Patriot Day Prayers

Patriot Day is observed as the National Day of Service and Remembrance on September 11th every year in memory of the 2,996 people killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York city, Arlington, Virginia and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Prayers

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On The Twentieth Anniversary

We remember, God of history and remembrance, we remember. We remember when the towers fell and the lives were lost; we remember the dust and the smoke, the despair, and the grief. We remember that sense of vulnerability and shock. We remember the numbness that overwhelmed us as we watched our screens for hours and hours, waiting for an explanation and understanding that never came. We remember.

We remember, God of hope and presence, we remember. We remember the heroes, those who rushed to help, who guided the wounded down innumerable flights of stairs, who rose to overwhelm those who held death in their hands. We remember the hours and the days of binding wounds and healing hurts, giving comfort, drying tears. We remember words of support and compassion from nations far and wide. We remember.

We remember in part because we see the ripples of that tragic day continue to impact our world twenty years later. We grieve with allies today as our allies grieved with us twenty years ago. And together we wonder if there will ever be an end . . . to violence, to war, to hatred, to death. We remember and we grieve our world’s inability to learn the things that lead to peace.

We call to you now in our remembrance, God of justice and of peace. Give us a will to truly pray that your kin-dom may come on earth as it is in heaven. Amen and Amen.

On this day of solemn remembrance:
May we honor the lives that were lost in this tragic act.
May we give thanks for those who served and saved, rendered aid and assistance.
May we give comfort to those who live with loss.
May we seek justice and peace where it is within our ability,
and rely on you when the ability escapes us.

 

On this day of solemn remembrance:
May we build what has been torn down.
May we mend what has been broken.
May live your love when hate seems to reign.
May we bear witness to the cause of peace.

By Derek Weber

 

Anniversary Prayer for 9/11

Holy God,
Creator of all people and all nations,
It is with sorrow and apprehension we remember the tragic events
That occurred on this day.

We lift to You in prayer all those who died
In the Twin Towers, at the Pentagon, and on United Airlines Flight 93
In Shankesville, Pennsylvania.

We entrust them to Your loving care.
Console their families, friends, and all who mourn this loss
In the hope that all who trust in You find peace and rest in Your Kingdom.

We pray for those who courageously responded to provide aid and comfort to the afflicted.
May their painful memories of that day
Be healed and transformed into strength and positive resolution.

We also pray for ourselves as we seek Your strength and guidance.
We live in the aftermath of this tragedy and under the shadow of future acts of aggression;
We stand in need of Your assistance.

Enable us, Dear God, to put an end to fear:
By resolving to live lives that are based on respect for one another;
By resolving to abide in a peaceful manner
and never settle disagreements in our lives in a violent way;
By resolving not to fall into the trap of blaming entire ethnic groups, races, or religions
in response to acts of hostility;
By resolving that justice, not revenge, prevail in our world.

Let us resolve that in the face of hatred, we will show love;
That in times of despair, we will be voices of hope
And creators of new dreams;
That in times of darkness, we will be sources of light.

Let us resolve that we never regard forgiveness as weakness,
But rather as a source of strength in our lives and in our world.

And, let us honor the memory of nearly 3,000 individuals who died on September 11, 2001
By resolving, with Your help Almighty God,
To truly live this way so You may be glorified and Your love made known to others through us.

Amen.

- Bro. Darrell Burns, S.J.

A Father's 9/11 Prayer

Click here for A Father's 9/11 Prayer
- Christopher Pramuk in America Magazine

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Prayer for the Anniversary of 9/11

O God, our hope and refuge,
in our distress we come quickly to you.
Shock and horror of that tragic day have subsided,
replaced now with an emptiness,
a longing for an innocence lost.

We come remembering those who lost their lives
in New York, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania.

We are mindful of the sacrifice of public servants
who demonstrated the greatest love of all
by laying down their lives for friends.
We commit their souls to your eternal care
and celebrate their gifts to a fallen humanity.

We come remembering
and we come in hope,
not in ourselves, but in you.

As foundations we once thought secure have been shaken,
we are reminded of the illusion of security.
In commemorating this tragedy,
we give you thanks for your presence
in our time of need
and we seek to worship you in Spirit and in truth,
our guide and our guardian.

Amen.

- Rev. Jeremy Pridgeon

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We Place in Your Loving Arms

God of love we place in your loving arms the thousands of innocent lives that were lost on that unforgettable morning of September 11, 2001. We also remember the courage of the countless men and women who put their lives at risk in order to rescue, alleviate and bring solace to the afflicted. Help us to continue to work for a world free from every form of hatred, violence and ignorance. May terrorism -- in all its forms -- disappear from the face of the earth.

Amen.

- Fr. Alberto Cutie

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A Hindu Prayer

As glass shattered, cement crumbled and steel melted in the inferno of senseless cruelty, the heart of humanity screamed in anguish. September 11, 2001 -- a day when the evil potential of misguided ego was again exposed. While our landmarks collapsed in a cloud of smoke and debris, beneath a surge of shock and rage, something awakened in our hearts: compassion. Suddenly, our worldly obsessions faded away as we cried for the plight of others and were deeply affected by our "remen's sacrifice." In memory of this tragic day, let us join hands and pray for God's grace to heal, unite and empower us to serve with love.

- Radhanath Swami

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A Muslim Prayer

God of all nations, look with favor upon this great nation as we remember the tragic terrorist attacks of 9/11. Be our source of strength, healing and comfort as our wounds still bleed.

God of wisdom and compassion, You create eventual blessings out of every kind of evil. Make us instruments and agents of such creation as we strive to turn the post-9/11 challenges into opportunities and blessings for others and ourselves. God of mercy and grace, we bring up the immediate victims and their loved ones of these heinous acts into your attention. Be their light in these moments of darkness and difficulty. God of hope and glory, do not let our hopes overcome by our fears. Do not let our souls crippled by despair. Be our source of hope and guidance in these times of sorrow and mourning. Oh God, if we forget You. Do not forget us. In your most Holy and Beautiful names we pray.

Amen.

- Imam Abdullah Antepli

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One Loving Family

Loving God of Peace: On this anniversary of unbelievable sorrow, comfort those who mourn, and guide our hearts toward healing and hope. Remind us of the love of Christ, love which leapt over cultural and ethnic boundaries to feed the hungry, seek the lost and care for the least. Make of Your children, no matter how we name You, one human family, bound together in the work of justice and peacemaking. Make us one with the Light that shines in the darkness and illumines a path toward understanding and reconciliation. Let love be our genuine call.

Amen.

- Rev. Dr. Jacqueline Lewis

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Grant Us Strength

The One Universal Creator of all, our Divine Mother and Father In Your blessings we find true and lasting comfort and peace Grant healing and solace to our wounded hearts Grant us strength to bear the loss of loved ones and to live in Your Will Grant us resilience in the face of hate, and the courage to face it with dignity May we all unite and share one another's pain and tears May the hatred in the world melt away in Your boundless and everlasting love And living in Your Will, may all find peace, harmony and serenity.

- Dr. Satpal Singh

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Prayer for the Anniversary of 9/11

Powerful God, our refuge and our strength, we turn to you for peace and security as we recall the 9/11 attack. We thank you for the bravery and the sacrifice of those who saved lives as firefighters, rescue crews, or people aboard United 93.

Comfort and strengthen the family and friends of those who died. Give healing and patience to the survivors of the attacks who are living with continued physical or psychological pain. May those who survived feel gratitude, not guilt. Assure each person whose life changed forever of your protection and strength. Dispel the nightmares; silence the anxiety. May we learn to depend on the security you offer.

We pray for your peace as we remember the terrorism attacks of 9/11. May our suffering from these attacks awaken in us an awareness of the pain and fear that so many around the world live with each day. May we know how to pray for those who struggle against oppression and injustice. As we hear of terrorist activity around the world, quiet our fears. Heal the wounded of these attacks, and help their families and friends rest in your security.

Guide the choices of our world leaders. Give them wisdom and discernment not only as they work to resolve the lasting effects of the 9/11 attacks but also as they try to alleviate terror of all sorts-from genocide to hunger, from drought to bombings. May their actions bring your peace to all the people of the world.

Gracious God, our world changed with the 9/11 attacks. We have seen how easily buildings can fall and how quickly lives can end. As we remember 9/11, may it remind us that you are our only true security. Give us your strength to face the memory of this attack and the changes it made in our lives. Give us your compassion to help each other and recognize need around the world. Give us your hope as we face an uncertain future. Give us your peace.

In the strong name of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit,

Amen.

- Carrie Steenwyk
Found at: http://worship.calvin.edu/resources/resource-library/prayer-for-the-anniversary-of-9-11/

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May we Continue to Heal

Good and gracious God,

Today we come before you with heavy hearts
as we remember the events of 9/11.

For some of us today is a mixed bag of emotions.
We hurt deeply for those who lost their lives
and those who lost their loved ones.
We mourn the nearly 3,000 who died that day.
We are humbled by the bravery of the first responders.
We continue to grieve with our neighbors
in the loss of our national innocence -
our false sense of constant safety.
As we think of the way
New York and D.C. responded,
as churches, synagogues, and temples
opened their doors to ALL people,
as strangers carried each other out of buildings,
as those who had shared with those who had lost -
as we remember the bravery of the passengers and crew
of United Airlines Flight 93
our pride wells up in us.

Yet, we struggle today,
not wanting to get caught up in the macabre celebration,
this sometimes too-prideful remembrance of loss.
We still remember how the world responded,
supporting us and even declaring us one people.
"Today We Are ALL Americans,"
the headlines read.
And we remember the immediate call to war.
And the more than 100,000 deaths from it.

God of all people,
teach us to be patriotic, but humbly so.
Teach us to see the frailty, beauty, and value of life
in light of this tragedy
rather than using it to elevate
trivial difference to the heights of
divisive reasons for hatred.

Remind us of the response of the American people
and not the response of the government
and its war machine.
Remind us of
the way the true heart of this nation's people was revealed
in open doors, open arms, and open hearts.
May we never forget that on that day
we did not focus on nationality, wealth, education, sex, or sexuality.
We focused on need.
On humanity.
On love.

Call us back to that place in our hearts.
Instill in us the deepest sense of call
to be that people once again.

We lift up to you all those who, even today,
[15] years later, suffer from the loss.
From N.Y.C. to Iraq, the tragedy
has deeply and profoundly affected millions.
May we continue to heal
and help each other
just as we did
that
day.

Amen.

- Mark Sandlin
Found at: https://sojo.net/articles/prayer-anniversary-911-2015

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May All of us Remember

May all of us remember with love and compassion this day.

May we grieve with those who still mourn,

And share memories with those who cannot forget.

May we draw strength from those who bravely responded,

And gave their lives to save others.

May we stand with strangers who became neighbors that day,

And remember their generosity and hospitality.

Above all God may we remember your faithfulness

And learn to trust in your unfailing love.

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Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer

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 firefighters, 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 XVI
Found at: Catholic World Report

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Archbishop John Sentamu's Prayer

The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, has called for individuals to join him in prayer on the Tenth Anniversary of Terrorist Attacks in the US on Sunday 11 September. The Archbishop has written a special prayer to mark the anniversary. His prayer is:

Almighty God,

bless your beautiful world.

Lead her leaders from falsehood,

into Truth and Justice.

Guard and defend your children.

Re-kindle in all the citizens of your world,

the fire of your love.

And inspire us

to love one another,

and to be peace-makers.

Through Jesus Christ,

the Saviour of the World.

Amen.

- Dr. John Sentamu, Archbishop

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Reverend J. Michael A. Wright's Prayer

Leader: Today, we commemorate the fifteenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Today, we pray for the gift of the Father's healing, for the hope for new life promised in his risen Son, and we give thanks for the renewing of the Holy Spirit whereby we are made agents of God's great gift of peace.

Leader: For the Church, that she may continue to provide care and healing for all, especially those affected by the attacks on September 11, 2001, we pray to the Lord.

People: Hear us, God of Love.

Leader: For all victims of violence and terrorism around the world, and for their families, that they may find comfort and peace even as they mourn such a devastating loss, we pray to the Lord.

People: Heal us, Prince of Peace.

Leader: For the safety of our service men and women, for emergency response workers, for police and firefighters, who protect us and keep us safe, and for all who live with war and violence, we pray to the Lord.

People: Comfort us, Great Physician of our souls.

Leader: For our leaders and for the leaders of nations, that they may work together to address the problems that provide fertile ground for the growth of terrorism, we pray to the Lord.

People: Guide us, Good Shepherd of the sheep.

Leader: For the ability to forgive and for an end to all hatred, beginning in our own hearts, we pray to the Lord.

People: Forgive us, O Lord, as we forgive others.

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Rabbi John L. Rosove's Prayer

Eternal God, Source and Creator of Life; From the depths we have called to you and we call to you again for courage, strength and wisdom on this ten-year anniversary of our nation's tragedy.

Grant us courage to confront our enemies. Comfort those who stand alone without spouse, parent, brother, sister, or friend. Open our hearts to them and to the children orphaned ten years ago today. Enable us to love more deeply all children who suffer. Accept with mercy our prayers of healing on behalf of the families of the victims and on behalf of the second responders who became ill at Ground Zero.

Despite the horror and tragedy of 9/11, our country remains a shelter of peace, a symbol of freedom a beacon light of compassion and justice to the downtrodden and oppressed of the world.

Strengthen the hands of our people to defend this country and our common values of freedom and justice. Inspire our leaders and diplomats to act wisely and to pursue peace everywhere in the world.

May we teach our children to learn and to think, to consider and to reason, to be courageous in thought and in deed, and to nurture hearts of wisdom that they may do battle against fear, hatred and bigotry using weapons of the spirit and loving hearts.

We offer our prayers on behalf of our country and government, our President and judiciary, our officials and institutions, our soldiers and citizens, upon all who faithfully toil for the good of our country, to preserve democracy in our land, to advocate for civility between adversaries, and to treat every human being as infinitely worthy and dignified by virtue of being created b'Tzelem Elohim, in the Divine image.

Bestow upon us all the blessings of peace, and may we live to see the day when swords will be converted into ploughshares and nations will not learn war anymore.

Amen.

- Rabbi John L. Rosove
Temple Israel of Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA
Found at: https://www.ccarnet.org/ccar-press/mishkan-tfilah-resources/prayers-blessings/911/10th-anniversary-prayer/

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The 9/11 Prayer of Remembrance and Hope:

Dear God, we remember before you today those whose lives were lost in the catastrophic events of September 11, 2001, and for all those whom we love but no longer see. We give thanks to you for the selfless courage of those brave souls who ran into burning buildings and who labored in the rubble; may their courage be to us a witness of what is possible when we are guided by love and dedication to our fellow human beings.

We pray today for the continued healing of all those suffering emotional and physical scars. May your spirit breathe new breath into clouded lungs, new life into troubled minds, and new warmth into broken hearts, so that all may feel wrapped in your loving embrace. May we move from suffering to hope, from brokenness to wholeness, from anxiety to courage, from death to life, from fear to love, and from despair to hope.

Guide our feet into the way of peace. Inspire us with hope in the gift of shalom and salaam. May we receive this gift, so that we might become instruments of your peace in this world, knowing all people as equally loved, lovingly created, children of God.

Amen.

Found at: https://06880danwoog.com/2011/09/09/a-prayer-for-911/

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Other Online Resources for Remembering 9/11:

 


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