Pope Prays for Justice, Peace and Solidarity

Beth
September 11, 2004

On this anniversary of September 11, 2001 we might join with the Pope as he offered “Prayer for Justice, Peace and Solidarity” at his general audience on September 11.
Brothers and sisters, accepting the Holy Father’s invitation, let us raise our prayer to God. Let us say together: Hear us, O Lord!

1. For the children of Beslan, torn from life with brutal violence while they prepared to begin the school year, and for their parents, relatives and friends brutally killed with them: that in his mercy God will open wide to them the doors of his house, let us pray.

Response: Hear us, O Lord!

2. For the wounded, for the victims’ families, and for all the members of the community of Beslan, who with broken hearts weep over the death of their loved ones, so that, sustained by the light of faith and comforted by the solidarity of so many people in the world, they will be able to forgive all those who have done evil to them, let us pray.

Response: Hear us, O Lord!

3. For all the children who, in so many parts of the world, suffer and die because of the violence and abuse of adults: that the Lord will make them feel the comfort of his love and bend the hardness of heart of those who are the cause of their sufferings, let us pray.

Response: Hear us, O Lord!

4. For the many persons kidnapped in the tormented land of Iraq and, in particular, for the two young Italian women volunteers, kidnapped yesterday in Baghdad: that they will all be treated with respect and restored soon and unharmed to the affection of their dear ones, let us pray.

Response: Hear us, O Lord!

5. For justice and peace in the world: that the Lord will enlighten the minds of all those who are under the deadly spell of violence and open the hearts of all to dialogue and reconciliation, to build a future of hope and peace, let us pray.

Response: Hear us, O Lord!

[The Pope prayed:]

God, our Father, you created men to live in communion among one another. Make us understand that every child is a richness of humanity, and that violence against others is a blind alley with no exit or future. We ask this through the intercession of the Virgin Mother of Jesus Christ Our Lord, who lives and reigns forever and ever.

[Translation by ZENIT]

http://zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=58589


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