Resources for the 2008 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

This week, January 18-25, is the centennial Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The official webpage provides the following summary:

January 18 – 25, 2008 marks 100 years since the Society of the Atonement began praying for Christian unity during the first Church Unity Octave. In honor of the centenary, the Society of the Atonement is sponsoring events to promote Christian unity and sharing their successful experiences in the ecumenical movement. Throughout 2008, join Christians everywhere in praying "that they may all be one" joining our prayer with that of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The theme for this year is: "Pray without ceasing." It comes from Paul's letter to the Thessalonians:

• 1 Thes 5:11-18 (DRB) For which cause comfort one another and edify one another, as you also do. 12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them who labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you; 13 That you esteem them more abundantly in charity, for their work’s sake. Have peace with them. 14 And we beseech you, brethren, rebuke the unquiet: comfort the feeble minded: support the weak: be patient towards all men. 15 See that none render evil for evil to any man: but ever follow that which is good towards each other and towards all men. 16 Always rejoice. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In all things give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you all.

The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christianity has provided these resources. You can also read a history of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity here.

It's good to know that Christians are more and more taking seriously Jesus' prayer to the Father "that they may be one, even as we are one" (Jn 17:11). However, some Christians (and even some Catholics) are highly skeptical of ecumenical work and falsely assume that involvement in such work must necessarily demand a "watering-down" of one's faith or an abandoning of it all together. For them I offer the following articles:

• Unitatis Redintegratio (Decree on Ecumenism)
• Ut Unum Sint (That They May Be One)
• Dominus Iesus (On the Unicity and Salvific Universality of Jesus Christ and the Church)
• Apologia for Catholic Ecumenism and Christian Unity
• Background to Ecumenism
• C. S. Lewis on Christian Unity and Ecumenism
• Catholic Ecumenism
• Communion and Unity: Biblical Injunctions
• Ecumenical Conundrum
• Ecumenism and Integrism
• Ecumenism and the Faithful Catholic
• Ecumenism and Vatican II
• Ecumenism in the Pontificate of John Paul II
• Ecumenism, Dialogue, and the Matter of Truth
• Is "Ecumenism" a Bad Word?
• John Paul II's "Ecumenical Passion": A Clear-Eyed Look at Dominus Iesus
• On Ecumenism: Parts One and Two
• On the Intricacies of Dialogue
• On the Nature of Ecumenism, Dogma, and Christian Unity
• Our Task: Promote Culture of Dialogue
• Overview of Ecumenical Initiatives
• Pitting Popes Against Each Other: Ecumenism
• Promote Reconciliation That Flows from Evangelization
• Reunion All Around
• True Ecumenism Demands Healing, Holiness, and Prayer
• Vatican II and Ecumenism: What Did the Council Really Say?
• Vatican II Called Catholics to Active Role in Ecumenism
• Who Really Cares about Christian Unity?

May we all strive for the unity that Jesus Christ had in mind for us.

Our Lady, Help of Christians.........pray for us.

Pax Christi,
phatcatholic