The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has put together some liturgical reflections for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (September 10, 2006) and for September 11, 2006, the five-year anniversary.
Here is a prayer from their collection that might be used as an opening prayer for liturgies, prayer services, and gatherings during this time. Click here to see all their resources for this event.
Rembering 9/11
Five years have passed, O Lord,
five years of mourning and of tears,
of struggling to make sense and to go on.
Five years since crashing planes, collapsing building,
rivers of smoke and ash and fear brought death and fear.
Give us the courage to hope again, Father.
To pray even for our enemies, and for ourselves.
Give us the grace to be freed from hate
and unbound from the paralysis of fear.
Give us the freedom of the children of God:
Awaken in our hearts a firm resolve
“to reject the ways of violence,
to combat everything that sows hatred and division
within the human family,
and to work for the dawn of a new era
of solidarity, justice and peace.”i
We ask this through the Prince of Peace,
our Way, our Truth, and our Life,
Christ the Lord. Amen.
______________________
i Pope John Paul II, on receiving the credentials of the new Ambassador to the Holy See from the United States of America, September 13, 2001.
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