Mychal F. Judge

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Father Mychal was the first official victim of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

Father Mychal F. Judge, OFM (May 11, 1933 – September 11, 2001) was a Roman Catholic priest of the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor, Chaplain of the Fire Department of New York and first official recorded victim of the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Early years

Born Robert Emmett Judge in Brooklyn, he was the son of Irish immigrants from County Leitrim. At the age of six, he watched his father die of a slow and painful illness. To compensate for his father's inability to work, Father Mychal shined shoes at New York Penn Station. As he got older, Father Mychal became an alcoholic. It wasn't until 1978, with the support of Alcoholics Anonymous, that he was able to become sober. He continued to share his personal story of alcoholism to help others facing addiction.

Franciscan Order of Friars Minor

At the age of 15, Fr. Judge began the formation process to enter the Franciscan community. Upon entering the Order of Friars Minor, he took the religious name of Michael. (He later changed the spelling to Mychal.) In 1957, he graduated from St. Bonaventure's College, the Franciscan university near Olean, New York. In 1961, he was ordained a priest and assigned to service at St. Joseph's RC Church in East Rutherford and Sacred Heart in Rochelle Park, both in New Jersey. He then served as assistant to the president at Siena College in Loudonville, New York. Fr. Judge was later named pastor of St. Joseph's Church in West Milford, New Jersey before being appointed Chaplain of the Fire Department of New York in 1992.

World Trade Center, September 11, 2001

Upon hearing the news that the World Trade Center had been hit by hijacked jetliners, Father Mychal rushed to the site where he was met by Mayor Rudolph Giuliani who asked Judge to pray for the city and its victims. Judge then rushed to those lying on the streets to administer last rites. It was while giving the holy sacrament to firefighter Daniel Suhr that Father Mychal removed his helmet and was struck by falling debris. He continued administering last rites even while injured. Father Mychal then entered the lobby of the World Trade Center north tower where an emergency services command post was organized. The south tower collapsed and debris filled the north tower lobby killing many inside, including Father Mychal.

The body of Father Mychal being carried out of the rubble by a policeman and four firefighters. This image was dubbed the "American Pietà" in reference to the Pietà by Michelangelo.

American Pietà

Five individuals took Judge outside in their arms. Upon entering the outside courtyard, they propped his body in a chair they found to carry him down the outside steps. It was then that Reuters photographer Shannon Stapleton snapped one of the most famous images of the attack, of a police, firefighters and an OEM responder carrying out their fallen spiritual leader.

Some individuals have heralded the photograph as an American Pietà, in reference to the marble sculpture by Michelangelo of the Blessed Virgin Mary cradling the lifeless body of Jesus.

Mourning and honors

St. Francis of Assisi Church could not accommodate all mourners so thousands stood outside for Father Mychal's funeral mass.

Father Judge's body bag was labeled "Victim 0001," recognized as the first official victim of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Former President of the United States Bill Clinton was among the 3,000 people who attended his funeral, held on September 15 at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Manhattan. It was presided by Archbishop Edward Egan. President Clinton said his death was "a special loss. We should live his life as an example of what has to prevail." Father Mychal was buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Totowa, New Jersey. He was survived by two sisters, Erin McTernan and Dympna Jessich. A model of the World Trade Center cross was installed over his grave.[9/11 victims remembered at Graymoor] from Irish Echo, at Mychal Judge memorial site. Accessed April 5, 2006.

A controversial campaign was begun by several American Catholics for the elevation of Father Mychal to sainthood. [www.saintmychal.com] His helmet was presented to Pope John Paul II. France awarded him the Légion d'honneur. The U.S. Congress nominated him for a Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Following his death many of his friends and associates revealed that Father Judge was gay - as a matter of orientation rather than practice, as he was a celibate priest. According to fire commissioner Thomas Von Essen: "I actually knew about his homosexuality when I was in the Uniformed Firefighters Association. I kept the secret, but then he told me when I became commissioner five years ago. He and I often laughed about it, because we knew how difficult it would have been for the other firefighters to accept it as easily as I had. I just thought he was a phenomenal, warm, sincere man, and the fact that he was gay just had nothing to do with anything."

See also

Judge's firefighter helmet was presented to Pope John Paul II in memory of the chaplain's death.

• Saint of 9/11 - the documentary film about Father Mychal.

References