This is to be delivered by Benedict XVI at Ground Zero in New York City according to Reuters:
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 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.
Source: Reuters
Update: The entire missal for the Pope’s US visit is online (here). The prayer for Ground Zero can be found there. Also, note that there is a Catholic blessing that follows the prayer reprinted above.
David Bennett
Jennifer
asimplesinner
Fr. J.
Chad Toney
Jorge Flores
Jonathan B
carmelbennett
nicenehobbit
Jason S
jaybird68
papaz
April 10, 2008 at 5:51 pm
IF this is the prayer the Pope will offer at Ground Zero in its entirety, I am, frankly, extremely disapointed and disturbed. As Vicar of Christ, I would hope the Pope would have the courage to offer prayer, even in such a pluralistic society as ours, in the Name of Jesus Christ. Certainly St. Peter would have minced no words. It gives me pause and makes me do some soul searching.
April 10, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Hobbit,
It looks like the prayer is followed by a Trinitarian blessing, which mentions the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
April 10, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Dave,
I see that the Trinitarian blessing follows, but it still bothers me. I guess, it just seems to me that we are getting too “inclusive” as Christians and are reluctant to be very vocal about the Name of Jesus. I have noticed over the past years an increasing tendency towards universalism, not only in the Catholic Church, but in most sects and churches. I don’t mean to nitpick…I have to be honest though at what I see. I mean no disrespect to His Holiness at all, as you know. I guess I’m just getting to be a stickler in my dotage! LOL
April 10, 2008 at 10:36 pm
nicenehobbit,
I’d be careful of the temptation to entertain thoughts of yourself as more Catholic than the pope.
As I’m sure you know, the Catholic church functions as small “c” catholic, as in universal.
I’ll try to give you a personal example so that you won’t feel bothered about the risk of “inclusiveness” gone too far.
I grew up in a secular household in NYC during the 70’s and 80’s, and although there were ethnic (Irish) and cultural ties to the Catholic faith I had no concept of Jesus at all. I did, however, have a general (intuitive?) belief in God.
It was that vague belief which lead me in my late 20’s to desire God through prayer, reading of scripture and spiritual books both Catholic and Protestant.
It was not long after that I did come to believe that Jesus, was indeed, our Savior. I started to read the lives of the mystics and of the early church fathers and really found my way toward the Catholic faith.
As a matter of fact, I went to God (as best I knew Him at the time) and was sent to His Son. Then I came upon the devotion of the “Jesus through Mary” consecration as St. Louis De Monfort had taught and JP II looked upon with great admiration and practice.
I’ve not yet been fully received into the Church for various reasons (though I intend to do so) but I hope you understand the pope’s prayer may influence many souls due to his use of words though they may not ring exact enough for you.
April 13, 2008 at 4:02 pm
I don’t think I”m more catholic than the pope. I was simply saying I think he might have done well to be more specifically Christ-centered in his prayer composition. My opinion, and I’m allowed it.
April 15, 2008 at 11:48 pm
nicenehobbit,
I didn’t mean to imply that I thought you ARE more Catholic than the pope, only that you might be tempted to think so, albeit unconsciously.
The reason I related my personal history was that there are some secular or fallen-away Catholics from my childhood neighborhood in Queens, NY who lost loved ones on 9/11. I was trying to make the connection that those who don’t immeadiatley embrace or understand Christ Jesus as their Savior, per se, often have an inclinatation toward God.
If the Holy Father, reaches out to those folks and my friends, in words which bring them closer to God and the Church while at ground zero and touches them where they are…is that wrong or not Christ-centered enough for you?
I do, however, agree that the prayer does come off in a way that sounds like someone else wrote it and that “our first responders” sounds silly coming from a German pope, etc. I do, kind of, see where you’re coming from.
My concern was really with how the “Peter” of our day reaches out to those outside the fold, the fallen-away and those who lost loved ones on 9/11 and who have not been able to reconcile, in their worldview as to why, how and for what reason would God allow such a tragedy.
The understanding of the cross usually comes after the invitation to God’s grace, love and mercy. That’s what I think the pope is attempting to communicate at ground zero, even if he didn’t compose the prayer itself.