Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

This Sunday, January 18th, kicks off the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity gives Christians an annual opportunity to continue their quest for the unity they already share in Christ. It is also a time to gather in praise of the Triune God and to deepen the understanding of the ecumenical movement. By joining in this annual celebration Christians raise their voices, hands and hearts to God seeking the fulfillment of the prayer of Jesus, the Son of God, “that they all may be one.”

The Church Unity Octave, a forerunner of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, was developed by Father Paul Wattson, SA, at Graymoor in Garrison, New York, and was first observed at Graymoor from January 18-25, 1908. Today, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity invites the whole Christian community throughout the world to pray in communion with the prayer of Jesus “that they all may be one” (John 17:21).

In 1966, the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches and the Vatican Secretariat (now Council) for Promoting Christian Unity began collaborating as a common international text for worldwide usage. Since 1968 these international texts, which are based on themes proposed by ecumenical groups around the world, have been developed, adapted and published for use in the United States by the Graymoor Ecumenical and Interreligious Institute.

The Week of Prayer also invites those who participate to use it as an opportunity to examine the effectiveness of the ecumenical movement in seeking to end the divisions among Christians. From the smallest to the largest communities, from all cultures, races and language groups, from all the baptized to all those in ordained ministry, the Week of Prayer is also an opportunity to ask examine the level of support they have given to this important movement in the life of the Church. An accounting of each Christian's discipleship and faithfulness to the proclamation of the Gospel — the good news of reconciliation — can be taken every year during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

Go to Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute for suggestions on how to observe this Week. They have the full history of how all this began, an explanation of this year's theme ("That they may become one in your hand"), homiletic notes, poster order forms, etc.

If you want the shortened versions and more resources, the World Council of Churches also provides a great PDF document prepared by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, a Commission on Faith and Order of the World Council of Churches. I think this document can be saved and redistributed.

Each of these sites offers ideas we can use to reflect and meditate on the meaning of Unity in God. I've looked at the daily meditations and scriptures chosen for each day of the week provided by Graymoor and I'm excited. Check it out here!