September 11

Pope John Paul II's Prayer in Response to September 11, 2001

Almighty and merciful God,
You cannot be understood
by one who sows discord.
You cannot be accepted
by one who loves violence:
Look upon our painful
human conditon tried
by cruel acts of terror and death,
comfort your children and open
our hearts to hope, so that our
time may again know days of
serenity and peace.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Everyone remembers where they were that day. I was on my way to the county courthouse for jury duty and heard the first reports on the radio. When I arrived in the jury room, the Today show was on and it wasn't clear yet what had actually happened. Then jury selection began, and I was selected for a murder case, so rare in our little town. The judge let us leave early that day so people could check on their loved ones.

When we went to the red & white exhibit in NYC last spring, we were able to see the National Tribute Quilt at the American Folk Art Museum in Lincoln Center. It's hard to find the right words to describe it. Karen Griska has many more photos on display in the Online Quilt Museum.