Friday, September 11, 2009

Prayer of Pope Benedict At World Trade Center



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 womenwho were victims of this tragedy simply because their work or service brought them here on September 11, 2001.

We ask you, in your compassionto bring healing to thosewho, 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 wellof those who suffered death, injury, and loss on the same day at the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Our hearts are one with theirsas 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 womenand peace among the nations of the earth. Turn to your way of love those whose hearts and mindsare consumed with hatred.

God of understanding,overwhelmed by the magnitude of this traged y,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 heremay 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.

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