Mass of Remembrance and Hope, September 13, 2001, St. Charles

Prayers of the Faithful

Special events/plans: We will light candles during the prayers of the faithful.
The Prayer over the Gifts is taken from "Time of War or Civil
Disturbance" and is included full text here.
It is suggested the Eucharistic Prayer for Masses of
Reconciliation II be used for this liturgy.

Cantor's Welcome:
Good evening. My name is Natalie Le. Thank you for joining
us in this liturgy of Remembrance and Hope. Please take a moment to acknowledge the presence of those who stand in solidarity with you.

Call to Worship:
In the words of our Holy Father, "The human heart has
depths from which schemes of unheard-of ferocity sometimes emerge, capable of destroying in a moment the normal daily life of a people. But faith comes to our aid at these times when words seem to fail. Christ's word is the only one that can give a response to the questions which trouble our spirit…at this time our prayerful trust draws strength from it."

Penitential Rite:
Lord Jesus, you are the source of true comfort.
Lord have mercy.

Opening Prayer:
Almighty God
We are living in a time of darkness
But with you the darkness will not triumph.
Death and suffering will not triumph over life.
Revenge and anger shall not triumph
over forgiveness and love.
Fill our hearts, our communities and all peoples
around the world with the light of your healing presence.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ
Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

The castle will be forsaken, the noisy city deserted
until the spirit from on high is poured out on us.
Then will the desert become an orchard
and the orchard be regarded as a forest.
Right will dwell in the desert
and justice abide in the orchard.
Justice will bring about peace;
right will produce calm and security.
My people will live in a peaceful country,
in secure dwellings and quiet resting places.

Beloved, let us love one another,
because love is of God;
everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.
In this way the love of God was revealed to us:
God sent his only Son into the world
so that we might have life through him.
In this is love: not that we have loved God,
but that he loved us
and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another.
No one has ever seen God.
Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us,
and his love is brought to perfection in us.

To you who hear I say love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. Give to everyone who asks of you and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back.

Do to others as you would have them do to you. For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount.

But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful.

Prayer by the Celebrant:
In you, O Lord, we take our refuge. Incline your ear to us,
hear our prayers, and displace our darkness with your saving light.

Prayers of the Faithful:
We mourn all of those who have lost their lives too soon, too suddenly, too pointlessly. Lord of Salvation, welcome them into your holy, eternal presence, we pray to the Lord…

We offer to you the injured victims who have been and will be rescued and who will face immense need of physical, emotional and spiritual mending. Lord of all Healing, breathe your Spirit into them and make them whole, we pray to the Lord…

We stand with the families and friends who await word of those missing and those who grieve loved ones lost in this tragedy. Lord of Hopefulness and Consolation, comfort them in their unspeakable suffering, we pray to the Lord…

We raise up those who are rescuing and ministering to the injured. Lord of Sustenance, fill them with renewed strength to continue their heroic work, we pray to the Lord…

We pray for those in our country and in the global community who are struggling with fear, sadness, rage, and confusion. Lord of Compassion and Understanding, transform our anxieties into a culture of hope and a commitment to peace, we pray to the Lord…

We pray for all government leaders who will shape our response to these tragic events. Lord of Wisdom, grant them the desire and capacity to find just and lasting solutions to conflict, we pray to the Lord...

We reach out to those whose hatred is so great they can engage in acts against our common humanity. Lord of Conversion, help them to reject violence and give us all opportunities for peaceful, legitimate dialogue, we pray to the Lord…

Concluding Prayer:
God of peace and life,
Send your Spirit to all the victims of the violence
in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington.
Bring consolation to their families and friends.
Send your spirit of healing to our country and our world.
Give the gifts of wisdom, courage and insight
to help our leaders as they lead us
out of this moment of crisis
to a new day of understanding and peace.
We ask in the name of the living God. Amen

Prayer over the Gifts:
Lord, remember Christ your Son
who is peace itself
and who has washed away our hatred with his blood.
Because you love us all, look with mercy on us.
Banish the violence and evil within us,
and by this offering restore tranquility and peace.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Eucharistic Prayer [Mass of Reconciliation II]
Holy Mass of Creation (BB# 988)
Memorial Acclamation Mass of Creation (BB# 989)
Great Amen Mass of Creation (BB# 990)
Lord's Prayer chanted
Lamb of God Mass of Creation (BB# 988)
Communion Song
CONCLUDING RITE

Concluding Prayer:
Father,
You satisfy our hunger with the one bread
that gives strength to humankind.
Help us to overcome violence,
and to establish your law of love and justice.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Liturgy of Remembrance & Hope