“Where There is Faith – There is Light” seems to be the right title for today’s remembrance of what transpired in New York City on September 11, 2001. The above “featured image” that I combed instagram for popped out at me amongst all the others that I had set aside. It was “faith” who stood before the names engraved before the “sister’s” very eyes and the “white roses” laid down on names that still “live on” in our hearts.
Where there is faith – there is light!
And so the “faith and light” lives on in the tradition of the “white roses.”
It began after a volunteer in 2013 from the 9/11 Memorial and Museum staff thought of an idea for visitors to learn more about the people who died on that fateful September 11th.
Before opening to the public – a staff member of the Memorial Museum places a white rose at the name of each victim who has a birthday that particular day. Each morning a staff member checks a binder located in the museum that has the name and birthday listed in chronological order. A white rose is then cut two inches before the leaves and then placed at the name on the parapet.
Again – “where there is faith there is light”….Enter – “Mikey “flowers” Collarone!”
On the morning of September 11, 2001 – Michael Collarone was a volunteer emergency medical tech and owned a florist shop (Floratech) blocks away from the World Trade Center. When the first plane hit the North Tower, he ran to help. That horrific day – Mikey helped people escape the towers – helping, too, those who were injured. When the south tower collapsed – he, too, ran for his life. But it didn’t end there for Mikey!
“Darkness never rules – light floods the heart.” Mikey continued to help long afterwards!
And so – “Mikey” has been “flooding light and love” into the hearts of those grieving the loss of their loved ones
Especially to those who live afar and cannot travel so easily to visit the Memorial!
How you might ask?
The “Michael Collarone” – owner of “Floratech” – a downtown florist hand picks the white roses from a local flower market and donates them to the 9/11 Memorial Museum. He donates thousands of roses each year so that “Light” continues to dismiss the “darkness of evil.” God Bless You – Mikey “Flowers” Collarone!
And so we honor this September 11, 2026 yet another hero named “Fr. Mychal Judge.” He was an American Franciscan friar and Catholic Priest. He was not a firefighter, however, he was the Chaplain for the New York City Fire Department. On 9/11, he followed his comrades into the World Trade Center trying to help in any way that he could.
He went into the North Tower and inside tried to offer prayers and help to those in need. He could be heard to say:
“Jesus, please end this right now! God please end this.”
The South Tower then collapsed and as debris began to fall – Fr. Mychal was killed. He was the first confirmed casualty of the September 11th attacks.
The first responders nearby carried his body out of the lobby of the North Tower before it, too, collapsed. Strange as it sounds – he saved lives in his death. They then carried Fr. Mychal’s lifeless body to the Church of St. Peter in Manhattan’s financial district and laid him on the altar. A sacrifice was made but not forgotten. Fr. Mychal Judge – Rest in Peace. . .we will never forget.
Today I did not plan on writing a blog nor even know the story about the “white roses.” But what I did know was what was ingested – chewed on and absorbed into my soul during my morning prayer on this day.
It was about “pyramidal bouquets” – not a single rose but possibly signifying all the thousands of roses that Mikey Flowers has given since 2013.
What is the definition of a pyramidal?
“Pyramidal means of relating to, or having the form of a pyramid.”
That’s mind boggling isn’t it?
Building upwards towards the Heavens with good deeds and sacrificial love… mounding flower upon flower!
Bouquets that we, too, can give in so many ways. Just as “Mikey Flowers” continues to give and Fr. Mychal so courageously gave on 9/11.
What prompted me to write today was the devotional that I quote from so many times in these postings from “He and I” – Gabrielle Bossis.
The words that lit the fire within my heart to write today began with these words of Jesus to Gabrielle:
“And I say endlessly, for great is My need to remain “alive” in your thoughts.” I in you: these, daughter are My delights. Do not fear, then either to bother Me or to bother others.
For I use you to address this soul, to comfort it and move it to approach Me and tell what is happening to it. I love such confidence immensely.
There “I AM” beloved souls and I listen to you.
Why wait? Tell me everything!
Jesus continues to speak to Gabrielle that so powerfully speak to us in the “Now.”
“Tell Me everything, you little sheep that the Shepherd went so far to seek, and for whom He gave His Blood, Drop by Drop, until the Last. And when everything was finished for Him on Earth, He still found a way to stay with you until the End of Time.
Jesus tells Gabrielle the following about “Sacrifice.”
“Offer for Me to the Father the pyramidal bouquet of small sacrifices, made with JOY and bearing all the colors of love. Patient sacrifices. Violent sacrifices. Sacrifices of sweetness, humbly made in Charity.
When you give something, do it with feelings of gratitude to Me, who gives you the opportunity to give alms. And then, the sacrifices of pride. Consider yourself last among all, uniting yourself with My Mother’s feelings of Humility.
Do you want it?
The beautiful bouquet that I will proudly place in My Heart!
Our beautiful bouquet this September 11, 2026 can just start with one single rose. It can then be built into a pyramidal shape to present to Jesus.
I believe that is what Mikey Flowers is doing. His bouquet is made with “joy and bearing all the colors of love.”
Fr. Mychal Judge’s bouquet was a “violent sacrifice”….yet so humbly made in “Charity.”
What will be ours? This day where we can remember all those who died so tragically and left such a heavy loss in our hearts?
Let Us PrayMaybe we can simply just pray Fr. Mychal Judge’s prayer:
“Lord, take me where you want me to go;
let me meet who You want me to meet;
tell me what You want me to say;
and keep me out of Your Way!”
©2026 Anita Guariglia
Photo Credits/ Instagram and Pinterest
9/11 Memorial and Museum online
He and I – December 21, 1944
mikeysflowers.com
One Response
Thank you for weaving together this message, truly inspired by the Holy Spirit, on this somber and very emotional anniversary. I never heard of “Mikey flowers” and his heartfelt charity and sacrifice for the victims of 9/11 as I did know of Fr. Mychal Judge and his great sacrifice . Your connecting their stories of loving sacrifice with the words of Jesus to Gabrielle Bossis clearly impresses the need for sacrificial deeds of love by all of us. True love is sacrificial as Jesus shows us on the Cross.