Litany for the 10th Anniversary of September 11, 2001
9/11/2011
I.
God the Father, Creator of heaven and earth,
Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, Sanctifier of the faithful,
Have mercy on us.
Holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, one God,
Have mercy on us.
II.
We remember, O Lord, all whose lives were changed on September 11. Bless our remembrance and bless our prayers as we come before you,
We pray to you, O Lord.
For all victims who went to work or boarded planes that morning, never guessing what the day would bring, and for all who were caught in the attacks and lost their lives,
We pray to you, O Lord.
For those who resisted terror at the price of their own lives,
We pray to you, O Lord.
For all who worked valiantly and selflessly to help others,
We pray to you, O Lord.
For the firefighters and police officers who rushed in as others rushed out,
We pray to you, O Lord.
For houses of worship that opened their doors in the midst of chaos to provide places of rest and solace, prayer and hope,
We pray to you, O Lord.
For those who stood in line at blood banks and for all who gave time, money and labor to help survivors and their families,
We pray to you, O Lord.
For innocent people who were treated with hatred or suspicion because of their religion or nationality,
We pray to you, O Lord.
For this citizenry of many nationalities, races and religions,
We pray to you, O Lord.
For ourselves, as we remember that day as if it were only yesterday.
We pray to you, O Lord.
III.
From all that threatens to divide us in the wake of September 11,
Savior deliver us.
From pride, vanity and hypocrisy, and from all arrogance or envy that infects our hearts,
Savior deliver us.
From prejudice, hatred and a desire for revenge,
Savior deliver us.
From all evil and mischief; from cruelty and malice and from every evil intent,
Savior deliver us.
In all times of sorrow; in all times of fear; in the hour of our death and at the day of judgment,
Savior deliver us.
By your ministry in word and work; by your mighty acts of power; by the preaching of your reign,
Savior deliver us.
By your agony and trial; by your cross and passion; by your precious death and burial,
Savior deliver us.
By your mighty resurrection; by your glorious ascension; and by your sending of the Holy Sprit,
Savior deliver us.
IV.
Hear our prayers, O Christ our God.
Hear us, O Christ.
Govern and direct your Church; fill it will all love and truth; and grant it the unity which is your will.
Hear us, O Christ.
Give us boldness to preach the gospel of hope in a broken world.
Hear us, O Christ.
Guide the leaders of this nation and all the nations into the ways of justice and peace.
Hear us, O Christ.
Bless and keep all your people,
Hear us, O Christ.
V.
Comfort and liberate the bereaved, the lonely and the oppressed.
Hear us, O Christ,
Heal the sick in body, mind, or spirit (especially ___________) and provide for the homeless, the hungry and the destitute,
Hear us, O Christ.
Keep in safety those who travel.
Hear us, O Christ.
Guard and protect all whose lives are in danger in the service of this country.
Hear us, O Christ.
Forgive our enemies, persecutors and slanderers, and turn their hearts.
Hear us, O Christ.
VI.
O Christ, hear us.
O Christ, hear us.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray, saying together:
Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there in injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
