Twenty-five years after September 11, 2001, the world still remembers the horror of that day. But amid the terror, many people encountered something else: strangers helping strangers, priests bringing the sacraments to the wounded, and people turning to prayer.
Here are four powerful and lesser-known stories featured in EWTN News’ documentary, “Hope After 9/11: Stories of Faith and Courage.”
1. He Started 9/11 at Daily Mass. Then He Saved a Stranger’s Life.
Paul Carris was working on the 71st floor of the North Tower when the attacks began. He attended daily Mass that morning.
As he headed toward the exit, he noticed a group of people gathered around Judith Toppin, a co-worker in distress. She was a stranger to him and had serious health challenges and could not make the long descent alone.
“I just went over to them to see if she was okay,” Carris recalled. “Something just said, ‘All right, I’ll take care of her.’”
Then, step by step, the two began their descent.
Judith limped down the stairs as Paul supported her. It was slow, exhausting, and dangerous. Partway down, Judith began praying Psalm 23 aloud:
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
Paul began praying too.
They were still inside the North Tower when
