O God of love, compassion, and healing,
look on us, people of many different faiths
and traditions,
who gather today at this site,
the scene of incredible violence and pain.
We ask you in your goodness
to give eternal light and peace
to all who died here—
the heroic first-responders:
our fire fighters, police officers,
emergency service workers, and
Port Authority personnel,
along with all the innocent men and women
who were victims of this tragedy
simply because their work or service
brought them here on September 11, 2001.
We ask you, in your compassion
to bring healing to those
who, because of their presence here that day,
suffer from injuries and illness.
Heal, too, the pain of still-grieving families
and all who lost loved ones in this tragedy.
Give them strength to continue their lives
with courage and hope.
We are mindful as well
of those who suffered death, injury, and loss
on the same day at the Pentagon and in
Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Our hearts are one with theirs
as our prayer embraces their pain and suffering.
God of peace, bring your peace to our violent world:
peace in the hearts of all men and women
and peace among the nations of the earth.
Turn to your way of love
those whose hearts and minds
are consumed with hatred.
God of understanding,
overwhelmed by the magnitude of this tragedy,
we seek your light and guidance
as we confront such terrible events.
Grant that those whose lives were spared
may live so that the lives lost here
may not have been lost in vain.
Comfort and console us,
strengthen us in hope,
and give us the wisdom and courage
to work tirelessly for a world
where true peace and love reign
among nations and in the hearts of all.
Pope Benedict XI–Prayer at Ground Zero
New York, 20 April 2008
HT Catholic.org
September 11, 2011 at 2:35 pm
Love him. Thanks for sharing this!!
September 11, 2011 at 2:47 pm
What a beautiful prayer! Pope Benedict is the best. God Bless America!
September 11, 2011 at 6:05 pm
There's a reason why the 911 terrorist killers didn't strikebin Texas. You see, we Texans have a sayin' : Don't mess with Texas.
September 11, 2011 at 10:26 pm
No, it just means there's nothing in Texas worth bombing.
September 11, 2011 at 10:30 pm
Interesting that the first reading for the day was Sirach 27:30-28:7
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Wrath and anger are hateful things,
yet the sinner hugs them tight.
The vengeful will suffer the LORD's vengeance,
for he remembers their sins in detail.
Forgive your neighbor's injustice; then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven.
Could anyone nourish anger against another
and expect healing from the LORD?
Could anyone refuse mercy to another like himself,can he seek pardon for his own sins?
If one who is but flesh cherishes wrath,
who will forgive his sins?
Remember your last days, set enmity aside;
remember death and decay, and cease from sin!
Think of the commandments, hate not your neighbor;remember the Most High's covenant, and overlook faults.
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I think people would be well served to read this passage and ponder it. I know far too many who are still mad, still wrathful, and its sad to see that.
September 12, 2011 at 4:17 pm
A corollary to that is the prayer during WWII which goes, "Praise the Lord and pass the ammo."
September 12, 2011 at 8:40 pm
Anonymous pinhead: most of the most crucial economic activity in this country is going on in DFW, the fourth largest population center in the country. If you could take your head out of your a** long enough to read a newspaper, you would know that a Muslim terrorist tried to blow up one of the most beautiful skyscrapers in Dallas, Fountain Place, and kill all the people who work there.