How to pray this novena: 
       Each day you will need a candle, a bowl of water, & salt

Lighting Candle, begin with Opening Prayer:

Beloved and Gracious God, we are in need of your presence in our lives.

We know that you are hidden in the midst of our daily activities, but we need some sign that you are with us.

You are the Light eternal; may this candle be a sacrament of your presence as we place ourselves totally in your loving arms.                                    (Edward Hays, Prayers for a Planetary Pilgrim)

 Spend two minutes in sacred silence; then:

Let us pray:

For all those who lost their lives in the tragic events of 9-11
Lord, hear our prayer.

For all those who reached out in love and service, risking their own lives for the good of others
Lord, hear our prayer.

For the families and friends of those who perished
Lord, hear our prayer.

For all those who continue to suffer the broad reaching effects of loss of homes, loss of jobs, loss of feelings of security and safety
Lord, hear our prayer.

For all those who serve in the efforts to secure peace and to eradicate acts of terrorism
Lord, hear our prayer.

For all those in war-torn countries, for all who live in fear
Lord, hear our prayer.

For all those who resort to violence and acts of terror, that their hearts will be turned
Lord, hear our prayer.

O healing God, send us your living waters to give us courage and strength. Nourish us in this land and all on earth with hope and love.

Add  salt to bowl of water

 God, we come before you today to remember those who have died in acts of unspeakable violence, especially those who died on September 11 and in its aftermath.

We come before you with tears of sorrow etched on our skin. All of us have been touched by these deaths, by the changes in our country and in our world.

We also come before you in hope that you will send your living waters to cleanse us, to heal our pain, to heal our anger, to heal our differences, to anoint us with your Spirit, to help us work toward a world where this violence will never be repeated.

We bless ourselves with this salty water; we taste the bitterness of lives lost, the suffering of thousands of our brothers and sisters. But we remember that you are always with us, and we dare to hope for a better world of your peace and justice.

May this water remind us of your presence and may it work in us to heal this broken world.

Bless self with salt water.

 God is calling us to be repairers of the breach. And so we go forth from this place confident in the power of God's love to transform even the most devastating violence.

O God of the children of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar, send us your living waters to give us courage and strength. Help us to walk the path of your peace, so your kingdom on earth will be revealed in all its splendor.           (Pax Christi USA)

So be it. Amen.

Choose one or more of the eight characteristics
of a people of faith to focus on throughout the day.

Prayer
Read Genesis 9:12-13. What gives you hope? Pray for the gift of hope that hearts can be turned from violence to peace. Pray for the gift of wisdom to start with your own heart.

Fasting
Give up one hour of entertainment today--spend the time in quiet, alone with God. How does it feel to be alone, without distraction?

 Witness
Dare to challenge the violence of gossip. Do not listen to nor spread gossip. Express your displeasure to those who do gossip.

Service
Volunteer 10 minutes of service to help someone in your workplace or neighborhood.

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