[Knitting A Conundrum]

O merciful Father, who has taught us in your holy Word that you do not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men: Look with pity on the sorrows of your servants for whom our prayers are offered. Remember them, O Lord, in mercy, nourish their souls with patience, comfort them with a sense of your goodness, lift up your countenance on them, and give them peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Hear my prayer, O Lord,
and let my cry come unto thee,
and hear the voice of your children,
all those burdened
with death unexpected,
the dead, the dying, the survivors,
the blood of victims
here,
then,
throughout time
since Abel’s blood first cried to you.

II

Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy.

For the hardness of our heart
Forgive us, O Lord.

For the passing of our wrongs down to our children,
Forgive us, O Lord.

For the celebration of the death of our enemies,
Forgive us, O Lord.

For choosing to nurse our hate rather than be reconciled with our neighbor,
Forgive us O Lord.

III

Words.
Words were spoken,
and soon,
reality is warped into the image
cast by words.

The words were spoken
twisting peace into hate,
twisting plowshares into swords.

Where are the words
to ease the pain
of a woman who has lost her child?
In the anger of hate,
is she real
or just a counter?

Where are the words
to fill the heart
of a husband who lost his wife?
Is his loss
justified
by the blow against some image of enemy?

Where are the words
to fill the lives
of the newly bereaved?
Are their shattered lives
able to heal
the twisting of others’ hearts?

IV

Dear Lord,
This day, let me commend to you
all those killed
in hatred,
whether by sword,
stone,
scapel,
poison,
bullet,
bomb.
This day I commend to you
victims chosen
to terrorize the surviving,
children,
beloveds,
friends,
coworkers,
strangers.

Teach us, O Lord, to break the chains
that try to drag us down into the pit
one word at a time
one refusal to hate at a time,
one reaching out to those in need at a time,
one willingness to walk in your steps at a time.

Amen.

[saradippity]

Thank you for starting this thread. My prayer in times like this is the one we used to say at the end of every Mass along with the St. Michael's prayer. I change the petition in the last line to reflect my immediate request:

Oh God,our refuge and our strength;look with favor upon Thy people who cry to Thee,and through the intercession of the Most Immaculate Virgin Mary,St. Joseph her most chaste spouse,the holy apostles Peter and Paul and all the angels and saints,hear the prayers which we pour forth for the conversion of sinners and strength and courage for your people on earth so that we may do Your will as we react to this tragic event in Virginia.

[RobbyS]

Amen.