O God the Father, Creator of heaven and earth,
Have mercy upon us.
O God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy upon us.
O God the Holy Spirit, Sanctifier of the faithful,
Have mercy upon us.
O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, one God,
Have mercy upon us.
Hear our prayers, O Christ, our God.
Hear us, O Christ
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us.
As your holy angels always serve and worship you in heaven, so by your appointment may they help and defend us here on earth.
Hear us, good Lord.
For all who died in the 9/11 tragedy that they may be given entrance into the land of light and joy, in the fellowship of all your saints,
Give rest, O Christ, to your servants with your saints, where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting.
For all who grieve the death of family, friends, and fellow citizens; remember them in your mercy, nourish them with patience, comfort them with a sense of your goodness, lift up your countenance upon them, and give them peace.
Arise, O Christ, and help us.
For all who suffer in body, mind, or spirit that they may be comforted, healed, and given courage and hope,
Arise, O Christ, and help us.
For the victims and the perpetrators of terror, war, and violence throughout the world,
Arise, O Christ, and help us.
For all who work for unity, peace, concord, and the freedom of all people,
Arise, O Christ, and help us.
When we remember that day, the memories haunt us, the sounds echo in our ears, and the images fill our eyes,
O Christ, lead us home.
When we are hopeless and sad,
O Christ, lead us home
When we are angry and vengeful,
O Christ, lead us home
When tears become our only food,
O Christ, lead us home
When we grieve and despair,
O Christ, lead us home
When we are fearful and faithless,
O Christ, lead us home
When in grief, anger, negligence, or ignorance we have turned against you and against one another,
Merciful God, forgive and heal us.
When we speak unjustly against others, when we blame unfairly, when we withdraw or lash out,
Merciful God, forgive and heal us.
When we seek revenge rather than reconciliation and peace,
Merciful God, forgive and heal us.
When we have engaged in torture and denied justice to members of the human family,
Merciful God, forgive and heal us.
When we have demonized people of other religions, race, color, or ethnicity,
Merciful God, forgive and heal us.
Give us the will and courage to love and forgive our enemies.
Be our strength, O Christ.
Lead them and us from prejudice to truth,
Be our strength, O Christ.
Deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge.
Be our strength, O Christ.
Enable us all to stand reconciled before you.
Be our strength, O Christ.
For men and women who have given their strength, their wisdom, and their lives for this country,
We thank you, Lord.
For firefighters, police officers, first responders, and all those who were injured or died so that others might be rescued, cared for, and protected,
We thank you, Lord.
For the brave and courageous who were patient in suffering, faithful in adversity, and selfless in sacrifice,
We thank you, Lord.
For all who participate in interfaith dialogue, relationships, and reconciliation,
We thank you, Lord.
For all that is gracious in the lives of men and women, revealing the image of Christ,
We thank you, Lord.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
O Lord, hear our prayer,
Let our cry come to you.
In the communion of the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints, let us commend ourselves, one another, and all our life, to Christ our God.
To you, O Lord, our God.
____________________
Image Credit: By Carol M. Highsmith – Library of CongressCatalog: http://lccn.loc.gov/2010630056Image download: https://cdn.loc.gov/master/pnp/highsm/04000/04057a.tifOriginal url: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/highsm.04057, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons.
Interrupting the Silence 
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