Posted on 04/20/2008 10:57:09 PM PDT by neverdem
The following is a transcript of Pope Benedict XVI's remarks at ground zero:
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...
(Excerpt) Read more at wnbc.com ...
Thank you, NeverDem, for posting this..
May all be reminded of the message from The Prince of Peace..
God Bless!
I’m increasingly impressed with this pope - what a sweet, loving spirit shines through. I really love, especially, that he’s been courageously steadfast on speaking out against radical Islam, SO important in our time. When he baptized a former muslim (Italian) who converted to Christianity (on Easter, I think), there were calls for the execution of both from the jihadists. This is a good and righteous man. (And I’m not even Catholic)
“... turn to your way of peace and love those whose hearts are consumed with hatred.”
Whose way is Peace and Love?
Just peruse the appropriate sacred texts, and it will be abundantly clear...
Goodness and righteousness shines clear here..
He suffered under the Nazis, as did my MIL..
She is a lovely, and God Fearing Lady,
I wish that all mal-contents here, would listen to her..
I will tell you this..
There is not one SINGLE thing we have ever been through that is it’s equal..
But, then, He's really a peace loving Pope. Guess it would be out of character.
Unfortunately, I'm not and whenever I'm within blocks of thw WTC, I go into a rant about stone worshipping,sand-eating camel humpers.Guess I'll never make Pope.
<...There is not one SINGLE thing we have ever been through that is its equal...>
And I hope we never have to go through it, either. The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.
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Thanks for the posting and I do believe that in part of the prayer the was calling for the spiritual conversion of those who believe in and practice jihadism to the real Jesus and to the Christian faith.
I think the Pope is directing his effort to the haters of the world and the Jews certainly are far from that category. Catholics and Jews have much in common regarding the desired state of the world and the shared responsibility for preserving the Holy Land from the evildoers.
How true, as a matter of fact while watching EWTN’s coverage of the Papal visit the folks doing the commetary would refer to the Jewish people as our spiritual elder brothers and sisters. I do believe that Christians are spiritual semites when it comes to relationship to the Jewish people. The Pope knows that both Jews and Christians have a LOT to lose under Islam and Islamofacism and working together is VERY IMPORTANT to keep this special Jewish/Christian relationship STRONG. The part of the prayer is for those who either preach or practice jihadism, although it would not suprise me if it is for the coming of fullness of faith in the REAL Jesus of the Holy Bible and of Christanity for Muslims.
Also bookmarked. Thanks. :)
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Obama will be the bitter one at the end of this campaign
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In addition to what he said, the very fact that Pope Benedict formally visited Ground Zero in a public ceremony of prayer, to honor the dead and pray for the conversion of those who use religion to promote hatred and violence, is a strong statement.
How many American politicians have we seen visiting Ground Zero recently? It was a popular thing to do for a while, but the liberals have done their best to write the whole thing off, as if it never happened, or was some kind of regretable ancient history.
Even the current Mayor of New York has mostly been working to efface the memorials left at Ground Zero by families and visitors. It took a visit by the Pope to get Bloomberg to visit that part of town and participate in a public ceremony. He wouldn’t have done it on his own.
So, yes, just going there at all is a strong gesture on the Pope’s part.
Thanks for the ping!
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