SEPTEMBER 11

We are approaching the 6th anniversary of the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Of course, one of our former parishioners, Tom Burnett, Jr., was one of the heroes that came forth and who is remembered for his words that, "We are going to do something," in response to the terrorists on Flight 93. A foundation has begun in his memory that encourages young people, especially those in our community, "to do something" to make a difference.

On Tuesday, September 11, at 1:00 pm at our Church, there will be a special community event to remember that day and to recommit ourselves to be responsible citizens. Young people from some of the local schools that Tom attended will help lead the service. It is open to all and will be under an
hour in time.

Later that day, at 6:30 pm, our usual mass at that time will be moved from the chapel to the main church.

UPPER LEVEL GARDEN AREA
I am so happy with the new upper church entrance garden. It has a distinctly English garden "flavour." And notice how the plantings are in arrangements of three all within a triangular flower bed, very Trinitarian! Thanks to all the generous and creative people who brought this about.

THE BRIDGE TO SOMEWHERE
I noticed that our new Coadjutor Archbishop, John Nienstedt, was quoted in the paper stating that "human imperfection caused the collapse" of the I-35 bridge. Others will blame this on "an act of God,"  in that hackneyed phrase. The cause(s) will all be sorted out in the months ahead.

But this tragedy did bring back memories from high school of reading Thornton Wilder's novel, "The Bridge of San Luis Rey." The novel concerns a rope bridge that collapsed in the 18th century in the high Andes of Peru. Five People die in the fall, which a Franciscan brother witnesses. He originally believes that there must be some divine purpose and so investigates each of the victims for clues. He ultimately concludes that each of these very human people are redeemed through their selfless loving of others. This was not the expected orthodox answer and his chronicle is condemned.

I think that this book had a special effect on me as I attended DeLaSalle on Nicollet Island just upriver from the I-35 bridge site. I would walk across the Hennepin Avenue bridge twice a day. I did not take the bridge for granted. In the book's ending, a caring nun reflects on the mystery of each life.

"Even now," she thought, "almost no one remembers (the victims) ... But soon we shall die and all memory of those five will have left the earth, and we ourselves shall be loved for a while and forgotten. But the love will have been enough; all those impulses of love return to the love that made them. Even memory is not necessary for love. There is a land of the living and a land of the dead and the bridge is love, the only survival, the only meaning."

After 9/11, British Prime Minister Tony Blair quoted this final sentence to illustrate not only the depth of the tragedy, but what the real point in life is. As Father Kevin McDonough said at a prayer service for the I-35 disaster, "We live only for a short time and are not promised tomorrow...Be grateful for today and be a blessing to somebody else."

Everyone at St. Edwards prays for the victims and survivors of this tragic incident and our thoughts and goodwill go to all the heroic police, medical personnel, firefighters and everyday citizens who came to the aid of those in peril - showing once again that the fabric of the our community's spirit is one of generosity and hope.

A STRONG BROWN GOD
This memorable phrase is from the deeply Christian poet, T. S. Eliot, in his poem The Four Quartets: The Dry Salvages. Although he lived in England as an adult, he grew up in St. Louis and the Mississippi River had a very profound effect on him. This opening passage alludes to the river's powerful if unacknowledged presence:

I do not know much about gods; but I think that the river
Is a strong brown god-sullen, untamed and intractable,
Patient to some degree, at first recognized as a frontier;
Useful, untrustworthy, as a conveyor of commerce;
Then only a problem confronting the builder of bridges.
The problem once solved, the brown god is almost forgotten
By the dwellers in cities-ever, however, implacable.
Keeping his seasons and rages, destroyer, reminder
Of what men choose to forget. Unhonoured, unpropitiated
By worshippers of the machine, but waiting, watching and waiting.

Sadly, it takes a tragic event to remind us of elemental realities. But we also live by faith, as the Four Quartets concludes, paraphrasing Blessed Julian of Norwich, "...And all shall be well and All manner of thing shall be well..."

POPE ON VACATION REMAINS ON DUTY

On holiday in the Italian Alps, Pope Benedict took time out to speak with priests of the local dioceses. He spoke of the need to care for the environment and for the human race to listen to "the voice of the Earth" or risk destroying its very existence.

"We all see that today man can destroy the foundation of his existence, his Earth … We cannot simply do what we want with this Earth of ours, with what has been entrusted to us," said Pope Benedict, who has been spending his time reading and walking in the scenic landscape bordering Austria.

IRA DONOR OPPORTUNITY

A recent IRA Rollover Law Offers Unique Charitable Gift option.

On August 17, 2006, the Pension Protection Act of 2006 was signed into law. For a limited time, donors can make a charitable contribution directly from an individual retirement account (IRA) without the IRA funds first being subject to taxes as in the past.

The IRA Charitable Rollover Provision is good through December 31, 2007, and applies to:

*  Donors who are 70 ½ years and older

*  Charitable outright gifts up to $100,000

*  Traditional and Roth IRAs only

For more information on this opportunity or how to make a contribution to St. Edward’s, please call our Parish Administrator, Rena Chrysler or parish accountant, Judy McNamara, at 952-835-7101.

MEDICAL MIRACLES

We have been praying for six year old Abigail Taylor, the granddaughter of parishioners Jay and Eileen Taylor. Abbey tragically lost her small intestine from being injured by an uncovered swimming pool drain. She and her parents, Scott and Kathryn, have been very prominent in the news lately. Thankfully, Abbey is truly amazing in her recovery and she seems most concerned that such accidents (which are not uncommon) can be prevented by having higher standards for pool drains. She has been receiving very good medical care and the family are most appreciative of the prayers. She is truly a miracle.

Other parishioners, Rich and Marguerite Daly have a son, Richard, who is a heart transplant surgeon at the Mayo Clinic. The June issue of the "Rochester" magazine has an interesting article about him entitled "How it Feels to Transplant a Human Heart." How amazing to realize all the technology and teamwork that goes into these modern medical miracles like heart transplantation. I felt a great reverence in reading this article. What a mystery the human person is! As Dr. Daly states, "I have been asked how it feels to hold a heart. It is a sense of privilege, and appreciation for the gift it represents."

One sad note was that the article reported that currently over 95,000 men, women and children in the United States are waiting for a life saving organ transplant including more than 2,200 in Minnesota alone. You can document your wish to be a donor by registering online at http://www.donatelifemn.org/. And you can also donate whole blood while still alive! We can all be encouraged by six year old Abbey's concern for others.