BOSTON -- The families of the three people killed in the Boston Marathon bombing explosions began a day filled with poignant remembrances and emotional testimonies with prayer and a simple wreath laying ceremony at the two sites where their loved ones lost their lives and scores were injured one year ago, on April 15, 2013.

The families of Krystle Campbell, Lingzi Lu and Martin Richard accompanied by Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley, Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh and Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick arrived on Boylston Street at the site of the second explosion just before 8:15 am.

The families and dignitaries gathered around the spot marked by an honor guard of police officers and other first responders as Cardinal O'Malley proclaimed a Scripture reading.

Though the public and media were kept at a distance, the cardinal's office said he read from 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

"We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, about those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so too will God, through Jesus, bring with him those who have fallen asleep. Indeed, we tell you this, on the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not precede those who have fallen asleep."

"For the Lord himself, with a word of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God, will come down from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, console one another with these words."

Following the reading, bagpipers played "Amazing Grace" and Mayor Walsh helped the brother and sister of Martin Richard -- Henry, 11 and Jane, 8, who lost her leg in the explosion -- lay a wreath at the site.

The governor, mayor and cardinal exchanged hugs and gestures of consolation with the families as they remained at the site for a few moments before walking the just over 200 yards down Boylston Street toward the marathon finish line and the site of the first explosion.

There, according to the cardinal's office, offered the following prayer:

"God of all consolation, through your providential care the darkness we experienced gives way to light, and our grief and sorrow are joined to new hope and the promise of the future. Grant our loved ones who have died the grace and peace of eternal life.

May our continued prayers of thanksgiving for the gift of their lives be met by their prayers for us, and may those be a source of consolation and strength. May the gift of your love remain with us always, strengthening our spirits and enabling us to go forward to accomplish that which is right and good. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen," the cardinal prayed.

After the second wreath was placed, the families again remained for a time before departing quietly.

In addition to the three victims who were killed, over 260 others were injured in the two Boston Marathon explosions. Massachusetts Institute of Technology police officer Sean Collier was also shot and killed April 18, 2013, allegedly by the two bombing suspects as they attempted to flee the Boston area.