On this day I would like to invite all my forumite friends to join in one loud prayer as we remember the 3,025 innocent victims of the 9/11 attack last year.

I would also like to include in this prayer the more than 45 million innocent children that were killed during the year due to abortion (another form of terrorism).

Lord, Jesus Christ, we humbly come before You and offer You our joys, works and sufferings of today for the opportunity that, at the very least, one of these most unfortunate souls might gain release from Purgatory and join You in Your Glory. We also pray for the conversion and repentance of those who were in any way involved or support these heinous crimes. In your most Holy and Precious name, Jesus, we ask this with True Faith that Divine Justice will be achieved and that our prayers will be answered. Amen!

In Christ.

-- Jake Huether (jake.huether@lamrc.com), September 11, 2002

Answers

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-- Jake Huether (jake.huether@lamrc.com), September 11, 2002.

Amen.

Today, Pope John Paul said, "We pray for the victims today. May they rest in peace, and may God show mercy and forgiveness to the authors of this horrible terror attack."

Among the 19 hijackers were 15 from Saudi Arabia. A leader of that nation dissociated himself from terrorism and offered eloquent condolences to America yesterday.

As the world marks this first anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia sent a message on behalf of the Saudi people to America. In a letter conveyed to President Bush and the American people, he wrote: "On the eve of the first anniversary of the terrorist attacks against the American people, I take the opportunity to renew to you and the families of the victims and indeed the entire American nation, the sincere condolences and sympathy of the Saudi people and myself.

"As long as I live, I shall never forget the horrible scenes of carnage, the raging fires, the smoke that covered the horizon, and the innocent people who jumped out of windows in their attempt to escape. On that fateful day, the whole world stood with the American people in unprecedented solidarity that made no distinction as to race, religion or language.

"It was the perverted hope of the perpetrators of this heinous crime that they could bring humiliation to and terrorize the American nation. But the brave people of the United States of America, whose greatness lies in the strength of its brave sons and daughters in facing adversity, and which is enriched by their remarkable achievements, all of this will make them ever stronger than the designs of the evildoers. Instead of being terrorized by this catastrophe, they became more steadfast and determined.

"The target of the terrorists who engineered this crime was humanity at large. They hoped that this outrageous act would incite and ignite bloody strife among different faiths and civilizations. But their evil was turned against them, for all humanity united to fight terrorism, and wise voices from all corners of the world arose to echo your declaration that terrorism has no religion or nationality; that it is pure evil, condemned and abhorred by all religions and cultures.

"Mr. President: We in Saudi Arabia felt an especially great pain at the realization that a number of young Saudi citizens had been enticed and deluded and their reasoning subverted to the degree of denying the tolerance that their religion embraced, and turning their backs on their homeland, which has always stood for understanding and moderation. They allowed themselves to be used as a tool to do great damage to Islam, a religion they espoused, and to all Muslims. They also aimed at causing considerable harm to the historic and strong relationship between the American people and the people of Saudi Arabia. I would like to make it clear that true Muslims all over the world will never allow a minority of deviant extremists to speak in the name of Islam and distort its spirit of tolerance. Your friends in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia denounced and condemned the September 11 attacks as strongly as did the American people. We, like you, are convinced that nothing can ever justify the shedding of innocent blood or the taking of lives and the terrorizing of people, regardless of whatever cause or motive. Therefore, we do not simply reiterate sincere and true condolences to the relatives of the victims, but assure all of our continued will and determination to do our utmost to combat this malignant evil and uproot it from our world.

"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues to stand solidly against terrorism. We shall act, independently as well as collectively, with the U.S.-led international coalition to wage a fierce and merciless war against the terrorists in order to eradicate this deadly disease that threatens all societies.

"In conclusion, I would like to say to you, my dear friend, that God Almighty, in His wisdom, tests the faithful by allowing such calamities to happen. But He, in His mercy, also provides us with the will and determination, generated by faith, to enable us to transform such tragedies into great achievements, and crises that seem debilitating are transformed into opportunities for the advancement of humanity. I only hope that, with your cooperation and leadership, a new world will emerge out of the rubble of the World Trade Center: a world that is blessed by the virtues of freedom, peace, prosperity and harmony.

"Sincerely, Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister, and Commander of the National Guard"

-- forgiveness is tough (but@we.must), September 11, 2002.

Lord God, give us eyes to see as You see, and new minds to think as You do, and hearts to forgive as You do. Jesus, we trust in You. Amen

-- Theresa Huether (rodntee4Jesus@aol.com), September 11, 2002.

Dear Forgiveness is tough,

I hope forgiveness isn't tough. I hope it is as easy as receiving communion every morning and being forgiven outselves. I hope it is as easy as turning to our Arab brothers and sisters (those who had nothing to do with this) and saying WITH them God bless you and keep you and shine upon you. I hope it is as easy as Pope John Paul II sitting shoulder to shoulder with his would-be asassion, speaking peaceful words, speaking God's words, life giving words. I hope it is as easy as Christ speaking to the Samaritan woman at the well, the woman who "shouldn't" have been forgiven, along with the rest of us..I hope it is as easy as He made it, and still makes it.....God help us all, please make it easy..

J.

-- jane (jane@don't likespam.either), September 11, 2002.

Perhaps America should take a step back to pray for people other than themselves. People whose suffering they are responcible for. Here is an extract from Socialist Worker about the 'other september 11' please take the time to read it:

The other 11 September-Chile 1973 Murder backed by US By Matthew Cookson THERE IS another 11 September, but there will be few tributes in the media to its victims. As the Chilean writer Ariel Dorfman says: "11 September has been a date of mourning, for me and millions of others,ever since that day in 1973 when Chile lost its democracy in a military coup, that day when death irrevocably entered our lives and changed us forever." On that day the Chilean military, led by General Pinochet,overthrew the elected president, Salvador Allende. Pinochet's troops laid siege to the presidential palace. Hawker Hunter jets bought from Britain bombed the palace. Allende died during the siege. The rich and the military in Chile had long bitterly resisted all change inside the country. With the full backing of the US government they launched their bloody coup. Pinochet became president and inflicted a reign of terror. The military rounded up tens of thousands of people, torturing and mutilating many of the prisoners. Detention centres sprang up across the country. The national stadium in the country's capital, Santiago, was turned into a mass prison where Allende sympathisers were locked up and many were killed. Pinochet's regime massacred up to 10,000 people. Dead bodies were left on Santiago's streets with their bones crushed and fingernails removed. Peasants crossing the Nuble River in central Chile found dozens of corpses, their hands tied behind their backs, floating downstream. Tens of thousands of people became exiles from their own homeland. Pinochet linked with other Latin American dictatorships like the one in Argentina to continue the terror in the years after the coup. They were united in Operation Condor-which involved a series of assassinations and torture of opponents. Pinochet, with the help of US economists, embarked on a free market experiment, pushing privatisation which created massive job losses. These were the people from the infamous Chicago School that includes Paul O'Neill, Bush's current treasury secretary. Pinochet stayed on as dictator until 1990, when protests forced him to step aside. The butcher has never been brought to justice. The US government backed him throughout his 17 years of undemocratic rule and human rights abuses.IN THE run-up to the 1973 coup leading figures in the US establishment had made it clear they did not want Chile's elected leader Salvador Allende. "I don't see why we need to stand by and watch a country go communist due to the irresponsibility of its own people," said Henry Kissinger, US national security adviser. His comments came after Salvador Allende was elected president in September 1970. Allende was the candidate of the left wing Popular Unity coalition. He said he was a Marxist who wanted to bring about a socialist society through parliamentary reform. Chile was a desperately poor and unequal country. Just 3 percent of the population had over 40 percent of the country's wealth. Allende won the election on the back of a wave of land occupations, strikes and student protests. He pledged to nationalise Chile's copper mines, carry out land redistribution and raise the living standards of the majority of Chileans. Kissinger and US president Nixon were worried that Allende's victory would inspire other Latin American countries to rebel against the US's dominance in the region.The US was continuing its bloody war against "communist influence" in Vietnam and Cambodia to enforce US global power. Chile was a key country for the US-over 100 US multinationals had investments there worth over $1 billion. Allende had signed an agreement with the right just before the election. It was called the Statute of Guarantees which promised not to interfere with the media, education, the police or the armed forces. But this was not enough for his enemies. They began to mobilise their forces against this "dangerous" new president. The US wanted to create chaos, producing the conditions for a military coup. Nixon and Kissinger held crisis meetings within days of Allende's victory. "Not concerned risks involved. No involvement of embassy. $10 million available, more if necessary. Full time job-best men we have. Make the economy scream," said the CIA intelligence organisation director's notes of the first meeting. General Rene Schneider, the head of the Chilean army, was opposed to military intervention. Kissinger organised contacts with extreme right wing officers, giving them large amounts of money, machine guns and teargas grenades to kidnap Schneider. The group sent a cable to the CIA in Chile, which was organising with those officers, on 16 October 1970. "It is a firm and continuing policy that Allende be overthrown by a coup," it said. "It is imperative that these actions be implemented clandestinely and securely so the United States' government hand be well hidden." The right wing gang murdered Schneider on 22 October. Although the murder did not lead directly to a coup, "the seeds that were laid in 1970 had their impact in 1973," said Thomas Karamessines, the CIA deputy director for the plans. The US squeezed the Chilean economy. US banks cut aid and refused further credit. This hit the economy hard. It poured money into the right wing parties and anti-Allende campaigns. Chile's rich moved into action. Right wing parties organised a demonstration of 5,000 middle and upper class housewives through Santiago in December 1971. They crashed pots and pans together in protest at food shortages. In reality it was the poor who were suffering from lack of food while the rich had hoarded supplies. Some 150,000 Santiago shopkeepers took action in August 1972. Chilean truck owners launched a national wave of sabotage in October, causing four weeks of chaos. Bankers, lawyers and other professional workers joined the sabotage in large numbers. DESPITE THIS Allende introduced reforms in a bid to improve the lives of Chile's poor. His government increased the minimum wage by 35 percent, nationalised 3.5 million acres of land, reduced unemployment from 8.3 percent to 3.9 percent and the child mortality rate dropped by 11 percent. This made him popular among the working class. Workers had defended Allende by seizing the trucks that the rich refused to move. Workers broke open the supermarkets, and threw out the owners who tried to stop the factories from producing vital goods. Workers' committees, known as "cordones", sprang up across Chile to distribute goods to the people. Allende's Popular Unity coalition won 49.7 percent of the municipal elections vote of April 1971. Again in 1973 it won 43.4 percent of the vote in national elections. The US and the rich in Chile realised they could not get rid of Allende through elections. The US suspended economic aid, and increased military aid. The military repressed the workers' movement. The right wing media began to speak of left wing plots. When the transport owners again carried out sabotage action in August 1973, the US gave $5 million to support them. Some 800,000 people marched through Santiago in support of Allende on 4 September. Tragically, he didn't mobilise the power of his grassroots support. When sympathisers told him of plans for another coup he ignored them. He tried to make deals with the right and even brought the leaders of the armed forces, including General Pinochet, into his cabinet. Pinochet overthrew Allende and his government on 11 September, with the US establishment applauding every step of the way. In 1976 Kissinger said to Pinochet, "We welcomed the overthrow of the communist-inclined government." The events in Chile show the US does not care about democracy, and the brutal measures it will take to maintain its interests around the globe.

-- THE SMALL DIRTY WINDOW (bob@hotmail.com), September 11, 2002.

This is supposed to be a prayer thread! Please, no matter who you want to pray for (terrorists or innocent) JUST DO IT! But lets not make this a hateful bitter thread. Thanks.

May the Love of Christ bring us to ever lasting Peace!

In Christ.

-- Jake Huether (jake.huether@lamrc.com), September 12, 2002.

Good morning, Jake :)

Thank you for such a beautiful thread.

I watched a PBS special last night about 9/11 and how this tragedy changed the faith of so many people.

Friends and families of the victims are angry at God, but he understands that and can take the anger. He's used to it. As time goes on, hopefully the anger will disappear. I don't know.

What saddened me though is one man walking on the beach, a place where he used to feel God's presence, no longer believes in God. He lost his faith, his best friends, and said He will never look at God the same way again. He believes in Jesus, but not the father. He is very bitter and blames God for the tragedy, as do many others. They do not understand how God did not intervene that day and stop the attack.

I'm sure God understands how they feel and I would like to pray for all those who lost their faith as a result of 9/11. I pray that one day they get their faith back. I pray that one day they will see that God was there. He was there in all the helping hands, the kindness bestowed upon the families, the resuce workers. He was the man who opened his restaurant for all the rescue workers, cooked tons of food for them every day, made sure they had good meals, and hot soup on cold days, all for free.

He was there in the person who opened the church for all the resuce workers to come and rest, pray, have a place to sit quietly; He was there in the volunteer - thousands of volunteers doing something, giving up their time to help - medical care, counseling, offering blankets, and prayers, a shoulder to lean on, thousands of ways, God was there.

God was in a small town in Canada who opened their schools and churches and homes for the weary travelers who had to get off the planes (after 24 hours), stay in a country that wasn't their own. The people in this town welcomed these people into their country, made them feel at home, provided a roof over their head, bedding, food, personal grooming aids like toothpaste, deodorant, toothbrushes, shampoo, clothing....etc., etc., etc...God was there.

God was there when an angel drove six seniors from Canada to Idaho because they wanted to be 'home' - they wanted to be in their own country....

God was there in so many ways and I hope once the anger and bitterness subside that these people see that God was there. God gives us free will and the evil people that struck those towers had free will.

Let us remember those who are hurting, angry, bitter, that one day they will get their faith back. May God comfort them all.

MaryLu

-- MaryLu (mlc327@juno.com), September 12, 2002.

That was so touching MaryLu! It is very very good to hear from you. I too watched something on the 9/11 insident. I came away feeling that many people had actually felt God closer than ever; in particular those who's lives were spared! There was one man who actually saw the wing of the airplane 20 feet away from him. And another who dove under his desk, and when he came out his was the only desk standing: It had a Bible on top! These select few ran into contact with eachother to help eachother - and they KNOW that God exists now because each of them worked as the guardian angel for the others.

Maybe those families who are mad at God should question their faith to begin with. Because had they and their families all had True faith - I'm not going to say this insident would not have happend - but it might not have. But even if it did, and they had faith, they would know that God is a just God, and that those who were innocent (or in a state of Grace) would have a) survived, or b) died and now are with God. Those who had little faith to begin with would have a) survived and been given that second chance, or b) died and been delt with justly.

It is a shame that after an eye opener like this, we still can't see that what we NEED is God. We don't seem to grasp the connection between "no prayer in school", "don't use the word God in your graduation speach", etc. We continue to deny God, which is ultimatly what caused this; our denial of God, not His denial of us! And in the Presidents address last night you could see in his face, and in the way he spoke that he wanted to say "God Help US!", but the best he could do without "offending" anyone was to say "the Creator" (I'm not sure - it might have even been "a creator"). What we need is a few people in High possitions who have guts enough to tell us what we need without worrying about, "Oh, my gosh! Elections are coming. What will they think?" Errr, it makes me mad! I mean, the President has a 4 year term. Big deal if he doesn't get re-elected, that's 4 years in the service of God. Besides, doesn't he know, if he stands by God - he Will be re-elected dispite what the people think. I wish Fr. John Corapi was president! There's a guy who doesn't care what anyone thinks. He just tells the Truth as it is.

Sorry for venting! I will end on a good note.

Lord, Jesus Christ, grant us and those families the Grace to accept what has happend and to forgive. We need to start accpeting You, O Lord. I acknoledge this, and I offer up my sufferings today, so that Your Holy anger may be turned to Joy, and that those who shun You may come to know and love You. Amen.

In Christ.

P.S. I miss you MaryLu! Please post more. You always have such uplifting words, and we need more of that. How is your sun, MJ?

-- Jake Huether (jake.huether@lamrc.com), September 12, 2002.

Hi Jake,

Thank you.

I do believe these people will find their way back to God again. Grief is a complex process and different for everyone. In time, they will heal but who knows how long it will take.

God's timing is always perfect and only He knows when the time will be right to enter into these people's hearts again.

As for my son, he has made a miraculous recovery and is back to his old self again. I attribute that to many things, but most of all, the power of prayer and God working in his life. God does heal. Thank you for asking, Jake, and thank you for your prayers.

I wish I had the intellect and knowledge to respond to the small dirty window, but I don't. Perhaps someone else will. Then, again, this is a religious catholic forum not a history forum. Satan finds his way here all the time, so maybe it is better not to respond at all.

As I was watching the tv coverage yesterday, and while attending a beautiful service at my church yesterday, all I can say is that I am proud to be an American and I pray that God blesses this wonderful country I am so privileged to live in.

The American people have hearts and the way they reached out to others brings me to tears.

Our government may not be perfect, but I believe in it. We are free to be whatever we want to be, marry whomever we fall in love with, free to pursue our dreams, and most of all free to worship and pray, we are free to vote. We are free and I thank God for that.

God Bless America and let us pray for peace in this country and in our world. May God give our President wisdom to do what is right. May God's justice prevail, not our justice, but God's justice.

My love and His peace, MaryLu

-- MaryLu (mlc327@juno.com), September 12, 2002.

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

WHERE WAS GOD?

"I know you're mad at Me right now. That's alright. People have been mad at Me before and will be again. Being mad is part of being human. My Son got mad, too. It's alright to be mad sometimes at injustice, for example, or the lack of charity."

"You probably think I am unjust and uncharitable when an airplane goes down like that. All those people lost. The children gone. It doesn't seem right; it can't be loving. You ask, 'Where was God?' Why did He allow that to happen?"

"I allow it to happen because I allow you freedom. I could have left you on a string and made you dance all day without getting tired. I could have moved your mouth for you and made you sing all night without growing hoarse. I could have pulled a wire that would have let you soar skyward and never fall."

"I could have, but I didn't because I love you so much. I want you to be free to decide when to dance and sing. Free to determine when you will come to Me in faith and hope. Because you are free, some of you choose not to dance or sing. Some of you select hatred over love, revenge over forgiveness, bombs over a helping hand. As you choose, I watch. I do not disappear. I listen to both the songs and the bombs.

AND I REMEMBER."

"Where was God?" you wonder...I was there. I whispered in the ear of a little girl, 'Don't be afraid, I am with you.' I held the hand of a business woman as tightly as she clutched mine. I cradled a pilot against my shoulder as if he were a baby again."

"Amid the paralyzing fear, I was there, as I was there with my Son in the garden. Amid the unbearable pain, I was there, as I was with Him as He was whipped. Amid the terrible realization that life was ending Too soon, I was there, with Him as He hung on the cross and asked, like you, "My God, why have you forsaken Me?"

"I had not forsaken Him. I did not forsake them. I was there as they fell, and as they rose to eternal joy. I listened to their anger, answered their questions and showed them why they had been created. Not to end that way, but to live with Me forever."

"In an instant, they came into existence. As you did. In an instant, they left this world. As you will. But beyond that last instant, I kept my promise...A little girl dances, a business woman sings, and a pilot keeps his wings forever." God

Author Unknown ++ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Bible Verse Isaiah 43;1-3 Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

Prayer Lord, help me to know your presence in my life at all times, even when it seems like my life or the whole world is falling apart. Amen. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + ++ + ++ + + +

-- MaryLu (mlc327@juno.com), September 12, 2002.