i take this opportunity to intercede in an effort for my wide readership to take note

Invocations for Unity

From a text devised by Fr Paul Couturier, an Apostle of Unity

Lord, for the low importance we have given to those words that came from

your Heart: “I have other sheep not from this fold. I must also bring them;

they too shall hear my voice”:

We ask you to forgive us, Lord.

For our disagreements with our Christian brothers and sisters, sometimes full

of irony, or narrowness of spirit, or exaggeration; for our intransigence and

harsh judgments about other Christians and Churches:

We ask you to forgive us, Lord.

For all acts of violence or unkindness against our fellow Christians; for all in

the past and sustained to this day for which we are to blame:

We ask you to forgive us, Lord.

For all attitudes of pride and self-sufficiency that our Churches may have

shown across the ages to other Christians, and for all our failures of

awareness or understanding towards each other:

We ask you to forgive us, Lord.

For the bad examples in our conduct, which have slowed down, diminished

or destroyed the effects of grace in the souls of others:

We ask you to forgive us, Lord.

For forgetting to offer prayer, frequent, friendly, fervent, on behalf of our

fellow Christians:

We ask you to forgive us, Lord.

Above the frontiers of language, race and nation, through all our rich

difference and diversity:

Unite us, Jesus.

With Christians who are persecuted and in need, with our migrant and

refugee brothers and sisters across the world and in our midst:

Unite us, Jesus.

Above our ignorance, our prejudices, or any unconscious hostility, through

better understanding and ever closer communion:

Unite us, Jesus.

Above our different spiritual and theological traditions, in one spirit, one

Bread and one Body:

Unite us, Jesus.

O God, for the increase of your glory:

Gather your scattered people.

O God, for the triumph of good and of truth:

Gather your scattered people.

O God, that there may be but one fold and one Shepherd:

Gather your scattered people

.

O God, that justice and peace may finally reign in the world:

Gather your scattered people.

O God, to bring fullness of joy to the heart of your Son:

Gather your scattered people.

Daily Prayer of the Chemin Neuf Community, based on Couturier

Lord Jesus, who prayed that we might all be one,

we pray to You for the unity of Christians,

according to Your will, according to Your means.

May Your Spirit enable us

to experience the suffering caused by division,

to see our sin,

and to hope beyond all hope.

Amen.

Prepared by the Catholic League, a charity and society supporting Catholic ecumenical

principles and endeavours, towards the communion of all Christians in visible unity with the

Apostolic See of Rome. It may be reproduced free of charge

.

www.unitas.org.uk www.paulcouturier.org.uk

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR THE UNITY OF CHRISTIANS

18 - 25 JANUARY EVERY YEAR

camino del norte

I've started doing a little research on this northern route.  It looks beautiful, but could be more challenging than the standard route.  I thought I would order a guidebook from Amazon, but the only ones I could find were in Spanish, French or German.  I've tried ordering the French one through inter-library loan.  I'd have an easier time with French than Spanish.  We'll see if the library can find it.  It would be $60 to purchase.  The Spanish versions are cheaper.

The following is a direct quote from http://www.santiago-compostela.net/cdn/index_cdn_en.html

 

"The Camino del Norte (also known as the Coastal Route or the Northern Route) is one of the longer branches of the network of ancient pilgrim routes which together make up the Camino de Santiago (the Way of St. James) . It runs for some 825 km. from the French border at Irún, through San Sebastian, Bilbao, and Santander to join the Camino Francés, (the main spine route of the Camino) at Arzua. It is also possible to divert to Oviedo and walk the Camino Primitivo (the original route) which joins the Camino Francés at Melide. 

"The scenery on this route is fantastic with fine coastal views. The terrain is quite hilly for much of the route, and you are often sent inland to reach a bridge over the numerous rivers. It is much less crowded than the Camino Francés, and because of this, pilgrim accommodation is sparse in places. There is a great Wealth of ancient monuments, particularly churches and monasteries, and the larger cities have excellent facilities. (Bilbao even has a metro which ends at the beach)

"The weather on this route is highly variable, and you need to be prepared for some quite wet days."

blue pilgrims

this is merely to announce the cognitive shift of
perception and intention of this blog
while maintaining the general title
it is my personal desire to move the conversation
along the lines of christian pilgrimage
for this is the essence of community
this is   'the way'    of which we speak

the implication being that
a reading on this blog is tantamount to
taking a step along the camino
you have participated in a movement
known the world round as a pilgrimage

the choices are immense
one can stop turn back or step forward
tentatively even nontheless

welcome

buone camino

keep the conversation moving


amen

ultreya

!