On the 25th anniversary of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks, stories of faith, courage and Christian compassion continue to inspire people around the world. Nearly 3,000 innocent people lost their lives in New York, at the Pentagon and near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, but the tragedy also revealed remarkable acts of selflessness. Paul Carris, a Catholic who had attended Mass before going to work at the World Trade Centre, helped a woman escape the North Tower by supporting her down 71 flights of stairs. Their survival began a friendship that would transform both their lives. Paul later discovered a deeper relationship with God, entered formation for the permanent diaconate and was ordained a Catholic deacon. For many survivors, faith did not remove the pain or the difficult questions about evil and suffering, but it gave them strength to carry on. Their stories remind us that, even in the darkest moments, God’s presence can be encountered through prayer, compassion and the courage of ordinary people who choose to help others. As the Church remembers the victims of 11 September, may their lives inspire renewed prayer for peace, healing and a world where goodness and love overcome hatred and violence.
Journalist Colm Flynn travels to New York, Shanksville and the Pentagon to share the stories of survivors, witnesses and clergy whose lives and faith were forever changed by the tragedy. Father Stephen McGraw remembers witnessing the attack on the Pentagon and rushing towards the devastation to help. At Ground Zero and in Shanksville, priests, chaplains and survivors offer moving accounts of courage, sacrifice, grief and prayer. Through deeply personal testimony, the documentary explores how faith was tested, how ordinary people showed extraordinary courage, and how hope and light emerged from one of the darkest days in modern history. Presented by Colm Flynn, the programme offers a powerful reflection on faith, compassion and the enduring presence of God amid human suffering.
This video contains disturbing images that may be distressing to some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised.
Source: EWTN News
