Novena for the 11^th Day

November 9,2001

This novena was written to help us remember in prayer the men and women who died on September 11, 2001 as a result of the terrorist attacks. It was inspired by a trip to the crash site in New York City in mid-October 2001. The novena may be prayed on the 11th day of each month for nine months. You might pray the novena before four candles and a crucifix to remind us of the victims of the four crashes of September 11th and the hope we share in the cross of Christ.

Novena for Healing and Peace
(For individual or small group use)

O God, come to my assistance.
O Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.

God, the creator of all,
we cry out to you in pain.
We remember now those men and women
who died because of terrorist acts.
We trust in your mercy for these innocent victims.
Console their families and friends,
and heal all wounded hearts.

Our Father . . .

God of all justice,
our hearts cry out for vengeance.
Help us to know your love and compassion.
Let it guide our actions
so that we may work for justice, not retribution.

Our Father . . .

God of all mercy,
we are a wounded people,
injured in body, mind, and spirit.
In your mercy,
grant us the healing we need
so that we can offer mercy to others
and tend to their healing.

Our Father . . .

Almighty God,
we place our prayers, our needs, our hope
in your loving presence.
Bind our wounds
so that we can go forth
to bring Christ' message of love to all the world.
We ask this in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

Novena for Healing and Peace
(for parish celebrations)

[Four candles may be lit near the altar. The paschal candle may also be lit and placed centrally, as it is for a funeral. Other lighting should be kept low if possible.]

Opening Song: Be Not Afraid or another appropriate song

Presider: In the name of the Father, (+) and the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

All: Amen.

Presider:
We gather together to remember
those who died in the terrorist events
of September 11, 2001.
We also pray for justice, healing, and peace
for everyone throughout the world
who suffers from violence, discrimination,
and other offenses against human dignity.
We ask God, merciful and just,
to grant us healing and peace,
and to strengthen us to share
that healing and peace with others.


Let us pray:

God of perfect peace,
violence and cruelty can have no part with you.
May those who are at peace with one another
hold fast to the good will that unites them;
may those who are enemies forget their hatred
and be healed.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Reading: See table that follows

Psalm: Any sung setting of Psalm 23. 71, or 140 may be used. The same setting should be used for all nine months.

Gospel: See table that follows.

Homily

Prayers of Petition

For the thousands who died because of the September 11th terror.
Take them quickly into the fullness of joy,
we pray to the Lord.
Response: Lord, bring us peace.

For the family and friends of those who died.
May they know your loving kindness
and be healed of their grief,
we pray to the Lord.
Response: Lord, bring us peace.

For all the people of the United States
who have suffered physically, emotionally,
economically, mentally, or spiritually
because of these acts of terror.
Bring them consolation,
we pray to the Lord.
Response: Lord, bring us peace.

For all people throughout the world
who suffer because of terrorism and injustice,
poverty and war.
Give us the compassion to care for them
and the strength to work for their liberation,
we pray to the Lord.
Response: Lord, bring us peace.

For all the intentions we offer now (pause),
we pray to the Lord.
Response: Lord, give us peace.

Presider:
Father,
your Son Jesus Christ told us
that we should ask you for what we need.
We bring our prayers to you as your loving children.

All: Our Father....

Presider:
Jesus is the Prince of Peace.
He told us to act with courage and work for peace.
We can begin now
by offering some sign of peace to those around us here.
But it cannot end there.
As followers of Christ,
we must take this sign of peace
to those in our families, neighborhoods, and workplaces.
We must take it to the world.
But big projects must begin small,
so we start by offering a sign of peace to those here present.

[All offer each other a sign of peace.]

Presider: Our prayer has ended. Go, and bring Christ's love to the world.

All: Thanks be to God.

Closing Song: Let There Be Peace on Earth or another suitable song.

Excerpts from the Sacramentary © 1974 International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No part of the Sacramentary may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Table of Readings

Month	Reading	Gospel
1	Lam 3:17-26	Mt 10:28-33
2	Wis 1:13-15	Mt 11:25-30
3	Jas 4:1-10	Lk 6:27-36
4	Is 32:15-18	Mk 4:35-41
5	Phil 4:6-9	Jn 14:1-6
6	Eph 4:30-5:2	Mt 6:25-34
7	Col 3:12-15	Jn 15:9-12
8	Jas 3:13-18	Mt 5:1-12
9	Mi 4:1-4	Jn 14:23-29

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New American Bible
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
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