DAY OF MOURNING AND REMEMBRANCE Lectionary #892

How do Christians recall 9/11? What should our attitude be on this day? Churches in the United States have asked that it be a national day of mourning and remembrance. Special Masses or other services on this day might draw from the set of readings for reconciliation (Lectionary #892–896) and, in the Sacramentary, the opening prayer For the Nation, (State,) or City or the texts For Peace and Justice or For Promoting Harmony.

Suggested readings:
Amos 5:4, 14–15, 21–24 (892.3). These brief excerpts from a series of dirges and warnings highlight the importance of living justly as individuals and as a nation. Without the foundation of a just life or a just society, all liturgy is empty show.

Psalm (129) 130 (894.2). This personal prayer for divine help widens into a call to Israel to trust in the Lord.

Contigo, Mi Dios, Piedad/With You, O God (Hurd) GP 276
Del Señor Viene la Misericordia/With the Lord, There Is Fullness (Hurd) FYC 268/JS 105
Del Señor Viene la Misericordia (Taulé) FYC 269
From the Depths (N. Warner)  WC 436
Hear Us, O God/Oyenos, Señor (Rubalcava) WC 437
I Place All My Trust (Gelineau) GC 128/WOR 71
I Place All My Trust—Antiphon IV (Proulx/Gelineau) RS 175
Out of the Depths (O'Carroll) CH 118
With Our God There Is Mercy (Manion) GP 275
With the Lord There Is Mercy (Haugen) GC 127/GC2 71/RS 176
With the Lord There Is Mercy (Joncas) RS 174
With the Lord There Is Mercy ( Jordan ) LMGM 512
With the Lord There Is Mercy (Roberts) LMGM 511
With the Lord There Is Mercy (Smith) JS 106

1 John 2:1–5a (893.3). Christ atoned not only for the sins of believers but for the sins of the whole world.

Matthew 5:1–12a (896.1). The Beatitudes describe a way of life that is peaceful and reconciling and that remains so even under persecution.

Songs for the Liturgy
Music for this day should focus on mourning, remembrance, and prayer for reconciliation, so that someday we may live in a world where such things as the attacks of 9/11 will not happen. It would be inappropriate to focus on nationalistic themes.