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OUR HEARTS ARE ONE

THE PRAYER OF TWO POPES
REMEMBERING SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

By Brother Patrick

In his second inaugural address, President George W. Bush said: “For half a century, America defended our freedom by standing watch on distant borders. After the shipwreck of communism came years of relative quiet, years of repose, years of sabbatical — and then there came a day of fire (1-20-2005).”

That day of fire was September 11, 2001. Twenty-five years later, anyone alive on that day can remember a clear, crisp, late summer morning. It was a typical Tuesday. People were heading to work, to school, to the airport. Seemingly out of nowhere, our sense of normalcy and complacency was shattered by hijacked passenger jets crashing into landmark buildings. Thousands died. Many died instantly. Many died savage deaths. All of us were changed.

In 2008, Pope Benedict XVI (1927-2002) visited Ground Zero in New York City, the site upon which once stood the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. In 2015, Pope Francis (1936-2025) did the same. On both occasions, the Holy Fathers offered an identical invocation. It is literally the prayer of two popes:

O God of love,
compassion, and healing,
look upon us,
people of many faiths and traditions,
who gather today at this site,
the scene of incredible pain and violence.

In your goodness, we ask you
to give eternal light and peace
to all who died here:
the heroic first responders,
our fire fighters, police officers,
emergency service workers,
and port authority personnel,
along with the innocent men and women
who were victims of this tragedy
simply because their work or service
brought them here on September 11, 2001.

In your compassion,
we ask you to bring healing to those,
who because of their presence that day,
suffer from illness and injury.
Heal, too, the pain of still grieving families
and all who lost loved ones in this tragedy.
Give them strength to continue their lives
with hope and courage.

We are mindful as well
of those who suffered death, injury, and loss
on the same day at the Pentagon
and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Our hearts are one with theirs
as our prayer embraces their pain and suffering.

O God of peace,
bring your peace into our violent world:
peace in the hearts of all people
and peace among all nations of the earth.
Turn to your way of love
all those whose hearts and minds
are consumed by hatred.

O God of understanding,
overwhelmed by the magnitude of this tragedy,
we seek your light and guidance
as we confront such terrible events.
Grant that those whose lives were spared
may live so that the lives lost
may not have been lost in vain.

Comfort and console us,
strengthen us in hope,
and give us the courage and wisdom
to work tirelessly for a world
where love and peace reign among all nations
and in the hearts of all people. Amen.

As we pray for the 2,977 victim souls of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, we are reminded that “our hearts are one” in solidarity with those who died, with their grieving friends and families all around the world, and with the urgent need for peace, fraternity, and reconciliation in our still suffering world. May we never forget. May God bless you. May the Lord give you peace.

Brother Patrick Garvey
Diocesan Hermit
brpatrick@assisiproject.com

Art by Diego Grandi – Dreamstime 91505648

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THE ASSISI PROJECT
A FELLOWSHIP OF FRANCISCANS IN SPIRIT
INTERCESSORY PRAYER MINISTRY

Members of the Assisi Project, ranging in age from 18 to 102, pray each and every day for all who ask for our prayers. If you would like our fellowship to pray for you or your special intention, please contact Brother Patrick at brpatrick@assisiproject.com. In communion with Pope Leo XIV and in solidarity with people of faith and goodwill everywhere, we also pray for peace, truth, and justice. In addition, we pray for all migrants and refugees; for the courage to speak truth to power; and for the poor, the persecuted, and the unjustly imprisoned. Please join us in prayer by clicking the link below! Thank you for your prayers! May God bless you! May the Risen Lord give you peace!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brother Patrick Garvey is co-founder and spiritual director of the Assisi Project. He is a graduate of the University of Southern Maine, Saint John Seminary, and the Catholic University of America. He is a writer, spiritual director, retreat leader, and university lecturer. He also serves as an Associate Minister in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport in Massachusetts. On October 3, 2023, the Feast of the Transitus of Saint Francis of Assisi, Brother Patrick was consecrated as a diocesan hermit by Bishop Mark O’Connell, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Boston with the blessing of Cardinal Sean O’Malley. For more information about the Assisi Project and our good work with adults of all ages and backgrounds, please contact Brother Patrick at brpatrick@assisiproject.com.

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ABOUT US

Founded in 2007, the Assisi Project is a Fellowship of Franciscans in Spirit with friends and followers throughout the world. We are dedicated to helping Christian believers of all ages more faithfully live the Gospel of Christ in the spirit of Saint Francis and Saint Clare of Assisi. We are also dedicated to promoting a devotion to Pope Francis (1936-2025) as a patron of peace, mercy, and fraternity in our sick and suffering world.

The Assisi Project is a non-profit, tax exempt charitable organization. Please support our ministry via Pay Pal (see link below) or mail a tax-deductible donation to the Assisi Project, Post Office Box 3158, Gloucester, Massachusetts 01931-3158. The Assisi Project Podcast is produced by the Assisi Project, Inc. Copyright 2025. All rights reserved. May the Lord give you peace!

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In Memory of the Victim Souls of September 11, 2001