The following is a litany—based on the Great Litany (page 148 of The Book of Common Prayer)—composed for the occasion of the tenth anniversary of 9/11.
• You’ll also find on this site another set of prayers modeled on the traditional Prayers of the People format, and
• A reflection on the Gospel Lesson for the same day;
• A reflection on Exodus 14:19-31, the Hebrew Bible lesson
O God, our mighty tower, and creator of Heaven and Earth,
Have mercy upon us.
O God, our Redeemer, who died and rose again,
Have mercy upon us.
O God, our comforter, who fell as a dove at the Baptism of Jesus, and strengthens all the faithful,
Have mercy upon us.
Holy Trinity, undivided, One God,
Have mercy upon us.
By the establishment of the firmament, and the speaking of light into the darkness,
Have mercy upon us.
By the blessing and sending of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, and Jacob and Rachel,
Have mercy upon us.
By the liberation of the children of Israel from Pharaoh’s hand and the renting of the Sea,
Have mercy upon us.
By the witness and courage of your holy prophets of old,
Have mercy upon us.
By the calling of our sister Mary, and the Incarnation of the Word into the world,
Have mercy upon us.
By the ministry of Christ, the preaching of the Good News, the healing of the sick, the casting out of evil, and the raising of the dead,
Have mercy upon us.
By the agony of the cross, and the victory of the Resurrection,
Have mercy upon us.
From the forces of evil, and from deadly acts of terrorism,
Good Lord, deliver us.
From the fear that grips us as individuals and as a people,
Good Lord, deliver us.
From the senseless hatred that hardens hearts and minds,
Good Lord, deliver us.
From war and violent conflict of all stripes,
Good Lord, deliver us.
We do beseech you to hear us, good Lord, that on this tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on America, that you would rule and govern our hearts, and the powers of this world,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.
That it would please you to protect this nation, and the peoples of the whole world,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.
That it would please you to uphold the military of this nation, and all nations, who strive to bring peace and freedom to all your children,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.
That it would please you to root out the causes of terror and war in all places and among all people,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.
That it would please you to look upon those who would seek to do us harm, and turn their hearts from the ways of hatred and violence,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.
That it would please you to rain down grace and mercy upon us all, that your peace, which passes all understanding, would overtake us all,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.
That it would please you on this day to uphold all those who lost people dear to their hearts during the attacks, and in the conflicts which have followed in their wake,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.
That it would please you to surround widows and children, parents and loved ones, the injured and maimed with a hope in your trust, your abiding Presence, and life everlasting,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.
That it would please you to uphold all those who maintain peace and safety in our local communities and abroad,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.
That it would please you to shine your light into the darkness, that all would see and know you, and your ways.
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.
Son of God, we beseech you to hear us.
Son of God, we beseech you to hear us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
Have mercy upon us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
Have mercy upon us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
Grant us your peace.
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.
O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, whose heart is glad when all your children live together in unity; we lift to you the grief of our hearts, hoping that you will not only comfort those hearts, but change them; that we may be the people you have created, and called us to be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Very nice litany. I would like to use this and/or your “prayers of the people” for 9/11 in our small rural parish, and will give proper credit. Peace to you!
Thanks T! Any and all are welcome to use this litany on Sunday. Feel free to edit as needed.
Thanks Rick, I’m leading a memorial service of rembrance Sunday evening, although we’re UCC-and not used to too much liturgy, I’ll bite off a big piece of this finely crafted prayer.
Thanks Chris – and I hope it fits well. Blessings on your ministry, and your service this Sunday.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful litany and giving permission for its use. I’ve been looking for something distinctively Anglican/Episcopalian. The fact that it’s modeled on the Great Litany will allow us to sing it in my parish.
I am thinking of singing it as well…
Beautiful Litany. Thank you for letting us use it. I have looked at a lot of litanys and prayers. Yours captures my heart felt prayer. Thank you again.
Thank you so much for saying that…Things like that make my day!
Thank you so much for this resource. We will be using a good part of it at our small urban parish in L.A. I will also be translating it into Spanish. Of course we will give you credit for this holy work.
Liz, if you were willing to share your Spanish translation, I’d love to post it on here! (I’d, of course attribute the translation to you.) I’ve had nearly 5,000 pageviews of this litany since Sunday. There’s a lot of people who might be very happy to have it en espanol!
Liz – email me at agardenpath (at) me.com
Thank you for the great resource!
Thanks Pastor Joyce!
Thank you, Rick. I am an associate pastor of an immigrant community that worships in Philly. I would like to use major portions of this beautifully written litany. We would give proper credit. for this as well. Blessings!
A thoughtful and beautiful litany. Thank you so much for permission to use it, as I will with only the slightest of changes, tomorrow in the parish where I serve as interim (Mercer Is., WA)
I didn’t exactly ask permission, but for the sake of full disclosure the Episcopal School where I serve as Upper School Chaplain is using this wonderful litany at a service of remembrance this afternoon. Thank you, and God bless you.