National Cathedral offers prayers
CT Features Staff
April 18, 2007
Joining the hands reaching out from all over the world to Virginia Tech yesterday was Washington D.C.'s famous National Cathedral. The Washington National Cathedral is the sixth largest cathedral in the world and the second largest in the United States. It has no official denomination, and welcomes people of all faiths to share service and pray during its biweekly services. It has also been the site of many historical moments, including Dr. Martin Luther King's last Sunday sermon in 1968, as well as President George W. Bush's Inaugural Prayer Service in 2001.
It has also most notably been a major site for the people of the D.C. area to come and the people of the entire world to look to for comfort in times of tragedy. It often holds special services during times of crises, including the National Prayer and Remembrance service in honor of 9/11 on Sept. 14, 2001.
Yesterday, in one of several moves meant to help the community cope and show their support for the members of the Virginia Tech community, the National Cathedral released a series of special prayer cards that offer "prayers for all those touched by this week's tragic shootings at Virginia Tech," said the cathedral's website. These cards are available for patrons to pick up at votive stands throughout the cathedral all week.
In addition, the cathedral will also be offering special prayers every hour, 15 minutes before the hour. Multiple services throughout the following week will be dedicated to the tragedy, including the noon Eucharist and Evensong service, which is held each day at 5:30 p.m., will include special prayers. The Cathedral offers this Scripture from the Book of Common Prayer on their website, hoping that all those affected will be able to keep the words close and try to find solace in this time of mourning. "Help us, O God, we pray, in the midst of things we cannot understand, to believe and trust in the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, and the resurrection to life everlasting."