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
Great prayer. I like the progression in the responses -- a little repetition is a good thing. Too much is the common case.
ReplyDeletethese litanies tend to be almost mantric when prayed
ReplyDeleteand they do produce an interesting state of mind as well when all is said and done
there is ample expression within the reading matter on this prayer that it can be done anytime
that might be an interesting study
the overall effect of octaves novenas
rosarios
i recall once as a youth attending a funeral
and waling into the church the local parish rasary
was being said and it had within it an intensity
i've heard or felt nowhere else
and while i don't often pray the rosary
it sort of made a believer out of me
at least that day it did
I've been intending to look up Paul Couturier after he was mentioned in the article about Br. Roger that you forwarded to me. It's nice to read this.
ReplyDeleteI reread this prayer today. I am impressed by the humility it expresses.
ReplyDelete