by Sister Ave Clark, O.P.

It was a beautiful day, and the sun was shining.

Shining brilliantly in the clear blue sky above America’s east coast, the sun promised a good travel day. The summer of 2001 was nearing its end as thousands of lower Manhattan workers followed their usual morning routine – a cup of coffee and a bagel on the run. Many worked in the skyline-defining twin towers of the World Trade Center.

In Washington, D.C., employees of the Department of Defense were at their desks at the Pentagon.

On Sept. 11, 13 years ago, four planes were scheduled to leave American airports within 12 minutes of each other.

Aboard each were terrorists who were part of a coordinated plan to kill innocent people. Does evil exist? Yes, even on a beautiful day with the sun shining. Had the weather been bad, or the flights delayed, the terrorists’ actions might not have occurred as they did.

But this is not the story of what might have been! It is the story of the worst attack on American soil since the bombing of Pearl Harbor. This is the story of ordinary people boarding planes expecting to arrive at their destination safely.

The hearts of many Americans were broken the moment the tips of the planes collided with the towers. The life of every ordinary Americans was completely shattered throughout those 102 minutes of mass destruction that changed the world. 9/11 will always be equated with the loss of many lives and destruction of so many families. A deep feeling of insecurity began to take root in our spirits.

However, ordinary people on the plane over the fields of Pennsylvania did not stay put. They truly believed in each other to divert the plane or take it down so it would not hit its target. The resilience of American patriotism and the resilience of human spirits sacrificing their lives left behind not just a plane crashed in the fields of Pennsylvania but also a sense of appreciation, hope and courage, despite any fear or human failings. These ordinary people left us a message – always have hope.

Let us remember all the brave men and women who went into the towers of the World Trade Center with only one thing on their mind: to save others…no matter what!

Let us remember the ordinary citizens on the street helping people running from the burning towers, embracing one another with care.

Today, we know that despite the attack and so many tragic losses, the sun still shines amidst tears, grief, worry and great sadness..

We picked our self – our nation – up. Never forget those who sacrificed their lives, those who lost their lives. We keep them in our hearts forever.

We remember the rebuilding, the pain, the struggles and the setbacks. However, we go forward to create a better future.

Hold on to hope and become hope to and for one another.

Hope is the whisper deep within that says, “Hold on! We yet may wander. There is no fear that Love cannot vanquish. Each one of us is a messenger of hope.”