"But you, man of God...

...pursue righteousness,
devotion,
faith,
love,
patience,
and gentleness.

Compete well for the faith.

Lay hold of eternal life,
to which you were called
when you made the noble confession
in the presence of many witnesses.

I charge you before God,
who gives life to all things,
and before Christ Jesus,
who gave testimony under Pontius Pilate
for the noble confession,
to keep the commandment
without stain or reproach
until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ
that the blessed and only ruler
will make manifest at the proper time,
the King of kings and Lord of lords,
who alone has immortality,
who dwells in unapproachable light,
and whom no human being has seen or can see.
To him be honor and eternal power.
Amen.

(Today's Epistle - 1 Timothy 6:11-16)

Pray for politicians, bureaucrats, et al

First of all,
I ask that supplications, prayers,
petitions, and thanksgivings
be offered
for everyone,
for kings
and for all in authority,
that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life
in all devotion and dignity.

This is good and pleasing to God our savior,
who wills everyone to be saved
and to come to knowledge of the truth.

For there is one God.

There is also one mediator between God and men,
the man Christ Jesus,
who gave himself as ransom for all.

(from today's Epistle 1 Timothy 2:1-8)

The message

This saying is trustworthy
and deserves full acceptance:

Christ Jesus came into the world
to save sinners.
Of these I am the foremost.

But for that reason I was mercifully treated,
so that in me, as the foremost,
Christ Jesus might display all his patience
as an example for those
who would come to believe in him
for everlasting life.

To the king of ages,
incorruptible,
invisible,
the only God,
honor and glory
forever and ever.

Amen.

(from today's Epistle - 1 Timothy 1:12-17)

September 11

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


"We ask you in your goodness
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 all the innocent men and women
who were victims of this tragedy
simply because their work or service
brought them here on September 11, 2001.

"We ask you, in your compassion
to bring healing to those who,
because of their presence here that day,
suffer from injuries and illness.



"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 courage and hope.

"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.

"God of peace, bring your peace to our violent world:
peace in the hearts of all men and women
and peace among the nations of the earth.
Turn to your way of love
those whose hearts and minds
are consumed with hatred.

"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 here
may not have been lost in vain.
Comfort and console us,
strengthen us in hope,
and give us the wisdom and courage
to work tirelessly for a world
where true peace and love reign
among nations and in the hearts of all."

(Pope Benedict's prayer
in the pit where the World Trade Center once stood)

Today we remember the victims of September 11, 2001, who died at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Requiescant in pace


(adapted from an earlier post)

Our plans are unsure, but there is a path

For the deliberations of mortals are timid,
and unsure are our plans.

For the corruptible body burdens the soul
and the earthen shelter
weighs down the mind that has many concerns.

And scarce do we guess the things on earth,
and what is within our grasp
we find with difficulty;
but when things are in heaven,
who can search them out?

Or who ever knew Your counsel,
except You had given Wisdom
and sent Your Holy Spirit from on high?

And thus were the paths of those on earth
made straight.

(from today's first reading - Wisdom 9:13-18b)

The LORD is near to all who call upon him

The LORD is just in all His ways
and holy in all His works.

The LORD is near to all who call upon Him,
to all who call upon Him in truth.

(Psalm 145:17-18 - from today's Responsorial Psalm)

What shall we pray for this month?

Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for September is for the Word of God as Incentive for Social Development.

"That the proclamation of the Word of God may renew people's hearts, encouraging them to work toward authentic social progress."


His missionary prayer intention is for the end of War.

"That by opening our hearts to love we may put an end to the wars and conflicts which continue to bloody our world."