Glenn Holsten (director). Saint of 9/11. Equality Forum. 2006.
- ^ "Newspaper Looks at Mychal Judge's Final Resting Place". Holy Name Province of the Franciscan Friars. 2007-11-07. Archived from the original on 2007-11-09. Retrieved 2008-04-14.
- ^ Shane, Larry (December 25, 2002). "Sainthood call for chaplain rises from Sept.11 ashes" Archived 2012-10-04 at the Wayback Machine. The Seattle Times.
- The Orthodox Catholic Church of America. Archived from the originalon June 29, 2010. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
- ^ "St. Mychal Judge". St. Mychal the Martyr Parish. Archived from the original on 2006-08-10. Retrieved 2006-09-22.
- ^ Charisse, Jones (June 19, 2003). "The Making of Saint Mychal". USA Today.
- Franciscan Friars: Holy Name Province.
- ^ McQuillan, Alice (February 21, 2002). "Ferry Named For FDNY Priest". New York Daily News. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ^ Bumiller, Elisabeth (June 27, 2002). "Washington Memo; The Most Unusual Story Behind a Gay Rights Victory". The New York Times.
- ISBN 978-0-739-10882-6p. 107
- ^ "The New York Press Club Journalism Awards" Archived 2011-09-06 at the Wayback Machine. New York Press Club. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
- ^ Fucci, Jeff (2008-03-28). "Sculpted from memories: Statue may be final Judge-ment". Leader (New Jersey). Retrieved 2008-04-14.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Alvernia College: Undergraduate Housing". Archived from the original on March 29, 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-30.
Judge Hall, our newest residence hall built in 2005, is named in honor of the late Fr. Mychal Judge, a Franciscan priest who died while ministering to injured firefighters at the World Trade Center site on September 11, 2001.
- ^ TeVogt, Jim. (April 19, 2007). "H0307: Fr. Mychal Judge Memorial Near Keshcarrigan" Archived 2011-10-08 at the Wayback Machine. Geograph Britain and Ireland. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
- ^ "Keshcarrigan Peace Garden to honour memory of 9/11 priest" Archived 2011-09-29 at the Wayback Machine. Leitrim Observer. August 31, 2005.
- ^ Kirwan, Larry. "Black 47 Album Stories". The Reel Book. Archived from the original on 10 July 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
- ^ Johnson, Nicole (September 11, 2006). "FDNY Chaplain Honored At Annual Remembrance Walk"[permanent dead link]. NY1.
- Wicked Local.
- ^ "South Pool: Panel N-6 - Mychal F. Judge". National September 11 Memorial & Museum. Archived from the original on July 27, 2013. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
- ^ "Legacy Walk honors LGBT 'guardian angels'". chicagotribune.com. 11 October 2014. Archived from the original on 29 May 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
- ^ "PHOTOS: 7 LGBT Heroes Honored With Plaques in Chicago's Legacy Walk". Advocate.com. 11 October 2014. Archived from the original on 6 July 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
- ^ "Dooley Award Recipients | GALA-ND/SMC". Archived from the original on 2016-11-26. Retrieved 2016-12-05.
- NorthJersey.com. Archived from the originalon September 10, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
- ^ "Documentary on 9/11 hero 'Remembering Mychal' premieres in New York". IrishCentral. November 12, 2021. Archived from the original on July 13, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
- ^ "St. Mychal Judge". The Reformed Catholic Church. Retrieved 2022-08-12.
- ^ "Saints of the Orthodox-Catholic Church of America". 2010-06-29. Archived from the original on 2010-06-29. Retrieved 2022-08-12.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Fr. Mychal Judge was the first 9/11 casualty. Can he be a saint?". 2021-09-10. Archived from the original on 2021-09-10. Retrieved 2022-08-12.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ Graham, Ruth (2017-09-11). "Father Mychal Judge Was a 9/11 Hero. Could He Also Become the First Gay Saint?". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 2022-08-12.
- ^ "It's Time to Canonize Fr. Mychal Judge". New Ways Ministry. Archived from the original on 2022-08-12. Retrieved 2022-08-12.
Further reading
- Lynch, Kelly Ann (2007). He Said Yes: The Story of Father Mychal Judge. Paulist Press (illustrated children's book). ISBN 978-0-8091-6740-1.
- Sapienza, Salvatore (2011). Mychal's Prayer: Praying with Father Mychal Judge. Tregatti Press. ISBN 978-0-615-47331-4.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Fire Chaplain Becomes Larger than Life
- The Happiest Man on Earth: Eulogy of Fr. Mychal Judge Archived 2008-09-02 at the Wayback Machine
- An RTE Radio 1 documentary 'Victim No. 0001', September 3, 2011, describes his life and work Archived October 9, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- An NPR Radio clip "Slain Priest: 'Bury His Heart, But Not His Love'" Archived 2021-02-13 at the Wayback Machine
- Saint of 9/11 at IMDb