ON THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11, I DISCOVERED THIS BEAUTIFUL PRAYER, AND THE COURAGEOUS STORY OF FR. MYCHAL JUDGE. I HAVE ADDED THIS PRAYER TO MY MORNING REPERTOIRE.Mychal Judge, OFM, an Irish-American Franciscan and chaplain to the New York Fire Department, is the first listed casualty of the 9/11 attack on the Twins Towers in 2001. He prayed this prayer daily; it was a guide to his approach to his pastoral ministry, a ministry rich in life-giving compassion. The prayer has become well known since his death.

Lord, take me where You want me to go;
Let me meet who You want me to meet;
Tell me what You want me to say;
And keep me out of Your way.
— Fr. Mychal F. Judge, O.F.M.

FDNY Chaplain
5/11/33 — 9/11/01

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him…

“We will bury Mychal Judge’s body, but not his spirit. We will bury his mind, but not his dreams. We will bury his voice, but not his message. We will bury his hands, but not his good works. We will bury his heart, but not his love. Never his love.”

—Fr. Michael Duffy, O.F.M.
Homilist at Fr. Judge’s funeral