Lord, We don’t really know what the hell to pray right now. If there’s one thing we do know, it’s that some folks are in the midst of a living nightmare. Maybe they’re numb from pain; maybe they ache with every movement, every thought, every heartbeat. We can’t really know. Our guts feel something like sickness and something like fiery indignation with each piece of news we hear or read. We’re tired of asking why. The question feels like a sick joke by now.
We can recite the truths we know, fresh on our Easter lips: Christ is risen. New creation is inaugurated. Your kingdom expands like a mustard seed among us. Redemption, reconciliation, and restoration are gaining ground because of your cross and resurrection. Yet this is an all too painful reminder that sin and evil are as present, as twisted, and as vile as ever. We’ll keep holding onto the truth of Jesus. But as for prayer, we’re taking you up, Holy Spirit, on that business of praying the prayers we long to pray when all we’ve got are groaning hearts. That’s us. Translate our bewilderment into the sort of intercessions we want to be capable of. Translate the immense hurt of those immediately touched by this tragedy into mighty prayers for your healing and your justice and your salvation…for your kingdom to come, God.
In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Guy M Williams 
This is a flashback to 9/11 in many ways, and again we must lift them up in prayer —
Mercy of God, deliver us.
Love of Christ, heal us.
Spirit of God, strengthen us.
Lord, have mercy on all those hurt by the massacre in Virginia — the victims, the injured, the traumatized, the grieving, the rescuers, and the healers.
Prince of Peace, grant through your holy Cross where you suffer with all humanity, that we may rise up to new life with you, to be instruments of your Peace.
This we pray through Christ our Lord, and the intercession of Father Mychal Judge, “the Saint of 9/11”. Amen.
(from: http://www.SaintMychalJudge.blogspot.com )
Sometimes God answers our questions not by words, but through examples which mirror the self-sacrifice of Christ —
“There was Liviu Librescu, the 76 year-old engineering professor who survived the Nazi death camps. His students say he died while blocking the door with his body to protect those inside”.
“No greater love has a man than to lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15)
From the Kaddish (the Jewish prayer for the dead):
Blessed be the Name of the Most High forever and for all eternity!
Blessed, praised, and glorified, exalted, extolled, and honored, magnified and lauded be the Name of the Holy One, blessed be He!
May there come from Heaven abundant peace and life for us and for all Israel. May the Artisan of Peace in the highest Heaven also be the Artisan of peace for us,
And say, Amen.